hi,
can someone explane me the basics of how to design a flying wing or any plane without hor. stab ?

I got started learning about tailless aircraft with it:

http://www.b2streamlines.com/winglinks.html

I went through this a while back. I didn't save the links because they are so easy to find.

Go to www.google.com and enter in.... "flying wing" model.... (without the periods) and you'll come up with lots of stuff.

Things to look for, Martin Hepperle's site has some good stuff on designing flying wings. And watch for, or do a search for, Panknin twist spreadsheet. This is an EXCELL file that you can download that calculates the twist required for a swept flying wing. It can also be tricked to provide the balance point for a plank type flying wing that uses a positive pitching moment airfoil.

Topica groups also has a discussion group for wings. It runs hot and cold but I drop by now and then to see a few new posts.

Oops, I seem to have lost the link during my last computer upgrade. Try www.topica.com and search for rcwings.

Good luck.

thanks a lot guys.
I'll do my homework and come back with some results.

Welcome to the realms of the nurflugel - enjoy

I have flown and designed several wings and unless you are trying for something special, there's not too much to wing design. Basically, you balance at 10%-15% and kick the ailerons up to give you some reflex unless you have a special reflex airfoil like the Evans wings. Do this and it'll fly.

I notice the SPAD reference in your post. I was flying .46 powered Coroplast planes a few years ago and decided to make a flying wing. I took a plane I was flying and cut the fuselage off just in front of the stab. I made twin fins from scrap Coroplast and screwed them on. I yanked out the rudder and elevator servos and plugged the dual aileron servos into aileron and elevator. I set my JR 8103 to elevons, cranked in about 3/16 up elevon, cranked the engine and hand launched. It flew right off the board.

It was slightly nose heavy so I ended up moving the battery back between the fins. I never could get it to snap or spin. Basically, it was a dull, stable plastic airplane design. Not nearly as much fun as the original Coroplane.

I have attached some photos. The notch in the fin was in the scrap. (People ask) I did later paint it, but that didn't make the flying any better.

The bottom line is just about anything will fly tailless. Balance it nose heavy and kick up the ailerons.

Here's the original before painting

Tail close up.

thanks Ed_Moorman for the specified reply and the photos that you added. i think i got the main idea - lets hope the wing gets it too..

Balance at 10-15%? I typically balance around 20-25%.

I am flying Deltas, but as a flying wing it should be the same regardless. Can you clarify this?

Bob Holmes

Nothing super magical about flying wings when it comes to models. I have built several flying wings and deltas. Some had airfoils specifically designed for aircraft without tails, others were built from standard airfoils like a Clark Y design. I can honestly say they each work about the same. Some are a little better than others, but I have basically seen that they will all work. Just do what Ed sais, balance about 10-15% for the first flight and reflex both ailerons/elevons up some. As you get comfortable flying it, you can move the CG back. Good luck...

Here's one I did a few years back... Whacked the horizontal off a Birdi Krafty 25: removed the elevator servo and pushrod. Moved the c.g. to 15%, reflexed the (now) elevons 1/8" and went flying.
Used a computer radio for mixing, but one flight left the Pmix off, and it still flew! Had to hold a little stick for the surface that wasn't mixing but no big deal...
Did the same thing to a profile version of the Somethin' Extra after an inverted landing took the back end off. It flew fine also.
Photo of it in another thread here...