Pattern Biplane
#327
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (29)
Well, it didn't work out as well as I had hoped contest wise but I came home super stoked anyways. The first round this morning was to be an unknown. Not a major deal as we were just supposed to fly the next class lower known sequence. I had judged 2 rounds of intermediate on Saturday so I didn't think it would be a big deal. Well after a top hat there was some confusion between my caller and I that resulted in me not performing the next maneuver. 4 zeros in that round. Final placement was another 4th place. My lack of flying during the Divergent build still has a firm grip on me.
Now the good news, pattern guru Tony Frackowiak must have seen something he liked in the airplane and had asked if I would let him take a flight. After sorting out a rudder trim issue that eluded me he started flying through some FAI sequence maneuvers. Tony made the airplane do things that looked so effortless. He did some inside and outside snap rolls and commented on how well it kept track during snaps. He also commented on how well it flew through rolling loops. His only criticism was that he felt the CG was a bit aft and that it needed a bit more right thrust which is what I was trying to compensate with the rudder trim. He also commented on the very positive rudder authority. I am very pleased to know that the design is capable in the hands of a legend of our sport. After hearing Tony's comment I did say that after a few more additions to the Divergent tooling that I may be ready to start some limited kit production. Tony asked that his name be added to the list of interested parties.
Now the good news, pattern guru Tony Frackowiak must have seen something he liked in the airplane and had asked if I would let him take a flight. After sorting out a rudder trim issue that eluded me he started flying through some FAI sequence maneuvers. Tony made the airplane do things that looked so effortless. He did some inside and outside snap rolls and commented on how well it kept track during snaps. He also commented on how well it flew through rolling loops. His only criticism was that he felt the CG was a bit aft and that it needed a bit more right thrust which is what I was trying to compensate with the rudder trim. He also commented on the very positive rudder authority. I am very pleased to know that the design is capable in the hands of a legend of our sport. After hearing Tony's comment I did say that after a few more additions to the Divergent tooling that I may be ready to start some limited kit production. Tony asked that his name be added to the list of interested parties.
#331
My Feedback: (121)
'Tony asked that his name be added to the list of interested parties.'
That is a pretty impressive endorsement!
On the plus side it means all the hard work was worth it! On the minus side... it means the improvement needs to come from the pilot; as you noted, more practice. The trophies will come...
Great Job, Shawn!
Good luck the rest of the season!
That is a pretty impressive endorsement!
On the plus side it means all the hard work was worth it! On the minus side... it means the improvement needs to come from the pilot; as you noted, more practice. The trophies will come...
Great Job, Shawn!
Good luck the rest of the season!
#333
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (29)
I think that practice and just plainly getting more time on the airplane will really show up in contest performance. Although it will be a bit tough I have made the decision to clean house a bit. I am going to sell/give away some current projects in order to free up more time for actual flying. I have a classic I want to finish up and then I will be making a pre production Divergent kit then do a cost analysis on it to see if it is a feasible venture to make ARC kits. My estimate at this point would be they would run in the 1,800.00 range.
#335
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (29)
Still fighting some gremlins, hopefully fixed. During the last contest my Hacker died during round 2. I suspect that I did not have enough cooling air exit area. I made a decision to install a Dualsky 6355 DA-12 motor that I had been flying in my Hydeaway for over a year with zero issues. Well, that changed about 30 seconds into the test flight with the different motor. What I beleive happened is that the motor connectors were too loose and would not allow good current flow which caused the motor to stutter or cog. The result was that the motor and ESC ejected out the front of the airplane. The good news is that with over a pound of weight off the nose, I was still able to keep the airplane under control and land without further damage. The lesson was learned and a new mount was fabricated, new correct fitting motor connectors were fitted and the damage was repaired. At this point the Divergent has 16 flights with the Dualsky outrunner and has never flown better. Now back to trying to free up time for practice.
#338
My Feedback: (26)
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Springfield, MA
Posts: 212
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FUTMC9100A MC9100A speedie for 90-110 class motor Li-po 4-12s
#341
Thanks Shawn, I use a OS/Futaba clone from Multiplex (ROXXY 9100-12).
https://www.hoelleinshop.com/All-you...=68754&p=68754
But I have some screeching at 80-90 % Power with Dualsky 6355-12 V3.
What Settings are you using?
https://www.hoelleinshop.com/All-you...=68754&p=68754
But I have some screeching at 80-90 % Power with Dualsky 6355-12 V3.
What Settings are you using?
#345
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (29)
I haven't updated the tread in a while, not much flying lately. I have all the nesessary materials in house for a couple kits. Very few changes will be made. I'm currently making molds for a slightly longer landing gear for a bit more ground clearance, molds for the wing fences which will be a bit smaller and the rudder will have a bit more taper top to bottom. A slightly different fuselage layup should yield a bit less weight as well.
#346
#348
ha ha ha. I'm still amazed at the lengths some MFG's go to to build a better mouse trap. Most if not all cowls have a built in air scoop. All that is needed is to properly direct the air to the motor much like you would do with an IC engine.
Ken
#349
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (29)
A little more to it then that with electrics Ken. One of the side air intakes has a duct that directs air directly onto the motor. The spinner in a standard Great Planes unit that has an aluminum backplate that I cut the tip off of to get a bit more air to the motor. The bottom air intake and the second side intake provide airflow over the ESC and batteries. An electric actually has the potential to generate more heat then a glow engine.
#350
Hate to admit it Ken, but the little pin head is right. Electric motors generate quite a lot of heat. The best way to cool them is with the open spinners. This forces the cooling air directly over the hot motor, all of this assumes proper hot air exit area is designed into the airframe. In the case of this UGLY plane, proper hot air exit area Has been designed into the fuselage. It does work.....
Scott
Scott