What do you guys think about a built up wing for q-500? Its a lot of work, but do you think that one could be made lighter than a foam/wood or composite wing? I was thinking about covering it in silk, total old school, plus it would be a little stonger, do you think that it could be competetive if it was built properly?

Jeff

Don't waist your time Jeff, unless it is for "coolness" factor at your races. Which we had a guy out here in FL that built some Rat Racer mid wing thing that had a built up wing. If nothing else, it was very cool to watch fly.

All the composite NemeQ, Vortex, and Phoenix wings at the Nats were between 13.5 oz and 15 oz. And I believe all the NemeQ's were right on 3.5lbs... The heaviest Vortex might of been 2oz over? which is not a big deal. My two and Travis' two were right at 3.5lbs...

As far as strength, the composite wings are strong enough, so you wouldn't gain there either.

I wouldn't think there is anything to gain. The strength in the skins of a composite is far better than built up with monocote or silk span as well....

I've seen and had built up wings that were competitive. they make for a cool mid-air when it happens, lot of bits to flutter down.

With the thin 12% airfoil that is used for quickie I doubt that a built-up wing would be any stronger than a foam and balsa wing much less a composite. To approach the same strength you'd need to have a fully sheeted wing. Then it wouldn't be any lighter at all. If you don't use full sheeting, all those open rib bays that are covered with silk/dope or monokote will be oscillating with the vibration of the motor and the wind stream creating drag and making airfoil choice irrelevant.

If the airfoil were much thicker, say like on a fun-fly type plane, a built-up wooden structure would be much stronger for its weight. On a quickie tho, it would be much easier and faster to build with foam and balsa.

Afterthought: I weighed a set of cores for a quickie recently. All-up weight of the foam for a quickie wing was 2.5 oz. If you get rid of the foam, you have to add a spar and probably carbon fiber reinforcement which of course adds weight.

Burgster:

I understand perfectly your seek for a better and competitive way to build a Q500 other than composite.

Definetevely now a days composite wings are the most effective and fast ones, anyhow for those like me who doesnt have the knowledge and/or technology to make composite airplanes its a must to find a way of building Q500´s which allow us to compete with the composite ones.

In my opinion, the closer to a composite wing in strenght and perfection which doesnt require advanced building techniques would be a foam/balsa wing glass sheeted Top and Bottom (I think the Force or the R-200 Wing are built like this)

Best Regards
Victor.