OK.. just got a short note from Chip this morning.. The DV has flown..

Pictures to follow..

-Doug





Yes.. that is a DA-50R sitting next to the DV here. Chip is putting a DA-50 into another prototype more as a sport airplane, but it's also possible it might make the 11 pound weight limit too. Imagine that kind of power available

I just want to let everyone know that it was not ever meant to be a big secret about the plane. All I was worried about was if it didn't work, I didn't want to have to explain the reasons why. I only told some friends about the project, and I did ask them not to mention it for that reason. I do not believe in all that secret squirrel stuff some people do in order to try to win.

Now, about the plane itself. I read were some people compared it to a hyde-out, that is very true. The hydeout was designed as a bi-plane originally in 96, and that is why the canopy was so far back. I didn't feel we had enough horsepower to show the full potencial, so Dave Guerin and I put the project on hold.

The plane as you see it is 2 meters long, and the wings are slightly shorter. It is over 1600 square inches, and as seen in the photos it weighs it weighs 10 pounds 5 oz. That is with a 2400mah Powerflite Battery, the long Hatori pipe, and 23oz Tettra tank with the bag. I could easily get below ten pounds, but I think if anything we may add some weight to it. I only flew it for a short time, but the only trim needed was 1 click down elev., 1 click right rudd. 5% ail to rudd for knife edge, and 3% up elev. to rudd. It went straight up and down, and that was the most important thing to me.

Central will have kits available as soon as possible if anyone is interested. Troy Newman, Donny Wright, and Dave guerin were here for the test flight, and they to would also be glad to answer any Q's.

Thanks

Chip

Chip,

First of all, congratulations on winning the TOC. I have been around Quique Somenzini some while he has prepared for the last TOC, and from what I saw, it was a huge undertaking. Great job!

I would also like to compliment you on your designing skills. I have a Hydeout that I bought used from a friend of mine (Joey Hayes, I think he got to the F3A finals at the Nats in 2000 with it), and I love it. I am 16 and this is my first pattern plane and I think it is just fantastic. I am looking foreward to getting a Hydeaway after I get some competitions under my belt and I get a little more money.

The Double-vision sure is a neat looking airplane and I hope you do well with it in Poland. Regards.

Ryan Smith

I would think that with that kind of size that in strong or gusty wind that it might be a bit of a handful....?

Anyways I look forward to seeing it fly in Poland Certainly is unique

It looks very good indeed, however, I've never seen a F3Aish bipe fly, and nothing even close to it either, so I cannot really comment on how I expect it to fly, but the looks are definitely on the DV's side. My main 'concern' would be how it handled snaprolls and such maneuvers, but I'm quite confident that you have thought of the same earlier. Good luck!

You DA MAN chip, go getum. Most Awesome F3A plane ever, wow!!!
and that coming from you is a great story.

Keep us posted!!

Looks bloody awesome!!!!!!, great work Chip!!!!

Are you going to soft mount the DA?

What are you going to change to keep the C.G back on the DA powered prototype?

Chip,
I have read much of your thoughts on biplanes and I agree that the 3D advantage goes to the biplane for stability in high AOA flight making it the ideal 3D paltform.

That said, what are your thoughts on a double vision with enlarged and counter balanced rudder and elevators? Would you want to make geometry changes in the wing and enlarge airlerons too?

I seems to me that the modified F3A bipe might be the ultimate Romilly machine.

The DV looks great. Darn, another airplane I cannot live without.

Mark

Very interesting airplane but the low position of the horizontal tail is not all that great looking.

With a low wing only airplane the low position of the tail has shown itself to be an advantage as far as positioning the tail with respect to the downwash.

With a bipe you have downwash from both wings. This means that over a vertical distance of several inches at the fuselage station of the tail the downwash is going to be fairly constant. The horizontal tail could be raised to give a more pleasant look and still retain all the advantages with respect to downwash.

