This year I built the Caproni Ca-60. I wanted to fine out if this monstrosity could fly.
My model has 56” wingspan and the total wing area is 17.5 sq. ft. The model is powered by eight SPEED 400 motors. I placed 30 – 2400mA batteries all the way into the nose to balance the model. The flying weight is 13 Lbs. When I placed the model on the water surface, I found that scale sponsons are way too small. They would not support the weight and the model would lean to one or other side until it rested on the wing tips. I made new soponsons three times wider then the original. Other change I had to make was place the step between first and the second sets of the wings. At the same time I deepened the fuselage in front of the step. Now the model was sitting level on the water surface. When full power was applied, I could see that the model needs lot more power to come up on the step. I feel that all these wings and the struts create too much drag. Even when I placed the model on the buggy and tried to fly it from paved runway, the model could not reach flying speed. Next year I am planning to have it towed behind big model as if it was the glider. I have to fine out if it can fly.
Laddie.