Hey, I've been here for a while, but i haven't put in many post.

I've been lookin at the Dynaflight Butterfly allot lately, does
anyone have any good words, or Vids of the Butterfly in Flight

Thanks

Good choice for a trainer. Motorgliders are very easy to fly and you'll never want to get rid of it. Unlike a "regular" trainer. Building one is simple and straightforward. Not much to guess at. Now, I should tell you that my experience comes secondhand. I saw one go together and saw the guy train on it for a short period of time. (he moved, not crashed) He had an easier time of it than I did with a Sturdy Birdie. While it won't prepare you for the higher speeds of reqular aircraft, you'll have plenty of response time. It should be fun!

Years ago I had one but it was a kit,( I don't know if you are talking about an ARF ). We replaced most of the bulsa stringers with spruce and put an extra steel bar in the wing along with a few other mods. It was a blast to fly and I was able to do things with it that others just held their breath over. With that big wing they were noted for folding if built by the plans and flown hard. I liked the plane and as said above you should enjoy it, unless it's a kit and you haven't built before, it can be a pain to build.

I won't go so far as saying it would be a good trainer, it won't be bad ( there are a lot worse) and you will enjoy it but it will also teach you some bad habits as far as I'm concerned. The good thing about it is that it is slow and easy to keep track of. Just remember not to stress the wing to much. One other point, on all of them I've been around --- when taking off be real carefull how much elevator you pull into it, especially with full power, they have a habit of going straight up before you know it, then don't have enough power to continue if you aren't fast enough to get it straight. Just take everything SLOW and easy and I think you will ENJOY it. As I said I liked the plane and wish I had my old one back. If they do make an ARF of it I might have to look into it. ENJOY !!! RED

Good point about the wing folding! I forgot there was another one at the field awhile back. The fella was doing loops with it and you could see the wings flex. Right before they folded! Make sure the spar is spruce and be sure to put some fiberglass in the center section. If you start building, Red will probably share his mods.

Bad habits: Part of that is a matter of opinion, but not to get philisophical, the Sturdy Birdie imparted a great many more bad habits than the Electrostreak kit that I converted to glow and ultimately learned to fly on. I've admired the motorgliders ever since. The ES was part motorglider and part pattern ship. I want mine back, too.

The Butterfly is a nice-flying plane. Don't over-power it. A good .15 is all it needs.

Now for the downside: Unless Dynaflite has cleaned up their act, any resemblence between the parts provided and the plans is purely coincidental. Also, the instructions suck. Given that, if you're an experienced builder, you shouldn't have too much trouble.

Dr.1

My experience with them is vicarious; one of our club members has one, he took the polyhedral out and built it as a powered glider with a .15 on it. I've seen him fly it for over 30 minutes, after climbing so high you could hardly see it and then shutting the engine down. Looks like a great fun plane.

Thanks for all the help, and advice.
I should be getting it soon.
it's a tail dragger, is this a good
take off plane, or should i hand launch it.
It has a .20 engine.

I'm building one for a friend, as a matter of fact, I just picked it up this afternoon. I don't think there is an ARF of this model. I am also in the process of building Dynaflite's SE5a and it is a wonderful kit. The die cutting is superb! With die cutting this good, why would any manufacturer ever go to the extra expense of laser cutting. I've found the instructions are first rate! I believe Dynaflite is a part of Great Planes now (might be wrong here). However all I've ever heard is how great Great Plane's plans and instructions are and I think the SE5a's instruction are every bit as good. If this post keeps going, I may come back and post my progress.

I'm not into electrics much but I do know that the butterfly also makes a good electric conversion. We converted one ( back when the Electra was a big time electric plane ) and it was a ball to fly, we modified it like I did mine. By the way, they do fly inverted but unless you are really experienced I don't suggest it, that's how I've seen 3 fold the wings. ( to hard a pull out, loops also get a lot of them.) ENJOY !!! RED

My first Butterfly had the wing fold in flight. The weakest part seems to be the outboard polyhedral joint. Built the next one with a considerable upgrade in the strength department at that point. The Center section with the 1/4" steel bar was plenty strong. Put an OS.25fx in it because our field is 5,000' ASL. It's still a powered glider no matter what else they call it. Also an excellent trainer I might add.

