I was wondering what the smallest 3D flyer is? What its wingspan and other specs are would be nice to know also.

There are a few that are small.

The 23" wingspan Ultimate biplane from www.jetworksmodels.com plans.

It will fly on a IPS motor, but to get it to really rip...goto www.balsapr.com and get a Feigao brushless upgrade for the IPS. Then it will hover.

The plane is tricky. You must build it ABSOLUTLY LIGHT as you can get it. If you dont it wont fly at all. Build it from depron.


Check out an UFO or IFO, then scratch build a mini one from depron, and use a IPS motor on it. One of the guys here has one, and its not a "blow your mind" 3D plane, but I think its capable of most stuff. Probably needs a brushless too to get it ripping. Wingspan is around 14" or so.

a buddy of mine has converted an 8 inch WS freeflight ultimate to rc and uses an ips motor cirrus servos...this thing is so0o sick.

Sounds cool, get him to post pics. Id like to see that. Im a huge ultimate fan.

I don't know much about it but I found it on BSD Micro RC's web site a wile ago take a look


http://www.bsdmicrorc.com/productDet...71&catID=10003

I have a 21.5" span ultimate. The plane is made from blue-core and colored with sharpie. It will fly with an ISP motor. I haven't flown it yet because the crystal for the berg 5 receiver hasn't come in yet to performanceflight.com yet.

We scaled down the Tensor to 14" wing span. Comes in a bit heavy, 2.9 Oz, using AON T1215-4100 motor, Phoenix-10 controller, three Cirus 4.4 servos, and Berg 4 ch receiver. It's fully 3-D capable, but it's very quick and will get away from you in a hurry. I think that we can shed about an Ounce off the next one which should improve its flight characteristics. I'll get a pic of it ti post.

Hmm.

I scratch-built a 14" extra 300, but I never could get it to fly very well. It was WAY to touchy on ailerons, even with LOTS of expo. The other problem I had was that it was so fast. It really zipped along like a rocket.

Seeing as how that mini Tensor also experienced the rapid speed, I dont think you could build one that small and get it to slow down.

The problem is the weight vs wing area. They dont make the avionics light enough for a plane that size, and if you use the current lightweight componants, it has to fly fast to stay up due to the small wing area. You could shape the wing into an airfoil shape for more lift, but then you would lose some of the 3D capabilities. The only exception I found to this so far is the IFO/UFO type airplanes. Their flying wing type design gives enough lift in a small package to pull it off.

My plane may not be the smallest but it sure does fly with the best versatility of any plane I ever flew before! I took the free plans for the Mini 3DX and scaled them down to 78%, this gave a wing span of 25". This plane absolutely rocks with a 3S lipo outdoors, extremely fast roll rate when you want it, does every trick in the book. For indoor flight switch over to a 2S pack and it becomes a much more docile but fully functioned 3D. The Mini 3DX in original form with the 32 inch wings is a very floaty slow flyer but downsize it a couple of steps and it becomes a rocket with the 3s or back to semi-floaty with the 2s, I guess that slight wing loading difference realy makes a difference.

My flying club buddies, don't have a clue about me flying the little bird, it should surprize them how my flying skills have improved over just one winter.

In the small stuff, you have to start somewhere and here is a good one to get your feet wet.
Here's are a couple of pictures of Littlebirdz Indoor Ultimate Bipe.
I purchased the kit from Mike at Eflightdesigns.com
The decals are installed a bit different from normal decals, using Minwax Polycrylic but went well by just following the well written instructions.
Mine weighs out at 27.6g due to careful building techniques.

This one flys sweet!
It flys nice & stable and also slows down very nicely. It will do loops & some minor acrobatics.

Ok, OK. so its not a 3D blow your mind plane but if you want to try the small stuff this is a good choice.
Lots of fun!

12.75" WS
11" Long
1 - 210 mA Lipoly
Kenway M-20 w/4.2:1 gearbox
GWS 5030 Prop

How about the Matchlessaero Micro Edgling? It's like 2 ounces, and fully 3D capable.

Oops, not exactly available right now...

http://bsdmicrorc.com/productDetails...71&catID=10003

The 75% and 50% Tensors (20" ws & 14" ws)... The 75% has a build-up fuselage with the electronics located inside; makes a very light and strong (rigid) fuselage.

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Ifyou are really interested in a very precision -slow flying 3D setup -as flown in the new F3A I sequences -- you can do-using off the shelf parts -- all up 4 ounces -in a model at 200 sq inches -
This takes care but no chopped up servos etc- just a small CD motor and the best small rx/ servos .
the wing loading has to be under 4 ozs - 3 is good less is better.
We are now working up a 5 oz larger bipe - to get wing loading even lower .
The 3D performance does not improve but the accurate pattern flying -indoors is better.