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Friday, 3 April 2015

1.2m Acrobat

I was keen to try some aerobatics with powered planes but The Red was not quite up to the task. Too much of a glider and not enough rudder. So this is what I came up with.


It has a 1.2m x 180mm 12% chord Armin wing and a 700mm fuselage both made from 6mm depron covered with 75 micron document laminating film. That is the thicker laminate and it added lots of strength.

I also wanted to try a design with the tail as part of the fuselage, and test a full flying elevator setup. Both are working very well so far.

Fuselage construction started with the side and bottom panels in uncovered depron

The sides were glued on top of the bottom panel, which defines the width of the front area.

The tail halves were glued together giving the taper curve, then top and bottom panels added.

The fuselage was then covered with 75 micron laminate. 
This added a great amount of strength, especially to the narrow tail area. 

The 2826/10 1400kV motor is mounted to 5mm plywood with ventilation holes drilled out. Initially I built in some down thrust but I am still testing to find the right amount. Plastic washers can be added or removed to vary the angle.

The most radical feature of this design is the flying elevator. The whole horizontal stabiliser pivots on a 3mm carbon fibre rod which also acts as the spar. The rod passes through a brass tube glued into the tail. The inner diameter of the brass tube must be just bigger than the CF rod to give free movement but minimal wiggle. To hold the brass tube firmly there are 25mm discs of foam sandwiched between ID card plastic on either side.

Plans

Overview and build video

Field and slope flights


SPECS
Armin wing span - 1.2m (47") 
Airfoil chord - 190mm (7") including 45mm (1.5") ailerons
Airfoil thickness - 23mm (12%) using 9mm formers 
Spar - Skyshark P4X 7.5mm x 850mm, 57mm back from LE
Fuselage Length - 700mm (27.5")
Flying weight (2200mAh LiPo) - 770g
Full span Ailerons / Flaperons
Full flying Elevator
Large Rudder
TGY 9018MG servos x 4 
Motor - Turnigy 2826/10 1400kV with 8x4 prop
ESC - Plush 40A

MATERIALS and LINKS
http://newtonairlines.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/materials-and-links.html

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19 comments:

  1. supermic8 May 2015 at 07:56

    Hi Andrew, very nice plane! I'm building a thing similar to the Red, but I 'm a bit cocerned about the propeller: doesn't it hit the ground on every landing?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Andrew RC Newton8 May 2015 at 09:18

      Yes it does but it's not a problem. I have never damaged a prop on landing. Set the motor brake on the ESC so it's not spinning when you land and it will be OK.

      Delete
    2. supermic11 May 2015 at 07:37

      Well, probably the props I' m using are too weak (Hk) but i managed to broke 3 of them out of 4 flight sessions (always bent backwards) . They're also significantly undersized, I'm using some spare 5" coming from a 250 quadcopter...
      What props do you usually mount?

      Btw, my Depron plane built using your techniques proved to be a very enjoyable and sturdy flyer, with or without motor (even if the pilot is still struggling to learn the very basics:-) )

      Delete
    3. Andrew RC Newton11 May 2015 at 09:37

      This is what I use http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__49520__TGS_Sport_9x4_7E_Precision_propeller_AUS_Warehouse_.html

      Delete
    4. supermic13 May 2015 at 00:29

      Thank you for your very quick answer! I'm waiting for some props, meanwhile here's the maiden flight with the quadcopter propeller (quite a windy day and a small field): https://youtu.be/bPq8JiebvxM
      The pilot (me) has very limited skills, and it shows, but I'm hooked!

      Delete
  2. Unknown20 September 2015 at 02:15

    Hi Andrew thank You for everything my videos http://youtu.be/c-63byCqaTs i have rising problem please help me im using emax 20a esc and emax xa2212/1400kv with 8x6 plastic propeller my first plane thank You again

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Andrew RC Newton20 September 2015 at 07:56

      Great first attempt Sami. It will fly when you get it balanced. I have left some suggestions on your video.

      Delete
  3. Unknown11 October 2015 at 22:48

    it's me again :) hello Mr. Andrew today test with carbon tube wings. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8D6T6n3vRKs

    my impression, the plane tend to rise. if I get the centre of gravity forward,I'm having a problem, sudden it does not rise but very stable. it's quite fun. thanks for the help. best regards

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Andrew RC Newton12 October 2015 at 06:56

      Excellent Sami, looks like you have it flying well.

      Delete
    2. Unknown12 October 2015 at 07:57

      thanks to you, it was a successful flight

      Delete
  4. Unknown25 October 2015 at 09:00

    Hi, I 'm building this plane and I would like to know where the CG , using your wings design depron Thanks

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    Replies
    1. Andrew RC Newton25 October 2015 at 09:37

      Hello. My CG is 55mm back from the leading edge. Good luck with your build.

      Delete
    2. mukhlis101020 October 2017 at 12:15

      make this wingspan less than 1.2m, could I?
      folding the fuselage, but we can put the magnet to make it to be connected again? and then..
      is it good idea and not some mistakes to use DIY 3S 18650 as this rc aircraft power.. ? thnks..bro(Y)

      Delete
  5. Unknown16 May 2017 at 07:19

    Hello sir, I am building the same plane and in every flight attempt it was failed. I used emax bl 2826/06 850 kv , ZIPPY Flightmax 4000mAh 4S1P 20C and APC 13X6.5E propeller. Could you give me any advice to solve the problem by seeing the video in this link. https://yadi.sk/d/73s1yiFH3JBmyt

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  6. Unknown16 May 2017 at 07:23

    I also uploaded the video on Youtube thank you sir. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttszp8gEH5Q

    ReplyDelete
  7. mukhlis101015 October 2017 at 23:36

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  8. Unknown30 October 2017 at 06:39

    Hi Andrew,
    where is the plane of the wing.

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    Replies
    1. Andrew RC Newton30 October 2017 at 15:27

      There is no plan for the wing. Follow my depron wing build https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_RzXO5u3M0 or Ed's Armin wing build https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=karr67ZYho4. Dimensions are in the post above.

      Delete
  9. Andrew RC Newton30 October 2017 at 15:28

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete