I've just gotten a new Avistar fuselage in the mail, and will be mating it with the original wing and tail feathers from the first one that crashed on me. No problem...

While waiting for the new fuse to get to me, I tried my hand at repairing the damaged fuse. I replaced the right side from the aft radio compartment bulkhead all the way forward. It looks right with no warping. Now for the question...

I know that I can pretty much build a new set of stabs, but I've never built a whole wing. I ordered a plan for a trainer kit from RC Modeler magazine today that looks similar to the Avistar and lists the wingspan as the same measurements. Do you think I could graft this wing onto the rebuilt fuse I have?

The fuse is cut for the "Semi-symetrical" airfoil, but I was thinking I could either pad it or insert a straight wing saddle to seat the wing if it is a flat bottom.

Does anyone see any problem w/doing this?

Also, I was planning on making this one a tail dragger. Comments?

Thanks!

Don:

There should be no problem with either idea.

The only possible nasty I see is the incidence of the wing, but that will be easily adjusted after the test flight.

Bill.

You might also have to adjust for the chord of the wing, but it too shouldn't be too big a deal.

Good luck,
Dennis-

if the new wing is a semi and the first was a flat then your wing loading will be higher and thus the plane wil be harder to fly. (nasty #2)
if you have the plans then you can cut new ribs and build the exact same wing. scratching off plans isnt as hard as it is made to be. how you tink they did it before di cut and laser cuting was availible?

-edit-
wow, i wasnt thinging all that well when i chose my words on this one...

Wing loading is measured in units of weight per unit of wing area, and the airfoil has no direct impact on wing loading. Changing the size of the wing or changing the flying weight will change the loading.

Be aware that some flat bottom airfoils need to fly with negative incidence or engine downthrust. The Clark Y on the J-3 Cub is a classic example of this. If you simply slap the flap bottom wing in place of the semi-, it may surprise you on the first takeoff by leaping skyward. Be prepared to either shim the trailing edge up or add engine downthrust, maybe both. Again, the swap may work perfectly, but there is the possibility that it will need more trimming than you might think.

Thanks for the input folks! Since this is now going to be my winter project, I'll have to update you all after the first spring flight. Wish me luck!

yea... dont no what i was thinking... anyway, you no what i ment right? it will change the amount of lift you get while maintaining the same weight...

Yup, got it......BTW, the original wing is Semi-semetrical. That's the one I repaired and is on the new fuse. As a matter of fact, I went flying this last Sunday w/my instructor and he was very impressed w/the repair job....considering I didn't have any plans to go by, just copied the shape from the good wing. Plane flys great w/NO trimming!

The new wing I'm awaiting plans for looks like it is flat bottomed. So that means it should be easier to fly, right? Forgiving flat bottoms?

I might need to ask someone where I need to position the landing gear since I am re-making this plane from a trike to a tail dragger. Any suggestions as to where I should position the main gear would be appreciated. The fuse is an Avistar 40.

dont have an avistar but i have a tail drager trainer, i think mine are somthing like 8" from front of fuse, all i really no is that their in front of all the radio gear. hope this helps, just make sure the plane doesent tip over the mains easy and it should be good.

donhef:

If you place the main gear so that the wheel axels are directly under the leading edge of the wing you will be good. I did the exact same mod to my Avistar.

Miloh.