Anybody out there having experience with and interest in the Elfi park flyer? This neat plane is normally marketed thru NE Sailplane, but I have seen ads for it on one or two other sites.

I have two of the Elfi's, one with ailerons, the other without. The non-aileron verson (I call mine Elfi #1) has seen its share of hard knocks but has been a most enjoyable plane. It now serves as a test bed for motor changes, prop/gear box combinations, and soon to be some stall fench evaluations. (the little bugger is tip stall sensitive).

Elfi #2, the aileron version, is much more aerobatic.

I would be interested in sharing info and experiences with other Elfi enthusiasts.

Thanks, and looking forward to hearing from someone.

I consider myself somewhat (very) attached to the Elfi design. I have 2, both are rudder versions and my only upgrade thus far has been the high performance m100? motor upgrade from Nesail. I've had 3 or 4 major crashes with the damage in the form of dented leading edge and the boom broken at the motor mount. The tail has also broken off. The nosegear has changed shapes many times and is now a paper clip bent in the proper shape. Other than that, it has proven very durable and my dog wears herself out chasing it.

From the beginning, I found the Elfi's to be tip stall sensitive, thus I have had to repair/replace a portion of the carbon fiber tube boom that supports the motor due to nose-in earth encounters. I fabricated a motor mount out of brass tubing that just fits inside the carbon boom shaft. Shaping the brass tube to cradle the motor, I can remove the adapter as needed. Surprisingly, once I upgraded to Speed 300 motors and APC props, I found the tip stall sensitivity to be less of a problem. Very likely, I simply learned how to fly better!

I also enjoy shooting for real high altitudes, finding a thermal, and then really pushing the envelop for manuvers. Elfi with ailerons clearly does better in these conditions. I will probably get another one, just for stock!

RDS

My Elfi crashes were caused by...1) extreme turbulence around a building 2) hitting a tetherball pole 3) generally flying into trees. I also had to replace the front of the boom with an aluminium sleeve to make up for some lost material. I have enjoyed flying it into low overcasts until it is completeley out of site and then spinning out of the bottom of the cloud.

Have you found the front landing gear of the Elfi to be less than secure? The design has the assembly easily shearing loose or off of the two small screws holding the landing gear wire. I modified the one on Elfi #2 to hold on a little better. I changed out the front landing gear on Elfi #1 completely, using a control horn for a 1/2A size model and a small wheel. Looks a little odd but it is working.

RDS

My Elfi nosegear has been "reconfigured"many times. It seems that if it did not break then something else might so it may not be a bad thing. Interesting to hear about the control horn. As said above, a paper clip (the thick ones) work well also. Let me know how your stall fence experiments progress. Perhaps some leading edge slats are next for you...
Kip

Any possibility you will try the Elfi with ailerons? I find this version to really open up the possibility for neat moves, namely aileron rolls, Immelmans, etc. I have gotten it upside down once or twice, but that is not the preferred flying posture.

Also, if you do get the aileron version, be advised some aileron differential makes a hell of a difference. My first set up had lots of down, not to much up. The plane would yaw to one side and force me to use rudder in order to make a tight, controlled turn.

After readjusting the linkage to provide more up and down, I can fly it thru turns without need for rudder. However, with rudder, you can really snap it around, similar to a high speed hammer head. Aileron rolls are "de rigeur" now. The trick is to initially feed in rudder, then follow thru with aileron.

I am considering trying one of those small sensorless motors for additional power. Presently, battery size and capacity is a limiting factor for brushless configurations.

Doug Sipprell
Rock Hill, SC

I have considered Elfi with ailerons but I decided against it because I enjoy the plane mostly for it's slow flight characteristics rather than aerobatics. I also was thinking of keeping it simple. I would like to try the aileron version someday and who knows I may end having to get a third Elfi! Keep me informed on any motor experiments. I am pretty happy with the M-100 but am curious anyway.
Kip

I would be interested in how you attached the M100 motor to the Elfi. I had a Micro-Lite which had what I believe to be the M100 motor. The case was somewhat rectangular versus clyindrical for the speed 280/300/400 type motors. If you have a photo (digital) you might upload it to the members gallary for viewing. I have three photos uploaded to the gallary, one of which is Elfi #2, prior to the modifications.

Regards,

RDS

After a few incidents where the motor needed to be reinstalled I kept trying to use electrical tape as the factory had. Whenever the tape heated up, things got mushy and the motor would get pretty loose. I finally settled on using plastic tie wraps that so far have worked very well. As for the M100, this motor fits perfectly on my aluminum adaptor for the boom that I made. It's flat side fits perfectly on the half-circle shape of the aluiminum. Two tie wraps hold it tight One goes under the brass shaft perfectly. No more eclectrical tape! As for uploading images, there is something in my computer that will not allow it so check this page from my site...http://www.springeraviation.net/m100motor.html

Kip

Just posted pics of Elfi on my site...check
http://www.springeraviation.net/rcstuff.html

Thanks for the photo. Good closeup. I recognize the motor as the one I had (still do) for the now defunct Micro-Lite. I would be interested in how you arranged for a flat spot on the aluminum tube/motor mount. I used brass, and then formed the top part of the protruding brass tubing using a hammer and nail set. I supported the bottom half of the tubing in a solid balsa block while pounding away at the top of the tube to form it. It gives a cradle-like interface. I too use nylon ties, and then pour some epoxy around the sides to form a more complete holding surface.

Your three channel Elfi (versus 4 channel) is one of the later models. The wing is completely red in color. Earlier versions, such as my Elfi #1, had orange outer wing panels, red inner panels. I may have asked this before, but where did you obtain the M100 motor?

Thanks again for the photo. Really nice and descriptive.

RDS

My motor "mount" is just a piece of aluminium tubing slid over the boom with a half inch or so ground halfway down to form a sort of scoop. The M100 is from www.nesail.com. It is a much lighter motor and probably puts out an additional 20% thrust...
Kip

Thanks for the info. I will have to go up on the NESail website and browse around.

RDS