2walla

My Feedback: (10)

I took the 90 saito off of mine and put an e flite 60 on it. I mounted the batteries under the cowling adjacent to the motor. No lead required to balance.. I have flown 3 other dr-1 models and this is the best setup I have flown. The electric motor gives you great throttle control on landing- it will end up on its wheels 9 out of 10 times. And that is making three point landings.. Wheel landings are better.

jorgy-Delta

Thanks to all who have posted here, your ideas, thoughts & tips are appreciated.

The GP DR1 60" was on my wish list but never expected to find one, since production ended in 2005.

I just picked up this beauty at an RC show in Monroe, WA, this past w/end.
The fella I bought it from must have read here too, a lot of your sugestions are all ready done. Nice job he did, lots of extra work
including the shovel handle wing tip skids. I'll have to carry on from where he left off and make it my own.
I basically just need to go over it and check everything is ok for now.

Only flew 4-5 times w/ a Saito 91 & APC 14x4 wide.( that came w/ also ) $500 and I'm 100% happy !

Now back to finish off the H9 DVIII before I start on...hmmm that may have to wait until I "maiden" the DR1 .....

If the guy I bought this from happens across this post, Sorry I didn't get your name, excitment took over!
You really did do a nice job and the efforts you put into it are very appreciated!

Tom in Cincy

My Feedback: (16)

I got to maiden mine yesterday. Everything went well but it was way too tail heavy. Tonight I made up a CG balancer that would properly fit the GP DR1. I was off on my nose weight by 5oz. The elevator was extremely sensitive. I am adding my normal lots of expo besides the lead shot epoxy mix to the cowl. Its good to hear from you DR1 guys. This is my first WW1 bird.
Magnum 91 4 stroke 14x6 APC turning 9500rpm

jorgy-Delta

Looks great Tom, must of been a handfull tailheavy.

Well done !

jorgy-Delta

Saito 91 w/ Zinger Pro 14x8

Tom in Cincy

My Feedback: (16)

Hi CCR. How is the DR1 flying? I got a dozen or so flights on mine over the summer. Very pretty plane in the air. I finally managed to crack the bottom wing even though I had built in 2 carbon fiber rods from the start. I would of never known it even happened except for the fact that the MonoKote "popped" and I had rip in the covering, top and bottom. Hopefully there are still a few of these ARF's flying around.
Tp

jorgy-Delta

Hi Tom,

Well after the intial gitters & knee shake, it flys extremely well.

2 dozen or so flights this past summer.

I find a little wind is very helpful landing. Zero wind and she likes to glide in ground effect forever :-)

Lower wing on mine is holding up well. Its usually just a last few feet as she comes to a stop that it wanders( grass field )

1/2 throttle is the highest I usually use, mostly buzzing around at 1/4 T

Even the heli guys stop to watch it

jorgy-Delta

Some pictures from Oct 2009. I think they turned out nice.

Beautiful day, 3-5 mph wind, right down the middle.

HelloScott

I just found this thread. I guess the Fokker DR1 from Great Planes is old news now...and discontinued. I finally got to purchase one at the Toledo RC show last weekend. So, its all new to me!

dgliderguy

Hello, Scott!

You will like your new airplane toy. When I first got my GP Fokker Dr1, I was concerned about its longevity, having put stock into all the rumors about what a challenge it is to keep it rolling straight and upright. Not so! I have been flying mine hard for over a year now, and I still have yet to groundloop it or roll it end-up on its nose. I fly off sod and pavement, and in my opinion it is as easy and forgiving to take off and land as any of my Cubs or Tiger Moths or the like.

With an ear toward group consensus, I reinforced the bottom wing with diagonal-grain sheeting on the bottom surface near the root, as it does appear to be a likely fracture point if you catch a wingtip in a crosswind, but it hasn't been tested yet. I would suggest avoiding gusty crosswind conditions, as this is a lightweight model, and more fragile than some, and you don't want to damage it. Have fun with it, and just treat it like a lady. It is a very unique model in the air-- looks like nothing else you may own!

jeffEE

My Feedback: (5)

I found that when I landed mine, just before touchdown, if I killed the motor it would just roll to a stop. No side walking, no roll overs. The torque of the motor was gone. Yes I had to walk and get it, but I never broke a lower wing. Just a thought.

HelloScott

Thanks dgliderguy and jeffEE. I appreciate it.

Here's some better photos of the new Fokker. I've inspected everything and all appears to be in order. Now, if we could just get rid of these 40 mph winds in Indiana!

Yes, our dog, LUNA, really thought it was interesting!

Tom in Cincy

My Feedback: (16)

I hope to fly my DR1 this year.. It does look great in the air! Just a FYI. The bottom wing will crack just outside of the fuselage very easily. I stripped the monokote off the bottom of the bottom wing and added a carbon fiber spar in the typical location and also added carbon to the rear area of the wing. As I recall the trailing edge is just butt jointed together.
I believe the bottom wing takes much stress from the top 2 on landing..
I don't fly mine in any sort of a cross wind and even then only in 6 mph or less right down the runway. There is no steering with the fixed tail skid.
As Lee McDuffy said"

d) Wingtip skids were added after the first flying sessions. They are well worth the effort on asphalt, and not worth a darn on grass. "

Is a good idea..

Enjoy!

HelloScott

That's good advice. Thank you. I'll be flying off a nice grass field.

Scott

dgliderguy

You can't really see it very well in this picture, but I "cheated" and added a tailwheel to my Dr1. It's a straight-shot music wire, down from the rudder right through the wood skid to a small wheel under the skid. In grass, you can't see it at all, and it is not really noticeable in the air, but man, it sure makes taxiing easier! Especially on a paved surface.

Just a suggestion for you there....

jeffEE

My Feedback: (5)

Here is how I did it on my Balsa USA DVII. Same idea as yours, nice on hard surface, not able to see it in the grass.

dgliderguy

Nicely done, JeffEE. You do good work!

Here's a better picture of mine (the GP Dr1 has a fixed tailskid). A bit cloogie, but it works well.

I had my GP tripe out again this weekend, after a long winter, and it flew as well as I remembered. Tight loops, sloppy rolls, and many approaches and landings to a full stop. What a fun, fun plane!