Does anyone have any info, on the Air-Borne Models " Sky Runner E240 " e-Powered sailplane ? ... I'm considering buying it and have been unable to get more than basic info... The dealers site is no help... What I'm interested in finding out, is... how is the construction, and if anyone has flown one... How it behaves. I'd appreciate any info that can be provided... Thanks, Charlie.

Hi I love it!

I have reviewed it under world models Sky Runner.

Build tips - epoxy bulkheads motor bay. If you are a beginner and will be landing on hard surfaces you could light fiberglass tape rear fuselage where stabiliser meets fuselage. (I cracked mine against tree hiking to slopesoaring site).

Pluses - Performance reasonably good and is very predictable - can learn to fly airelons (basic aerobatics too) then learn to slope with assistance of motor if you get in trouble.

Easy to repair! Needs fairly strong lift to be considered a thermaller!

Here in HK have had "limitless flight" in both thermal and slope conditions.

Regards SB

SB,

I'm considering the Sky Runner and have read of several folks who have upgraded either the motor, batteries or both.

Have you stayed with the stock recommended motor and 8cell NiMh battery? If you upgraded why and to what?

Thanks

I have had a great time with my Sky Runner and Sky Walker E Gliders. Both running stock motors, gearbox and prop. I use a Hyperion 1800mah 2s lipos, Berg 4L receiver and GWS Naro servos, Kontronic Sun 1002+ 18amp esc. Keeps the gilders very light and they both fly very well. The sky runner launches very easy and flys like an arrow, until I take control. The sky runner will thermal in summer. The high capacity battery allow for more than six climbs and plenty of flying time. You have to run servo extension leads in the wing.
I have just swapped the receiver to a six channel to experiment with flaperon and spoileron mixing, this helps to bring the plane down easier, as they can float a lot. Although part of the challenge for me is to circle and land close to my desired landing spot and not have to walk too far to pick it up.

These planes, as with all built up wing gliders can be fragile in beginners hands. They are very good fliers, and great valve for money. I fly mine nearly everytime I go to the flying field. Always getting asked about the model from interested onlookers.

I ran the stock motor in water first, on low voltage to bed the brushes. Will replace with a small direct drive brushless if it fails.

I also have the Sky Runner EP.

Great little plane. I matched it up with a brushless and it will go straight up!

Here is hte build:
http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20108

Only problem is that I think the h-stab is up a bit in the back so I am getting too much up, even when the elevator is at neutral. I will have to somehow remount it.

Other than that it flies great on this combo.

I spent some time working on the wing incidence today. I added some shims to the back of the wing to bring the wing angle and h-stab angles better in line.

Net net, it is flying much better. I had an 11:04 thermal flight today. Felt good! Also flies better under power too.

OK I've gone brushless, what a difference!
My solution was to fit a small direct dive brushless, a KDA22-10s. I filled the hole in the foreward bulkhead where the gearbox used to sit, and mounted the motor in front, cut out the cowling to fit over the motor. A supplied adapter is bolted to the front of the motor and the standard prop hob drilled slightly to bolt up, also using standard prop blades. Looks a little weird as the prop now sits further forward from the cowling, but this may allow some airflow to motor.

Gave good rpm on bench with two cell lipo, but have flown with 1300 mah 3s lipo. I am pleasantly surprised with this little motor and my much rejuvenated Sky Runner. Will fly vertical.

Can you provide a link to info on that brushless? Also, any photos you could post showing the installation would be very helpful. Where do you have the battery?

Do you have a wattmeter? I would love to know how much power you are pulling. If you are going straight up on a 3 cell lipo you are probably drawing at least 12 amps on the bench.

This motor is sold under different brand names, I originally bought them as Dynam from a local supplier at twice the price.

https://www.unitedhobbies.com/UNITED...idProduct=2104
Look at image 3 to see the supplied hardware, including prop adaptor, prop saver, mounts, connectors, spare shaft etc.

