Micro Manta HLG
04-03-2009, 03:17 PM
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Micro Manta HLG
Hey Folks,
I've been tinkering with this thing for a while now and finally have it all trimmed out and
thermalling quite well. Its wing and tail are based off the full size Manta DLG, but the
kevlar pod is my own, borrowed from the idea from another micro HLG.
It started with a full flying elevator, but I couldnt get rid of 100% of the slop in the linkages,
so I simplified and went with a standard fixed elevator. The current wing is solid balsa
and has a very slight airfoil sanded in, but the one in the pictures is of the fully built up balsa
and durobatics version I made with an AG03 airfoil, but I havent tried it yet. The wings are
easily interchangeable.
Span is 19.5 inches, 14.5" long, CF tube for the boom, 1/16" balsa tail feathers and main wing.
RX is from the E-Flight mCX heli, 75mah 1S lipo, AUW of around 18 grams, wingloading at
2.3oz/sq ft.
I'm able to SAL it quite hard and it gets really good penetration and height for its size and
weight. I've gotten several 2+ minute flights on it, thermalling over a culdesack or a small
hill, it'll grab pretty much any rising currents.
I've been trying to get a video for about a week, but so far no luck, hopefully soon though.
I'll post it up when I've got one. Pretty pleased with it though, I'm still learning the ropes when
it comes to gliders and thermalling, but this one makes it pretty easy, and you can easily bring it
and fly it anywhere.
Nick
I've been tinkering with this thing for a while now and finally have it all trimmed out and
thermalling quite well. Its wing and tail are based off the full size Manta DLG, but the
kevlar pod is my own, borrowed from the idea from another micro HLG.
It started with a full flying elevator, but I couldnt get rid of 100% of the slop in the linkages,
so I simplified and went with a standard fixed elevator. The current wing is solid balsa
and has a very slight airfoil sanded in, but the one in the pictures is of the fully built up balsa
and durobatics version I made with an AG03 airfoil, but I havent tried it yet. The wings are
easily interchangeable.
Span is 19.5 inches, 14.5" long, CF tube for the boom, 1/16" balsa tail feathers and main wing.
RX is from the E-Flight mCX heli, 75mah 1S lipo, AUW of around 18 grams, wingloading at
2.3oz/sq ft.
I'm able to SAL it quite hard and it gets really good penetration and height for its size and
weight. I've gotten several 2+ minute flights on it, thermalling over a culdesack or a small
hill, it'll grab pretty much any rising currents.
I've been trying to get a video for about a week, but so far no luck, hopefully soon though.
I'll post it up when I've got one. Pretty pleased with it though, I'm still learning the ropes when
it comes to gliders and thermalling, but this one makes it pretty easy, and you can easily bring it
and fly it anywhere.
Nick
04-03-2009, 03:47 PM
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RE: Micro Manta
Now that's a cool little design. The small size really lends to its appeal. You could take that thing ANYWHERE and be able to have something to fly.
04-04-2009, 11:11 AM
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RE: Micro Manta
Thanks! Yeah after having problems fitting a full size DLG in my car, this seemed like
a good idea, if I remove the wing it actually fits in the glove box, along with the little
TX and charger. Its perfect for when the woman drags you grocery shopping, you
can just thermal away in the parking lot while she does the shopping...just tell her you
have to go to the bathroom
Theres a few more changes I'd like to make to it, but they might go into the 2nd version.
ParkZone has come out with a 6 channel RX, so flaps and ailerons are now possible at
this size. A 24" span with a better pod and wing should be perfect. A micro hotliner would
be pretty fun too...
The weather is turning south on us again, cold and snow till Tuesday it seems, things look
much better after that, so I'll try again to get a video and updated pictures.
Nick
a good idea, if I remove the wing it actually fits in the glove box, along with the little
TX and charger. Its perfect for when the woman drags you grocery shopping, you
can just thermal away in the parking lot while she does the shopping...just tell her you
have to go to the bathroom
Theres a few more changes I'd like to make to it, but they might go into the 2nd version.
ParkZone has come out with a 6 channel RX, so flaps and ailerons are now possible at
this size. A 24" span with a better pod and wing should be perfect. A micro hotliner would
be pretty fun too...
The weather is turning south on us again, cold and snow till Tuesday it seems, things look
much better after that, so I'll try again to get a video and updated pictures.
Nick
04-10-2009, 01:16 PM
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RE: Micro Manta HLG
Finally got some video, though its a poor showing of what the gliders capeable of - weather conditions werent great.
The wing thats on it in the video is a solid balsa wing, but it needs something thicker cause it will flutter if I launch it
too hard, so the heights reached in the video are lower than what it can actually attain.
The weather is slowly improving around here, finally, so hopefully a better video of some better footage will be possible.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUicDFWqS7k
Nick
The wing thats on it in the video is a solid balsa wing, but it needs something thicker cause it will flutter if I launch it
too hard, so the heights reached in the video are lower than what it can actually attain.
The weather is slowly improving around here, finally, so hopefully a better video of some better footage will be possible.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUicDFWqS7k
Nick
11-01-2011, 05:45 PM
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RE: Micro Manta HLG
This bird is really cool. Do you still have it? I have been looking for something exactily like this to build and fly. Just a few guestions. Do you have any photos of how you constructed the wing or can you describe how you made it strong enough to handle those launches? It would be great if you could provide some more construction details. You did a great job with this little guy and it looks like it flies great.
