Reaper Canard Problems?
 

I've been having a problem with my left canard breaking. Has anyone experience any problems with the canards on the Super Reaper?

I spent most of the day rebuilding my canards. I went with 1/4" balsa sandwiched between 1/16" aircraft grade ply. They seem to be much stronger now. Here is a picture of the break and the re-designed canard. Oh, I would recommend setting up elevons on all Reapers as this breaking of the left canard could have cost me the jet. Luckily the elevons mixed in enable me to still have good control.

JR Gautreaux

RE: Reaper Canard Problems?
 

Hi Jetflyer.

I have not had this problem yet. I put 2 carbonfiber strips on the bottom of my canards when I built it though.

RE: Reaper Canard Problems?
 

Gene,

As you can see, the first time it broke, I went in and put 2 wood spars across the breakline. Now they broke a second time just shy of their end points. If for some reason my newly designed canards don't work, I will go ahead and install a full flying set of canards.

JR Gautreaux

RE: Reaper Canard Problems?
 

The only time I broke mine was when they hit something... doh!

I did however replace the fairly soft balsa with some denser, stronger stuff when I built mine.

AJC

RE: Reaper Canard Problems?
 

AJC,

I did notice that the new balsa I purchased seems to be more dense then what came originally with the Reaper kit. The lamination of the ply/balsa/ply combination I did seems to be very strong. I'm hoping this will correct the problem I am having.

JR Gautreaux

RE: Reaper Canard Problems?
 

I would certainly think so, the ply should make them increadibly stiff.

AJC