SPAD flying lawnmower
03-03-2005, 10:48 AM
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SPAD flying lawnmower
For many months I have been waiting to see someone post photos of a SPAD flying lawnmower so that I would have something to guide me in building one. I finally gave up and just went ahead and built one, using whatever information I did find. I took some measurements from my mower in the shed, but I was not encouraged, because the darn thing certainly cannot fly. The engine is an OS .46FX. The mower is about 26 inches over the mower tires and about 38 inches over the engine and came in at about 6 pounds. Flys super. Loops, rolls, but no knife enges. No rudder. I do miss the knife edges. I'll try it inverted this weekend. Here are three photos.
03-03-2005, 08:36 PM
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RE: SPAD flying lawnmower
SWEET!! I occasionally drive through Wilson on the way to New Bern (friends&family)... I'll remember to look up for mowers 
If you have the free time, post some closer shots if you don't mind. I'd really like to see how it's put together.
If you have the free time, post some closer shots if you don't mind. I'd really like to see how it's put together.
03-04-2005, 01:26 AM
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RE: SPAD flying lawnmower
Hmmm.........Anyone up for some lawnmower combat??
Talk about something funny to watch....
Im gonna have to build one....
I probably will crash it because i'd be laughing so hard when it went by the first time.
"Look! A flying lawnmower!!!" Thats just too freakin' funny....
Jeff
Talk about something funny to watch....
Im gonna have to build one....
I probably will crash it because i'd be laughing so hard when it went by the first time.
"Look! A flying lawnmower!!!" Thats just too freakin' funny....
Jeff
03-10-2005, 01:23 PM
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RE: SPAD flying lawnmower
I found a video of one of these:
http://www.gyrosaway.com/images/skycutter40.wmv
http://www.gyrosaway.com/images/skycutter40.wmv
07-29-2005, 08:41 AM
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RE: SPAD flying lawnmower
Well, my flying mower finally had a bad crash. Pure pilot error. I was up very high, very far out, and flying very slow. It stalled and dropped like a rock. In my 31 years of R/C I have never seen anything drop that fast. I recovered at about 20 feet, going away, toward power lines, trees, and some trucks. I cut the engine and let it go in. Hit the trunk of a tree. Tore muffler off the engine and ripped engine off fuselage. No damage to Coroplast. Amazing stuff. Here are two photos:
07-29-2005, 09:29 AM
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RE: SPAD flying lawnmower
Villa,
Glad someone finally built one. It looks cool!!! Does the Dummy engine have an airfoil. If so, is it set at the same incidence as the wing. Sorry you had a crash. It looks like only a little work is needed to get it back in the air, from what I can see in the after photos.
Later,
Omaha
Glad someone finally built one. It looks cool!!! Does the Dummy engine have an airfoil. If so, is it set at the same incidence as the wing. Sorry you had a crash. It looks like only a little work is needed to get it back in the air, from what I can see in the after photos.
Later,
Omaha
08-01-2005, 12:39 PM
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RE: SPAD flying lawnmower
Hi Omaha. Yes, the dummy engine has an airfoil. I originally did it for added lift, but it has turned out to be very useful. It serves to stiffen and make rigid the false engine. It is also strong enough to use it to lift the mower. As I recall I used a 5/8 wide piece of yardstick for the spar. The incidence is set the same as the main wing. It is a ball to fly and a regular crowd pleaser.
