Dreamer
 

Hi,

A couple of weeks ago I finished this kit. I enjoyed a lot building it, no problem at all.

As this is my first biplane I hesitated a little bit before the first fly but than I flipped the propeller and "Let´s go ..."

I am experienced pilot (3D , pattern), but I was really busy to fly this one:

During the take off it moves on runway as on rails. Airborne: it gains altitude smoothly. When I try to make the first turn, at the beginning everything goes well, but suddenly it falls on wing. I was able to gain speed and level it, but from that moment I was much more tense. I tryed to land it at relatively high speed (just estimation, but it seems no coreect) but about 20 m before the runway the plane did not react to elevator and landed softly by itself.
The second fly was a little bit better: I added exponential to ailerons and throw to elevator. The take off was again very easy. I made all turns extremelly carefully to not repeat the same error.
I went for landing at much higher speed that with my pattern plane. The result was that I needed a lot of runway, but once it touched land it was again "as on rails".

CG is accoding to plans.

Is this behaviour normal for biplanes / Dreamer and I should get used to it, or should I check something?

Regards,

Marian

RE: Dreamer
 

The relationship between the top and bottom wing is very critical on a bipe.

If you have an incidence meter, check both wings. Usually, the bottom wing is Zero with the stab and the top wing is MINUS 1 to 1 and 1/2 degrees NEGATIVE to the stab.

RE: Dreamer
 

I have checked it again. The top wing´s angle of attack is 1/2 degree less that of the bottom´s wing. Although with this kind of cabane it depend a lot how do you positione the top wind. It can change +/- 0,5 degree.
I will try to positione it in the exactly same way as I had it during the measurement.

Any other idea?

RE: Dreamer
 

How many rubber bands are you using to hold the top wing on?

RE: Dreamer
 

Four - five on each half. (Hobbico #64)

RE: Dreamer
 

I would try placing a 1/8" shim under the rear side of the top trailing edge and see if it helps.

RE: Dreamer
 

OK, I will try, but I´ll start with 1/16"

RE: Dreamer
 

My Dreamer flies an lands very fast but you will soon become acquainted with the landing speed. Biplanes don't glide as well as pattern airplanes and like to be flown to the ground with no flare allowing the speed to bleed off on the ground. However an engine that likes to idle at high rpm can make landing difficult. Looks like you have a lot of prop.

The control surfaces need very little throw and the airplane is very neutral.

Have fun it is a great airplane.

Bill

RE: Dreamer
 

My Dreamer was set up with everything 0/0. It flew well under power (OS AX .46) but was a challenge to land. I always commented that the Dreamer looks much better than it flys

-Johnny-

RE: Dreamer
 

Flew my Dreamer again today to check comments about landing speed.

Like most Biplanes a slow idle rpm produces a very steep glide slope, which is expected and it lands easily. A high idle rpm creates a bear to land and it simply wants to continue flying. If the prop is turning a little fast at idle it is easy to understand difficulty landing.

Bill

RE: Dreamer
 

Marian,

In addition to previously mentioned ideas... I am wondering if you are using any differential in your ailerons? This may help. Sounds to me as you might be stalling out a wing with the ailerons.

A way to confirm this would be to try a rudder turn leaving the ailerons alone. Just something to try. Good luck.

RE: Dreamer
 

Marian....I have one of these and it is really a fine aircraft.Mine has now done over 60 flights and 12hrs flying. In the build I did change a few things..I put two small servos in the ailerons ,one each and a very small amount of differentail..Power is a OS40LA swinging a 10x6 prop...when hot a good low idle.also you might want to seriously look at your wing mounting. First off I dont use rubber bands ,it means that the wing can still move a very small bit,and each time you put the wings on you dont always get them it the exact spot each time.Secondly the cabane struts are very loss and the top wing can move around.I have made up fiberglass clamps and bolted the top wing on.Thirdly,USE the interplane struts they are there for a reason. I have made mine to bolt on ,after flying it with them only slotted as per plan.and it made heaps of difference the whole wing area is so muuh more solid.and the plane flew much better. Any time I go flying this is the first plane I take and often the only one I fly.It will land quite slow and fully in control right to the ground.When I decided to built this plane I had a look at this Rc site and there was so much negative about this plane I was a bit affraid to test fly it In the end just got on with the job and I really dont know what some of the guys did but it was really an anticlimax for the test flight. DONT change the rigging from the plan,as it is correct,just make sure you have it right. cheers Mintie

is this tread still active???i love dreamer bipes lol

I'm getting the bench cleaned off in order to start a Dreamer kit.

Mine sat in bones for almost 20 years. I posted pictures of it in bones back then. I showed the servos in the doors in the wings but never finished covering it until 2024. It is ready to fly with a webra speed .50 and tuned pipe. (a little overkill) I will post pictures and report on the maiden flight. I built so many planes in so many sizes with so many different power systems and still have not finished some framed up before the dreamer and so many after...I feel guilty. I'll die with so much to finish.

I have felt that way as well sometimes, I think it stems from not wanting to be wasteful, however I have recently been able to increase my objectivity about some projects that it became clear were bad kits that would require more effort to correct than they were worth. I give them away or sell them in rare instances or quietly gather the offending structures up and carry them to my back property burn pile after salvaging whatever good wood and hardware I can.

I guess what I'm trying to encourage you to do is to not beat yourself up.

Actually I lead a group every friday evening which builds in the winter and Flys in the good weather. I recently pulled out a number of combat gnats to complete with one member. I brought out a powered glider I framed up 20 years ago and another member just finished. We re-built a rekitted plane from a novice pilot. I am covering a 1/4 scale Hazel Sig clipped wing cub. I have a Carl Goldberg Anniversary Cub just finished awaiting Maiden. My Great Planes extra 300 is awaiting its first flight since a refit. I just picked up a 1/3 scale flybaby bipe that needs some TLC & interplainer struts and flying wires. I'm an AMA intro pilot instructor and my club's Vice President. I need something to do since I retired.

I just picked up a 1/3rd scale Flybaby Bipe kit so I'm glad to hear you have one! I may need to consult with you as I build mine, what engine does yours have? I've got a 52cc that I was planning on using since it falls within the recommended engine sizes but that is a really big plane with a lot of drag so I tend to think more might be better.

Love bipes
 

My Flybaby bipe has a g62 w/rcexl ignition with a 20x10 master airscrew, sullivan smoke system. I had to upgrade the servos as they were less than optimal. The previous owner lost the interplainer struts, flyingwires and landing gear in the process of an inter-state move. I ordered new plans and will reconstruct same.

My instruction book lists 29 feet of of braided cable as an item in the kit inventory so that's a lot flying wires I'd imagine. I would think Balsa USA could sell you the bent wire gear components.

What is a "Combat Gnat"?

A combat qnat was designed as a cheap durable combat plane. It has coroplast wings and enpenage with an aluminum channel fuse. Powered by a .15 glow engine and 3 channel controls. We built them en-mass (17) as a project for the group. It was a combat class at ama nationals.