I was looking through the CDs of Model Aviation and saw a little kid of about 8 named Gordon "Chip" Hyde. The writer predicted a good future for the lad in RC.

I wish I could pick stocks as accurately as his prediction was.

Ben

That is one sweet looking plane!!!!!,i want one right away or is it Hydeaway ,i wonder how much it costs to have it build by EZ Japan.That is one of the most beautiful pattern planes i have ever seen,period.Go get them Chip.

Wow, very nice. Alot nicer than I expected. I look foward to get a chance to see it fly some day, hopefully.

That plane looks awesome. I'm only 11 but i've been flying for two years. I fly pattern and am currently in advanced level aerobatics. I think the DV will be the plane i'm aiming for.

Hmmm..

"Biplanes can't be precise."

"Biplanes don't fly well in the wind."

Guess the DV doesn't know it's a bipe.. cause Chip just won the US Team Trials with it.. and I'm guessing it'll be his airplane in Poland for the WC.

-Doug

Congratulation on all the US Team fliers.

Hmmm I am looking at a modern super updated version of a Red Baron Triple-decker so I can even the odds of beating my friend Pattern Freak ( 75% pilot skill, 25% airplane ) . Any chance ???

C Lim

Great looking plane Chip. I am also a Ultimate fan. I talked to Dave V. at our pattern meet last weekend about the DV. I am going to start saving my money. Good luck this year.

Chip

Hope all has been well since we last talked on the phone. Just wanted to say the Double Vision looks "hell-a-cool" my friend. It far exceeded the drawings you sent me a few months ago. When will this one be available in an ARF?

Call me the next time you are heading to Dallas.

Best Wishes!

Rick Head

Looks like Chip joined PL prod. Double vision might be done by PL?

Yeah.. I saw that. Not sure what to think really.

-Doug

chip has joined plprod.for some reason znline did something wrong and chip got mad or something.thats just what i heard from a friend.

I haven't talked to Chip in awhile.. so I don't know the reasons behind it and it's best not to speculate.

I do know the announcement caught everyone, including ZN Line (first they heard anything about it) by surprise.

-Doug

I was suprised cause it was so sudden......

I heard about this a while ago, I have to say, but was unsure if it was true. I have to say that PL make the finest quality Pattern planes on the market now, the fuselages are perfect. I know this will get all the ZN Posse out in force but I have owned ZN models, and indeed fly a Majestic, and can make this comparison. I'm glad for Chip, not just because he has gone to PL, but also that the plane will get produced for us to buy, its quite a looker and after the Nationals win, quite the performer too!

Chip & PL

That was a suprise - the Double Vision is beautiful. I have nothing but the best respect for Pl, I really enjoyed the way he did his business at Romilly. He came up to shake our hands at Romilly @ 7 am in the morning, quite funny and always approachable. He is a gentleman.

I always think of chip & Biplanes - and national champion @ 12 years old. He is very talented!

I wish Chip & PL every sucess at Poland!

Best Regards

Biggles

Thats a bit rough if ZN line wasn't even told!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope they hadn't invested too much money or time in the design yet!!!!!, gee that would be a kick in the arse.
You there Mark?

But it is good to see the top pilots and designs spread over more than just one company, good for competition and hopefully prices in the end. I wonder how PL's price for Chips DV will stack up against the ZN CPLR Suxess?

It would be nice to know the real reason why Chip has made the change to PL Prod. Its fine to speculate, but no conclusions can be made untill the dust settles, and the word is heard from the horses mouth, so to speak.

Has anyone heard anything about the 3D, DA 50 version of the Double Vision, that was supposed to be built as an arf in China?

Actually.. I think speculation does more harm than anything else. Nobody knows the reasons Chip went with PL except Chip and PL, and to speculate about why can only get people worked up over (likely) incorrect info. If Chip wants to say why, that's his business. If not.. his choice as well. All this second guessing isn't benefitting anyone though.

-Doug