DominicM

John, the Chairman of Elvington Model Flyers, demonstrates the beautiful 4.3 metre Libelle fitted with an electric ducted fan power system that self-propels it to altitude enabling him to hunt for lift from thermals to extend his flight duration using an audible variometer on the transmitter. Notice how the power pod deploys when the throttle stick is used and retracts into the fuselage automatically so the aerodynamic efficiency of this glider is not affected. With the power system and 8S lipo battery the 4.3 metre Libelle weighs approximatley 6.8 KG.

JohnMac

Hi Dominic,
Thanks for posting this video here. I am still fine tuning the Libelle, but its gradually homing in on the sweet spot. I said it had a Migflight Jetec E20 in the Video. It's not, it's an E80! It's a perfect combination for the model.
I flew it one day on my holiday, down on the Lleyn Peninsula in very light winds, over Hells Mouth beach. It is a beach reknowned by surfers I believe and is a spectacular place to fly. I had no need of the EDF, but I was happy to have it aboard that day. The wind came and went and one or two people had lucky escapes. If you go down you are landing in the Irish Sea.
The video Dominic made was taken at Elvington Airfield. During the war it was home to several Halifax Squadrons of the RCAF and the Free French Air force.
There is an air Museum next door that has a memorial to those heroes.
John

DominicM

Was a pleasure to film it in action John. Hope I get up to Elvington again soon. Long trip but such a great place to see RC aircraft in action.

speedamigo

Here's a video of another FW-Models Libelle flown on a slope in Italy
It has a FES which of course was not used on slopes witch such a good lift.....

JohnMac

What a beautiful flight speedamigo. I only managed two slope flights with the Libelle last year because I was so busy. Both flights were in light wind conditions. Hopefully this year I can make some time to really wring her out in big lift.