Ed_Moorman

My Feedback: (1)

Here's my new twin, called the Double Sonic. I was made from 2 Phoenix Models Sonic 25 ARF kits.
-Power: 2 OS .46LAs
-Wing Span: 65.5"
-Wing Area: 655 sq in
-Weight: 7.52#
-Wing Loading: 26.45 oz/sq ft

Design & Construction Details:
-Wing: A new center section 13" wide was constructed. The wing panels from one kit were joined to it. A plywood dihedral brace extends through the center section and out the distance of the original stock dihedral brace.
-Ailerons: Since I wanted more control, the stock ailerons were removed and replaced with 2" wide aileron stock with 1/4 tri-stock on the LE for beveling. Dual servos are used.
-Flap: A flap, same width as the ailerons, was added to the center section.
-Fuselage: In the stock configuration, the tanks are too low, so the engines were side mounted using Great Planes Adjustable Engine Mounts. The right cheek cowls were removed for clearance.
-Stab & Elevator: The inboard stab tips were trimmed so they butted against each other when the plane is assembled. They are held together by 1/6 ply tabs and button head screws. The elevators are stock width.
-Rudders: The rudders were enlarged to a 3" top chord and a 4" bottom chord.
-Engines: My luck with 4 GMS .32s has led me to keep them on single engine planes-they just don't seen reliable enough for a twin. I have 2 OS .25FXs on a delta twin and I don't think they would be enough power for this twin. I do have 2 OS .46AXs available, but they would make the plane nose heavy. OS or Webra .32s seemed to high priced for this project. This led to me to the LAs. The .46s aren't much heavier than a ball bearing .32 so I bought 2 of them.
-Radio: JR 9303 with 9-channel PCM receiver on 50 MHz.
-Servos: 9 total. 2 micros on throttle, 2 Hitech 5245 mini digitals on ailerons, 2 HS-5245 digitals on ruder & nose wheel, 2 HS-425 ball bearing standards on ailerons, 1 low profile on flap.
-Radio Set-up: Throttles on different channels mated together, Ailerons on different channels mated together, Elevators on different channels mated together, Rudders on a Y-connector, flap is single servo. throttles are set using the dual throttle curves on the 9303. Flight Mode 1 is low rate. Flight Mode 2 is high rate. Flight Mode 3 is high rate with crow. Stunt flaps (flap opposite to the elevator) are on the Mix switch.
-Flying: I put 2 flights on the plane today. The first flight used 10-7 MA props and the 2nd flight used 11-5 APCs. As expected, the 10-7s are faster and the 11-5s climb better. The engines only have 5 tanks through them so they probably aren't up to full power yet. Take off is excellent. The plane trimmed easily. Landing is excellent.
-Roll rate is excellent. I'm glad I installed the extra wide ailerons.
-Full stick elevator on high rate will cause nibbles to a stall in a tight loop. With the stunt flaps on, the plane loops tightly with the bobbing stalls.
-Outside loops are OK. The plane has a semi-symmetrical airfoil so it isn't as tight inverted.
-Snaps are fast, both upright and inverted.
-The plane will spin, but not go flat.
-Knife edge is excellent. There is some pitch and roll coupling, requiring only a little correction. I went back and forth across the field a couple of times in knife edge making knife edge turns. The plane will climb fairly well in knife edge, but the coupling becomes worse.
-Crow doesn't seem to slow the plane much. I may need to use more deflection. When landing with crow, the plane wants to sit down pretty quickly. It doesn't fall, but it sure doesn't float.
-Bottom line: Good twin. I'll be flying it at Multis-Over-McDonoughin late June.

Robby

My Feedback: (18)

Ok Ed,
We already know you are a nutcase..
NOW!!
Make a twin, pusher, canard....

Oh,, and you have a whole month to have it done..

Dc2LightTech

"Make a twin, pusher, canard"
Hmmm, flip the wing over and change the props to pushersQ

Safebet

My Feedback: (12)

Hi Ed:

Very nice job, great looking plane, flight report sounds great.

Jim

Ed_Moorman

My Feedback: (1)

We have already tried the twin, pusher canard. It's hard to balance. The twin, tractor is easier, and you can find props for it. I'll have it at Multis-Over-McDonough.

Robby: No, I am not letting you fly my left-handed transmitter. But I will support the MOM meet and bring all the twins I can get in the van.

Ed_Moorman

My Feedback: (1)

Here's the Double Sonic in the air and taxiing in. Notice the pressure line has come loose.

Yes, I am going to put some nice, matching spinners on it now that the test is over.

Robby

My Feedback: (18)

Have a 'funny' for you, Ed..
A fellow in our local club from Poland,, flys 'left handed'....
Has flown & competed pattern planes for many years...
He was playing on my sim<computer> and I set it for him
on one.. After a while he wanted to try two.. So I set it up for him..
He did pretty well actually...
Except.... (utt ohhh)
We go out to fly the models.. I went first using his TX which is set to one...
Plane flew real good.. Landed, gave it to him... Here's the 'ut oh' part..
He still had two on the brain... oooppppssss
No major damage... Boy did he cuss himself out over that one..



.

Ed_Moorman

My Feedback: (1)

I fly my personal airplanes left handed or Mode 3. I test fly planes for the other guys on Mode 2. They way I tell the difference is I use a neck strap on my planes and hold the transmitter when I fly right handed. If I feel the pressure on my neck, I know to fly lefty style. Works for me. The guys think I'm crazy to switch back and forth, but they still ask me to test their planes. I just fly Mode 3 better.

I have only flown Mode 1 a few times. Mostly I have flown the split stick, 2-channel tx on gliders. I sort of put pressure on both sticks, but only one moves.

twinman

My Feedback: (2)

My two cents for the rest of you. These twin fuse conversions fly great and are easy to do. Have a twin fuse Long John and has had twin fuse ugly sticks. Just lengthen the wingspan around 15% over the original single you have a stable and aerobatic plane quickly.
Have fun.
Twinman

Dc2LightTech

I like that twin of Ed's!
I hope to get my twin in the air in about 3 weeks.
if i crash it i have been thinking of getting a ultra stick 60 and putting two 46' on it

Robby

My Feedback: (18)

Sorta like this, PJ....
http://www.rcuniverse.com/gallery/ga...6memid%3D14152

http://www.rcuniverse.com/gallery/ga...6memid%3D14152

Has two .46FX OS on it... Flys great.... Not the fastest plane but a ton of fun
and very controlable even at slower speeds...