Night Flying, Which plane? Ideas?
 

I have been wanting to build a plane dedicated to flying only in the dark. I am looking at kits right now trying to get an idea of what might work well. I want something that is a capable sport flyer yet can slow down nicely. It must have easy inverted flight capability too.

The plan is to use clear to translusent covering all over the plane. Light it with LEDs and Light-rope. I was even thinking about adding some form of landing lights that I could switch on by the TX.


Possible planes on my list are these 40 size birds:

Sig Midstar
GP Easy Sport
Lainer Stinger
Topflight Contender

I would love to see what other planes people have built for night flight. Any advise in this arena would be helpful.

Thanks!

RE: Night Flying, Which plane? Ideas?
 

Well, IMO i'd start with something small and you don't mind crashing. How it is very possible to fly at night, the landing is not the easiest. You need a lot of landing lights that point down and forward. You also need to fly high enough to avoid trees and the ground. As far as the planes go, I would not like to fit lights in the foam wings of the Stinger, the other wings are built up and easier to wire. The contender is a sport plane, but will not be as aerobatic as the Easy Sport. The midstar is also a aerobatic aircraft, but like the easy sport you need to extend the control surfaces, to get the most control out of the aircraft. And don't forget to fly and fly and fly the airplane before you even think to fly it at night. Good Luck! Ron

RE: Night Flying, Which plane? Ideas?
 

I plan on getting stick time at early evening and dusk. As for trees.... Not a problem we have none near our field :) My plan was to have some one using a rather large spot light on the runway on landings. I have also seen glow sticks used to light up runways at night events. I know the landings will be a challenge and that's why I want to be able to slow it down allot. As for aerobatics I just want it to be able to do basic rolls and loops, maybe a hammer head but since it's night time I don't want to get to crazy.

All of the above planes in my list would be no big deal if I smacked it in. I am a very accomplished daytime flyer and I wanted to try my hand at something new. :D

RE: Night Flying, Which plane? Ideas?
 

Ive always thought an uproar would make a great night flyer. nice and docile. im gonna build 2 of them this winther. maybe one will get clear covering! :)

RE: Night Flying, Which plane? Ideas?
 

My Telemaster 40 isn't the most aerobatic plane on the planet, (far from it!) but with 88 red, green and yellow LED's illuminating the inside of the red, green and yellow transparent Monokote, it looks like a flying Christmas Tree! The Saito 56 is plenty powerful enough to pull it up with authority.

They are powered by a separate 5 cell 2000 maH Nicd battery and will run the lights for more than 2 hours

A better choice if I had it to do over again would be a Senior Telemaster because it does not have leading edge sheeting that prevents the light from being seen from the front. On the little Telemaster, I cut 2" lighting holes (not lightening holes) and put the LED's into the spar webs, plus inside the fuselage and stab and leading edges and fuselage sides.

Let's say just about everywhere.

Power it with a 60 to 90 size four cycle and it'll float around beautifully.

Aerobatic planes are also good candidates for night flying, but only if you can determine which side is up.

Contrary to someone elses comment, landing is VERY easy. We mark the runway ends with candles placed in plastic cups and the touchdowns are very smooth.

Just be sure to NEVER fly when the moon is out. Even a crescent moon.

Or even worse, when someone headlights are on approaching the field.