Fiberglass Thermal Glider
10-13-2009, 05:56 PM
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Fiberglass Thermal Glider
Hi all,
I'm looking at designing and building a 2 to 3 metre thermal glider. I have experience in scratch building balsa planes and making some plugs that didn't quite work out.
I want the glider to have the following:
- Lightweight; Can a 2 to 3 metre full composite glider be close to a balsa one in weight?
- 4 channel; Ailerons, Elevator, Rudder and Spoilers.
- Relaxing to fly; I'm not trying to build the fastest glider. I'm trying to build a glider that is efficient in thermals and is sturdy enough for a hard landing/ground loop.
- Can fly in winds from 0-20kts.
- Tow hook for hi-start launches and maybe winch launches to.
I'm using a book called Aircraft Design: A Conceptual Approach by Daniel Raymer for initial sizing. I know the aerodynamics will be different because of the different reynolds number and wing loading ect. but I'm just using it as a starting point. Once I have the design, I'll use a RC aerodynamics book to confirm. Based on my reading so far, I'm going to design something like the following:
http://www.rc-sailplane.com.au/sailp...hp?gliderID=27
I saw a video on youtube nearly a year ago of a guy making a fiberglass glider (laying up the mold). I think it might've been in another language. Does anyone have the link?
Thanks in advance.
I'm looking at designing and building a 2 to 3 metre thermal glider. I have experience in scratch building balsa planes and making some plugs that didn't quite work out.
I want the glider to have the following:
- Lightweight; Can a 2 to 3 metre full composite glider be close to a balsa one in weight?
- 4 channel; Ailerons, Elevator, Rudder and Spoilers.
- Relaxing to fly; I'm not trying to build the fastest glider. I'm trying to build a glider that is efficient in thermals and is sturdy enough for a hard landing/ground loop.
- Can fly in winds from 0-20kts.
- Tow hook for hi-start launches and maybe winch launches to.
I'm using a book called Aircraft Design: A Conceptual Approach by Daniel Raymer for initial sizing. I know the aerodynamics will be different because of the different reynolds number and wing loading ect. but I'm just using it as a starting point. Once I have the design, I'll use a RC aerodynamics book to confirm. Based on my reading so far, I'm going to design something like the following:
http://www.rc-sailplane.com.au/sailp...hp?gliderID=27
I saw a video on youtube nearly a year ago of a guy making a fiberglass glider (laying up the mold). I think it might've been in another language. Does anyone have the link?
Thanks in advance.
