smoking joe

The 2M Spirit is on the building board. I have built two vert. fins one to the plans and one at 1.25 scale according to mods. I found on internet. Has anyone built and flown this mod. and how did it perform or is it worth the time? Smoking Joe

SoCal GliderGuider

Having flown two that beginners have brought out I think you are on the right track.

Virgin_Blue

Hiya
A few hours ago, I took my spirit for its first flight.. It was build from a kit without any modifications to the plans... (after about 8 months of work...)
It was my first sailplane that I have built and flown...

I found it to be responsive enough during turns.. I dont know how it would cope/fly with stronger winds, as there was only a light breeze...

I'm thinking of constructing a second fuse so I can fit a electric motor to allow easier launches...

I'm really thrilled with my first flight and cant wait to get back into the air!!!!

--VB

SoCal GliderGuider

Flew on off of a very windy bluff (small cliff). Was a hand full keeping it turning. Had to lead it and keep the nose down to have rudder authority. But it's possible. Definately not an aileron sloper!

smoking joe

I think the rudder issue is precisely what Dr. Drela addresses with the increased size of fin and rudder his mod called for increasing by 1.25 I took plans to local blueprint shop and had them print the rudder and fin to 1.25 for about $5 it is massive compared to original but doesn't look out of proportion to horiz. stab and elev. there are even more mods to wing and fuselage but I don't know if I will follow those are just build the damn thing and fly. Smoking Joe

foamfan

The Spirit is a great beginner sailplane and mine has the sheeted tips modification (both top and bottom) and I wish I did the rudder modification as well since it needs some speed for rudder authority. I've thermaled it for more than an hour, not bad for a hand-me-down sailplane

smoking joe

I did the rudder mod after reading Drela's mods on the Internet, it is massive in comparison. I am building wing panels now have L inner and now L outer going slow as I have other projects in the making, I acquired a winch today which needs a lot of redoing, but I plan on doing the wings as to his suggestions. Will spend more time on this plane now that I have something to fly. SJ

aeajr

My Feedback: (2)

Have flown the Spirit 2M for about a year. It is more of a light to moderate wind plane. You can add ballast, and that helps but is it still more of a floater.

I have heard of suggestions for a larger rudder.

Could you post a link to this site with the mods?

aeajr

My Feedback: (2)

Here is one way to put a motor on a Spirit without permanently mounting it so you can fly with or without a motor.

MODIFYING THE PLANE FOR AN ELECTRIC REMOVALBE POWER POD

My original interior layout used two CS-61 standard servos which sat under the
wing, which is the standard placement. That arrangement required about 4 oz of
lead in the nose weight compartment for balance. This is pretty typical for a
Spirit, or so I am told.

During my learning period using a winch I crashed the plane which required lots of repairs. So, I decided to make improvements in the process.

The first change was to embed about 1 oz of lead in the nose block which gets
it about 1" further forward than the ballast box. Then I moved the R/E servos forward, to the
rear of the receiver compartment. The standard size cs-61 servos that were
already in the plane just fit here and the weight forward helped further reduce balance weight.

I switched to a Micro 555 receiver, instead of the original 3 channel AM
receiver so I have a channel for motor control. Its small size allowed
me to use reuse the standard servos in this placement.

With this 3 inch shift forward of the servo weigh, a change to the Micro 555
receiver, plus a 1" shift forward of weight to the nose block, I reduced the net balance lead and end up with a plane that is 2 ozs lighter.

A second change was to switch to golden 'n rod control rods for the
elevator and rudder so I could run them down the sides of the plane. The
standard control rods ran down the center. This opens up the space under the
wing, which is right over the CG, to accomodate a 2100 mah nicad battery pack
to power the Speed 600 power pod.

Now I can convert from sailplane to e-glider at will. Placing the
battery directly over the CG means I don't have to rebalance the plane on the change over.

With these changes I have a lighter plane and gain the
flexibility to add electric power at will, or have a very convenient place to
add ballast weight when I am flying in heavy wind. I always found it
challenging to find a well balanced place to add ballast. Now it is easy.

If you like the power pod idea, that is about $32 at www.towerhobbies.com.

How's that for making the best of a crash?

aeajr

My Feedback: (2)

Here you can see where I put the battery.

Photo shows original fuse - note servo rails in center.

smoking joe

AEAJR I got the mods from the Charles River RC group. www.charlesriverrc.org I can't find the original site I found it on but it covers the rudder wing and fuselage mods or beefing it up. Smoking Joe

aeajr

My Feedback: (2)

OK, I am familiar with the Charles River sight.

smoking joe

AEAJR Go to web site and use their search, type in Spirit 2m modifications. I found it just now. I used this information to build vert. fin and rudder. Any blueprint shop will blow up your plans if not e-mail for a copy. Smoking Joe

aeajr

My Feedback: (2)

Thanks Joe.