I have started this kit. I found the plans & instructions to be the same as the Dynaflite SE5a I am also building (Excellent). The wood is very good. The plans state they were drawn in 1996. However, I know the Butterfly to have been around since the early 1980s. I would guess the kit has been upgraded and re-deisgned since the original Craft Air Design of that time. I only have the fin and Rudder built so far.

Ballgunner, what did you do to strengthen the polyhedral joint?

Ive been lookin everywhere, and No1
has a vid of a ButterFly Flying.
lol

If anyone has one can you PLEASE post it
gives me something to view while i wait for mine to arrive
Thanks

This airplane may not be a very interesting airplane to watch fly. However, any polyhedraled sailplane would be similar.

I'm building the one I'm building for a friend whom wants a plane for night flying, so it will have lights installed in the wings and tail. I have the tail feathers done and have started on the fuselage. I PMed and also asked for Ballturret to get back to me with questions. He must be busy!

Aren't tail draggers harder to fly due to the P-Factor

The transition speeds, going from steering with the tailwheel until rudder authority is gained is when tail draggers are more difficult. The longer length of the wheel base (mains to tailwheel) help make an airplane more docile. I always make sure I have slight "toe-in" on the mains, which also helps. However, the Butterfly is a docile airplane, so I expect it's ground handling to be docile, also.

If there is much wind, the Butterfly doesn't taxi well at all, ( remember it has a 99" wing span ) in most cases your better off carrying it out setting it into the wind and just going for it. I had both steerable and swivelable (sp) tail wheels on mine and once used to them they all worked OK. IT's a cool plane. ENJOY !!! RED

I have run across some unclarities in the instructions. The biggest is when the fuselage is first assembled, your told to assemble upside down, over the plans. The plans show the fuselage from the top, so the view is backwards. This is especially confusing when looking at the firewall as the right thrust, upside down, is left, etc. There is also to few drawings showing die cut parts and the parts are not marked. So sometimes you have to guess which parts are the right parts!

I don't understand why companies don't catch these problems in their quality control departments!

My Butterfly is a Craftaire kit. Does anyone know if this kit was before or after Dynaflight? Wonder how the fit of the parts will be.

Thanks

Craftaire was the predecessor to Dynaflite. I'm unsure when the Craftaire became Dynaflite. I think sometime in the late 1980s, early 1990s. I think Dynaflite is a subsidiary of Great Planes.

Thanks

The butterfly was my first successfully built and flown kit. I didn't like the way the wing built with the webbing installed inbetween the two spars. At the time they called it an "I" beam wing. Was a pain in the patootie to get the webbing cut for a perfect fit between the spars. First flight was with a .15 Waaay underpowered, barely looped, if my instructor hadn't been there would have "re-kitted" itself. Had an os-20 (or was it a 25 - 16 years ago?) and now would literally fly out of my hand. My 15yr old son and I qualified on it at the club and spent 20 or so hours in the air.

Great Planes and Dynaflite have the same street address. If they aren't the same company, I would guess they at least share a garbage can.

Red Head, I would believe you are probably correct about ground handling in any wind.

I think the I-beam wing is more dificult to build; but, it is the strongest method and very light!

Lately it's been pretty windy out here
between 6 to 15 mph, its the to windy for
the Butterfly. What kind of wheather should
this be flown in?

Thanks

That depends on your flying skills and gut feelings. Myself 6 - 15 wouldn't be a problem, you just have to be a little carefull and pay attention to what you are doing!!! ENJOY !!! RED

I wouldn't choose to fly this airplane in much above 10 miles and hour. Seeings how your asking I strongly suggest nothing over 5 MPH.