Was more test data, but the forum has been changed. Someone has commented that with "GWS DD9050 = 14 Amps, 700g trust, 8,300Rpm."
I measured slightly higher RPM with stock world models folding prop and my 12month old lipos, about 8600rpm.

The 22-10 refers to 22mm diameter to inside of magnets and the 10mm magnet length. I would have tried the next size up 22-15m, but had the smaller motor sitting there, it's fine for me in the Sky Runner. I use the KDA 22-15m in Hyperion Cub10e and Super Chipmunk 10e, and Great Planes Fokker D.VII. They do not lack for power. Have a KDA 36-16m in a World Models EP Sailor 2m gilder, 25amp esc, 2100mah 3s, same mounting as the Sky Runner. The vertical take off and climb is stunning.

This photo shows plywood disk filling hole in forward bulkhead, motor is bolted to other side (back mounted on 'x' shaped mount). The hole at top of the disk is for the motor shaft to protrude back, with shaft on same alignment as the previous gearbox shaft. A 1300mah 3s battery is kept forward against no 2 bulkhead with foam block, to balance model, there is room for many battery options.

This photo on motor exposed due to cut out cowling. Perhaps not pretty, but functional.

Here is a photo of my motor installation

Purchased it from Wold models - outrunner 28/26 for gearbox use. Bl 2804 ishte designation.

I have it attached to the stock gearbox. Perfect match.

Hi Ed

I like your clean installation, had followed the link back to your build. But also like the direct drive, it's a bit quieter without those straight cut gears.
Was just a spur of the moment decision, to try a motor I had sitting in the spare parts box. I'm pleased to report that it works well, and with the stock prop. May have to tone down my ailerons throws now it flys faster. Have it just a touch nose heavy and it glides faster than before and is better in windy conditions. Using up some old lipos that are starting to puff, will try it soon with a little 2s lipo to see how it glides/thermals in the right conditions.

These really are versatile little planes, great valve for money, and for me lots of fun.

Kotuku,

Did you stay with the Kontronic Sun 1002+ 18amp esc when you went with the brushless motor or did you switch to something else?

Nope you have to swap the speed controller to a brushless one. I used an 18 amp Dynam one that came as a combo with the motor. I have several other of the manufacturer in this link (they are sold under various brand names): https://www.unitedhobbies.com/UNITED...idProduct=4218
I also have the program card to make setup of the speed controller easier, although it is not necessary. https://www.unitedhobbies.com/UNITED...idProduct=2169 The Brushless motor and speed controller from United Hobbies cost less than I paid for the Sun 1002+. The plane was fine on stock motor and gearbox, but once you try a brushless setup you would not go back. I am pleased that this setup flys well with the stock prop and prop hub, as it saves finding and purchasing a suitable replacement.

I hope you have as much fun with your Sky Runner as I do.

Here is the published review I did for RCUniverse magazine. It includes video.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/a...article_id=937

Net Net, I love the plane and highly recommend it. It is fun in stock configuration but if you drop in the brushless and go to a 3 cell lipo the fun factor goes through the roof.

For aerobatics, it becomes faster and much more agile.

For thermal soaring it gets 15% lighter.

Good stuff.

I have tested the Skyrunner brushless setup with 2 cell lipo batteries. Even cheap Loong max 1300mah 2s fitted right up front behind the firewall.
Still very flyable and lighter, however the gliding performance did not seem significantly better than with 3s battery, and you will miss the fun of the 3s performance.

When you went from 3 cell to two, did you rebalance the plane?

Hi Ed

Yes I had to cut out the opening on the no 2 bulkhead (where the back of the brushed motor was), to get the 2s battery all the way forward.
Balanced it about the same as the 3s option, a little nose heavy. Perhaps I need to balance more carefully.

Hi,

Here is a night variant of this plane. I tried it several times during winter nights with strong wind. It looked like a real UFO.

Now THAT is very cool!