Composite EDF F-22

[MikeJM]

It is a modified Steve Schumate design. Changed from a 26" wingspan pusher prop to a 39" wingspan dual EDF.

I am doing foam composite construction (finish epoxy & 1/2 oz fiberglass cloth). It has dual 70mm EDFs, and thrust vectoring exhaust. At the moment I plan on mixing Ailerons with thrust vectoring, Elevator mix with thrust vectoring and Flaperons. I expect to weigh in less than 5 pounds, my EDF units produce 2.6lbs of thrust each.

Unfortunately I can't install retracts since we only have a rough grass field.

Here is a picture of my current progress: Bottom and top. I plan on glueing on 3mm depron over the wing ribs and then epoxy/ fiberglass cloth.

I have more pictures from the start to current.

Mike

 

[Christopher14]

Awesome Mike! That looks like a cool flyer, will you be able to do high-alpha with the thrust vectoring exhaust?

 

[saiga556]

This looks awesome. Sub'd.

 

[SOOFLY]

Very impressive

 

[marc60]

Impressive indeed.

 

[MikeJM]

Hoping for High Alpha

I built a similar "Prototype" for testing out of Blue fanfold. It had dual 56mm EDFs, but was underpowered and had no control authority at slow speeds. I'm hoping the thrust vectoring will help with that, even though I don't think speed will be a problem with this one. Here is a picture of my prototype. I had to lable it so I wouldn't get too attached to it if it crashed and burned.

 

[Christopher14]

That's to bad the prototype didn't fly to well. Looks cool though.

 

[AkimboGlueGuns]

Those builds are a work of art. I'll be following this one.

 

[MikeJM]

From the start

Since there is a little interest, I will post a few pictures and wait if there are questions to answer before I continue up to the present.

Here is where I started:

 

[Christopher14]

Are the control surfaces made of balsa?

 

[MikeJM]

control surfaces

They are foam with balsa and CF leading and trailing edges covered with epoxy/ fiberglass. The ailerons will be cut from the wing after it is sheeted with 3mm depron, one of the views show the ailerons marked out. I will epoxy on balsa after it is cut off, similar to the vertical stabs.

 

[earthsciteach]

Hey, can we get a popcorn munching emoticon in here???

Thanks for sharing your build. It looks fantastic! What are your air ducts made of?

 

[Christopher14]

Oh, ok. That makes sense Mike.

 

[MikeJM]

Air ducts

Hey, can we get a popcorn munching emoticon in here???

Thanks for sharing your build. It looks fantastic! What are your air ducts made of?

The air ducts are made with 3mm rolled depron.....got an interesting side note about them. I'll tell you after you see them for comments.

 

[wilmracer]

Very nice build! Shumate's designs are some of my favorites. I've scaled up several of his models and they fly fantastic. Even did an EDF conversion of his SU-37 years ago. It flew well but would fly fantastic with the power systems available today.

 

[Christopher14]

I thought the ducts where made of ABS pipe at first.

 

[MikeJM]

Ducts

I thought the ducts where made of ABS pipe at first.

After I installed the tubes and test mounted my EDFs, I thought I would run one of the motors. Well, I learned that those motors are very powerful, I actually collapsed the tube at the intake. I'm just glad it happened now instead of after everything was closed up and on the runway.

The fix was that I covered them all with fiberglass cloth and epoxy, they are much more stable now.

 

[MikeJM]

Design work

Had to draw up some bulkheads to accomodate the ducts. Here are a few progress pictures.

 

[SOOFLY]

Make sure to post a flight video when you get it finished.

 

[MikeJM]

It should be an interesting video

Make sure to post a flight video when you get it finished.

I will make sure to do that.

Progress pictures, working on the servo locations and linkages.