Sean,
The span is 3.5m (137 inches). Wings are molded glass over a foam core.
The whole airplane is molded glass. I guess the weight at 27 pounds with a JetCat P-80

It's from the Werner Kranz kit now sold by : [link]http://www.paf-shop.de/[/link]

That's a good call going with a different airfoil. Aspect ratio, taper ratio, and low reynolds number all combine to make tip stall quite likely. Combine that with airfoils that weren't designed for this regime and it could be ugly. I may use the current wing set I have if they have some washout, but if I cut new ones I'll definitely use a low Re airfoil at the tip, and either get some aerodynamic or geometric washout in the mix. The fuse mold has me stuck with the airfoil at the root, but it's alot less critical there.

I'd be interested to see everyone's gear installs. I will be designing that area myself. I know it's all got to wedge in between ducting. 'Course if I go with the turbine, inlet ducting would not be necessary.

Also, with the tail heavy condition, can I ask what you did for elevator & rudder servos? Are they in the pod-let above the exhaust? In the fins? What type/mfr/ strength?
Conversion to turbine could make the tail heavy problem worse with a steel pipe back there.

I-nav - looks like yours has the fuselage mounted speed brakes. How bout some detail? Where were your tail servos?

My airfloil is a Clark-Y (flat bottom). We've stalled the airplane at altitude and the break is petty clean. It's very stable and we even did an ailreron roll with ease. There is video from the Pampa Jet Meet site of a Kranz U-2 doing point rolls and very tight loops. The speed brakes are the standard F-86 design actuated by air rams. Their effectiveness is marginal, but looks neat. My camera is Tango Uniform (got a little too much Pacific Ocean in it) so I'll try and get some pictures posted of the gear and speed brakes this weekend. I'm considering adding spoilers to the wing for glide slope control. Has anyone done this on the R models?

Here's the link to the maiden flight video:[link=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5838368070811042081&hl=en]U-2 Maiden[/link]

Here a prior RCU U2 thread with good information:[link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_3416771/anchors_3420109/mpage_1/key_/anchor/tm.htm#3420109]U-2 Build[/link]

Here's Sam Snyder's Build page: [link=http://uavde.com/snyder/u2/pixss-u2.htm]Sam's U-2[/link]

Speed Brake Thread: [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_6917151/anchors_6919493/mpage_1/key_/anchor/tm.htm#6919493]Speed Brake[/link]

Anyone have any other links?

Mike

Hi Mike,

Oddly enough, my U-2 has a Clark-Y Modified, I'm glad to know it works really well. Mine is fully built up 4 meters, weights 22lbs WET, I was thinking of putting a JetCat 120se or a Model Mechanics 120 in it. We'll go do a proper maiden of a cliff at the end of November first. Unceremonious but it will do the trick. Mike, Does the R model Actually have spoilers?

Hi John,
My servo's are all Carbon fiber 3mm rod, extended to just behind the this is ti get the wet down and forward. The rudder is the only one that sits in the little pod above the Exhaust, but due to weight I will move that too. Carbon Fiber with an outer works a treat, I have been doing it on my patternships for years. Servo's are all 6kg to 10kg Futaba BB servo's, running two optically isolated systems because the aileron servo leads are 3m long running two 6volt 4200mah Nimh.

If I do a turbine conversion, I would have more Power too though. I have very low wing loading as the U-2R version has a longer wing and smaller fuz. With a turbine I can move the turbine forward, as there is loads of space, not tanks behind it. the metal ducting with a full bypass will be a little sacrifice for the extra power.

The tail heavy condition is mainly due to the build and the weight of the wood, also it's over engineered for a more scale appearance. If I build another I will make it lighter.
Regards
Sean

Yes,
The tech order says they deploy when the yoke is deflected beyond 20 degrees or more. They are located about 2/3 span. The "C" model did not have spoilers although I'd like them on mine to get the damn airplane to quit flying..

BTW, The best set of drawings I've seen come from a Russian site. I have the zip file if anyone wants a copy. I'd like to build a list of resources and documentation if you all are willing.

Mike

Hi Mike,
Sure, Lets build a reference of resources and Documentation, I can provide quite numerous actual photos too. I would have had more if I never formatted the Hard drive after the Visit to Duxford [&o] . The Bulk of my Aircraft was off a Italeri Kit, which they say is the best Scale subject bar things only the Pilot would notice.

I had a look at the 3-views and yes, there are spoilers... I didn't notice that. Mke spoiler are really easy, would you want them running off two Micro / Mini servo's. I can send you photo's of the ones I retro-fitted to my Patternship, It also didn't ant to slow down!!. it's will take one evening, and the can be made out of BVM polyply and plywood or just Plywood, they take up minimal space and run off a y-lead Alternatively you can couple them to your Airbrake using air actuators. Spoliers are really effective and it bring my 2X2 patternship to a livable speed.

The Russian Site for the 3-views is www.airwar.ru to translate it just use Babelfish.Altavista.com

Here's some resources:

The NASA photo server at dryden has a whole contact sheet of images of their white version of the ER-2. Maybe some details show up better in those shots.

http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/gallery/Pho...TML/index.html


Not exactly a design resource, this web page sells blackbird T-shirts, including one for the U-2. The U-2 print actually glows under black light. Very cool scene. I'm wearing mine for casual day.

http://www.airbornflightware.com/u2.html

I have some 3-view/ detail view stuff at home that I copied out of books. I'd have to scan it, not sure about copyright infringement either.

Hello

Just received my U2-A/B from paf in germany. Its an all composite model with panel lines and reivets clearly and accurately reproduced. The wingspan is 3.5 meters. The kit also includes wing pods, canopy frame, clear canopy and the equipment blister that can be seen on most B variants behind the cockpit. You also get a simple A4 instruction booklet that includes 3 views and other details and a CD with many pictures of the build.