Mine is flying just fine. I have read the Charles River documents.

smoking joe

AEAJR Sorry I got wires crossed I thought you wanted site where I got mods.My Spirit is coming along slowly the canopy has thrown me a couple of loops. Hope to work out kinks tonite.
Smoking Joe

Zandona

Ok so I've been flying a little park flyer http://www.hobbypeople.net/gallery/160520.asp and learning on my own for about two-three months now. A week ago I bought my Spirit and today I flew it for the first time at Torrey Pines with the Torrey Pines Gulls. MAN it was awesome, west wind at about 10mph, great lift and a lot of guys willing to help a beginner out. I haven't landed it yet because I decided I wanted to bring the plane in one piece back home after its first flight but I had a great time and even got some loops . Anyway if anyone out there is considering to buy a Spirit I would say it's definetly a very good choice, just one thing, the elevator throw is a little too responsive but of course that can be changed.

aeajr

My Feedback: (2)

Great report on the slope flying of the Spirit!

Joe, we will look forward to progress reports and pictures if you have any.

smoking joe

Man this canopy is killing me! I have fiddled with that damn thing a week now and I'm still not satisfied with the fit, I have a gap at back of canopy that is 1/8" and the idea of a rubber band hold down. Ugh. I have decided to paint inside of canopy, detailing that head with my artistic abilities would result in a prison term. Any ideas out there?
Would love to try slope soaring but down here slopes are non existent, hills in these parts are gosh ten to fifteen feet high. Would like to hear more on the slope soaring and some pics. Smoking Joe

AcintSpec

Joe:

Between the Spirit and the Aspire, I had a duece of a time with the canopy that was supplied. Finally said the heck with it and built one out of balsa, sanded to the shape I wanted. Used a ply 'tongue' on the front and rubber band across the front dowels for the back (lazy way out). Can use nyrod across the bottom of canopy and inner nyrod through the fuse to the outer nyrod on the bottom of the canopy to hold things down too.

R/Gene

aeajr

My Feedback: (2)

The canopy of the Spirit is a fitting problem, but it looks very nice when done.

RRW_SOAR

aeajr

Coul you please post more pictures from the pod you installed in your Spirit? I close up would be cool.

Regards.

aeajr

My Feedback: (2)

Attached are four shots.

1) I have not flown it with the pod yet, so I can not report on performance. The first time I took it out, I dropped the pod and broke he mount before I even put it on the plane. The second day I was winch launching the plane in heavy wind and a gust came up and over stressed the left wing and broke it, so the Spirit is back in the repair shop.

2) I had it set up with an on/off switch and a servo, but replaced that with an ESC before I ever put it on the plane.

3) It is built from a Great Planes kit - Speed 600 direct drive - 7 cells sup C 2100 MAH

It is made for the Spirit, but the kit comes with 3 different mount options so that it can be put on any 2 meter plane. I would guess that the plane should be under 40 ounces all up weight before you put the pod on it. Mine, with the pod and batteries is about 57 ounces.

aeajr

My Feedback: (2)

Here are two shots showing the component layout and battery placement which is directly over the CG. If you look at the old fuse you see that the servo rails are in the center. In the new fuse the servos have been moved forward. Made room for the battery and reduced balance weight by about 3 ounces as well.

Pod and battery sit directly over the CG, so no rebalancing needed when I mount the pod and battery.

smoking joe

AEAJR: Your are correct in it's a pain. Sprayed inside of canopy with silver MonoKote paint, great look no problem, outlined trimming lines with stripe tape no problem cuts were beautiful, didn't want pilot seeing, getting scared and taking over. Now comes problem, CA gluing canopy to base, neatly clean paint from glue line and started with CA WHAMMO drop of CA in eye. Three hours in ER and one eye I can't see out of. Nurse asks how it happened, I explain I was building model airplane She ask if I'm a little "old" to be playing with planes, this from a person whose hobby is snacking, major stockholder in "Twinkies". While waiting on ride to hospital light up smoke lay canopy down on hot butt, now section that goes over wing has hole in it more $%^&*(#@@. Now I have great looking canopy with "butt" missing. Sunday morning finds me with one sore eye, an unfinished plane, and more rain on the way. Life is great. Smoking Joe

aeajr

My Feedback: (2)

I won't even ask how you got the CA in your eye.

Hope you eye clears up. The heck with the plane.