Optional parts are, exhaust pipe, retractable landing gear (main and steerable tail wheel) made by behotec and a conformal fuel tank.

Paul

Paul,
You must live near Akrotiri.. I'm glad Paff has inproved on the kit. The Kranz "kit" came with a single sheet 3-view with the CG marked in pencil and even this proved to be wrong.
I had to do a great deal of head scratching to get the gear and fuel tanks worked out and cut down a SM MB-339 pipe. A P-80 more than enough but it will need nose weight due to the aft location. A Wren Super Sport or a P-70 would be ideal.

I saw that U-2 at jetpower2008, quite impressive size.
But the opus hotliner with kolibri was much more interesting.

Hi Mike

I live in Larnaca but one of the places that we fly jets is ladies mile, thats next to the north perimiter of RAF Akrotiri. Yes the U-2´s still fly out from there every day. The noise it makes is incredible, much louder than fighter jets.

Yes the PAF model is very good. The instructions clearly indicate all the dimensions for the positioning of the formers, for the different cut-outs, for positioning the wing pods etc.

The turbine is actually just behind the CG, and there is a lot of space in the nose area of the model for placing the rest of the equipment to balance things out.

Paul

DCM, do you have a video of the U-2 flying at the South West Jet Rally in Waco? Or does anyone else? Thanks Butch

Flight number three on the U-2 today. Added about four onces of nose weight and mixed a healthy amount of up elevator with the flaps. The pitch ocillation issue on final is solved as well. The model is pretty well dialed in. Duke took it for several slow rolls and the landing. The P-80 flies it well, but the climb rate isn't quite what you'd expect from a U-2. From a slow pass it will zoom at about 60 degrees to ~300 feet, but petters out and you have to let the nose fall off. I see a P-120 in my future if I want the trademark U-2 climb out.

That's excellent news glad to hear you got your pitch issue sorted.

I got mine all fixed up the weekend, the nose is back on and glassed. All the cracks have been fixed, Ironically the nose looks better then the last one. I have been thinking though and your flight input confirms that I definitely need to get a 120 for the U-2, for me this would actually make my aircraft lighter as I can shift the motor way forward, I can the place batteries etc... over the CG, and have the 3 Liters of Fuel in front of the Ducts.

On a different Note, Entirely...
For all those prospective U-2 Builders who can't find plans. I want to know how many people would be interested in a Copy of these Plans. I'm not promising them immediately, because I would still have to draw them finished and do building notes, this would be done using AutoCAD. I don't usually distribute or sell my plans but it there is enough Interest I don't mind Finishing the plans off and Selling either a printed Version or CAD file. Let Me know if you guys are interested and I will make my decision on that.

I am currently drawing a plan for a BAC lightning MK6 roughly 1/8th scale for either Methanol or Electric 5 inch fans. This I will make available as there are other that have drawn the plan and Don't want to sell copies, really sad, so I have drawn a copy which is almost Complete. Take a look.

I don't know if anyone has a video.[:@]


David

Ok, well then put your turbine back in and lets get a video ! Should be able to do it in a couple hours now.

I'd be intersted in a set of CAD plans. Here's a photo from Sunday. (Photo by Jill Chung)

Hi Mike

Thanks for letting me fly the U-2 Sunday it was great. Jill got the whole sequence of my less than gracefull landing; I have to sent it to you it is just too much.

I will have to say Mikes U-2 is a strong bird.

How to have a nice end of a flight go bad to worse then good in .5 seconds

1. Hit the wrong switch for the gear DOH.....
2. with full flaps the aproach angle is so steep I cannot see that the main gear is not out till im in the flare. (approach looked good so just decided to land it)
3. Touch down on the main doors without smashing them to pieces.
4. Go around wondering how fast i can retract the flaps before a complete disaster happens
5. Mike hits the gear switch gear comes down in the middle of all of this.
6. U-2 decides that it has had enough of the bull and decides to come down anyway.
7. I pop out at least 3 white hairs trying to pull the U-2 out as im wondering how much it will cost to get a new one here from Germany.
8. Somehow the pogos save the bird from total distruction as it kind of ground loops and comes to a halt.
9. Total damage steering servo poped loose, wing tip skid bent, pogo bent, nose scraped a little with one minor seam pop of .5 inches.
10. Not having to run from Mike = good day...

[&:] Thanks Mike! sorry for the damage.

Like this? It is drawn at 1/6 scale. 126" lenght, 200" wing span. Butch

Hi Butch

That is too cool! What program is that done in?

Oh Doh saw that it was Rhino 3d nice stuff, I tried the Demo before its a very nice program.

Aloha Duke

Hi Butch,
I see you have done all the 3-D Work, I had a model like that for Rhino, but Back then I didn't know Squat about AutoCad, thankfully I am learning Fast. Did you Design that from Scratch or is it the Down loadable U-2. With a Model Like that one Can Draw a plan in a few Days. I have a plan I drew by Hand, as such, which is only 2-D.
regards
sean

I drew it from scratch. I have Lockheed drawing that I converted to 3D. E-mail me if you want to copy. [email protected] Butch 817-223-0779

Hi Butch (Hustler58)

The drawing you did of the U-2 is now in the mill


And the internals are ready to recieve the kolibri

Looks Great ! Keep the pictures coming. Butch

HELLO,I AM BRUNO FROM BELGIUM AND I START BUILDING A PAF U2,ANY PICTURES OF SOMBODY ELSE BUILDING ONE WILL BE OF GREAT HELP TO ME,THANKS,GREETZ BRUNO.