Designing and Flying a "UNIQUE PLANE"

[L Edge]

About 10 years ago, drone companies started to fabricate different designs for all kinds of "Eye in the SKY". So I decided to duplicate this one for RC'ers.

The Unique features:
1) Plane has no moving surfaces controlling roll, pitch or yaw.
2) Can take off vertically or launched by hand.
3) All directional changes take place in front of the leading edge.
4) The drone when landing, has no landing gear, so motor/prop are held to frame by magnets and when it hits ground, pop off.

Can it be adapted for us?

Still have it and you will see it in 2 different applications. This will show you how I got it to work as such and the next thread will show how it can be used as a bi-copter VTOL.

Materials-- foam sheets, carbon rod, large digital servos , HH E-Flite Park 370 1360 kv motors, and 9 x 4/7 APC props.

Design:
Since blue foam is a continuous sheet, I used the fold point and glued the carbon rod to make a symmetric wing (just eyeballed it) that had a 19" chord and a width of 2 ft. Cross spars are at 3", 6", 11" from LE, and glue together from 16" to 19" . Height's are 7/8", "1 1/4", "3/4"

The two large rudders are hand fitted 3" in from edge with a 5 3/4" base of fixed rudder with a front edge height of 5 1/2". The under rudders are 2 1/" high and 2 1/2" in length from rear to form the taper. If you are going to launch vertically, stand the plane up and cut the back surface of the rudder(both sides) so it sits perpendicular to the motors/prop!!!!!

Concept of Yaw, Roll and Pitch: (Standing behind plane)

To control Yaw, a transmitter mix is needed to give you a right turn where the left motor is speeded up and the right motor is reduced. Opposite for a left turn.
To control pitch, both servos move up (say to do a loop) and to pitch down points the nose down.

To control roll, (say to do a right roll) the left servo moves up and the right servo moves down

More tomorrow.

 

[Foamforce]

I was toying around with this same idea recently. The biggest difference in my idea was that they would be pusher props, and there would be a linkage between the servo and the pivoting motor mount which would provide reduction gearing and some flex to protect the servo. Also, by using the pusher configuration, the motor servos could use the standard elevon mix.

One issue is that without any moving control surfaces, you wouldn’t have any control while gliding without the motors running. To solve this I thought about integrating a small amount of control surface into the front of the motor pivot.

Edit: It’s possible that you might still have some control without control surfaces due to the motor and prop being raised or lowered, causing more drag above or below the centerline. That would be cool.

 

[L Edge]

I was toying around with this same idea recently. The biggest difference in my idea was that they would be pusher props, and there would be a linkage between the servo and the pivoting motor mount which would provide reduction gearing and some flex to protect the servo. Also, by using the pusher configuration, the motor servos could use the standard elevon mix.

One issue is that without any moving control surfaces, you wouldn’t have any control while gliding without the motors running. To solve this I thought about integrating a small amount of control surface into the front of the motor pivot.

Edit: It’s possible that you might still have some control without control surfaces due to the motor and prop being raised or lowered, causing more drag above or below the centerline. That would be cool.

1) Did set up radio using elevon control to the servos.
Yes, you are right about if 1 or both motors failed(no glide), but just like any other prop plane, how often does the motor stop?
2) I used servos that had quite a bit of torque so never got damage or destroyed. Designed engine mount to break off as a safety factor.
3) Will answer your edit section after I finished how I mounted the motors etc.

 

[Foamforce]

1) Did set up radio using elevon control to the servos.
Yes, you are right about if 1 or both motors failed(no glide), but just like any other prop plane, how often does the motor stop?
2) I used servos that had quite a bit of torque so never got damage or destroyed. Designed engine mount to break off as a safety factor.
3) Will answer your edit section after I finished how I mounted the motors etc.

On the first point, I didn’t mean about a motor failure, I just meant flying with very low or zero throttle. I’m not sure how often I just glide, but I definitely do very low throttle fairly frequently. There’s also flaring for landing which I usually do with no throttle.

Setting a minimum idle speed would help. Also, if you had a fancy enough radio you could probably set up a mix to increase throw inversely proportional to throttle input.

I’m really curious how it works for you. Cool project!

 

[L Edge]

To finish up construction, I forgot to mention about servo mount. Before I folded over the top section, I re-enforced from the leading edge to the first spar with strips of foam and glued it to strengthen the servo. This allowed it to sit parallel to the wing.

All electrical wiring for servo and motor went into the underside of the foam wing. A large plastic servo arm was used to hold the motor mount and thin hardwood was used to make motor mount(Superglue) using small wooden screws to allow it to break free if prop hits ground. Piece of balsa was added to reduce vibrations for my new project. Didn't need it on original project.

I made the CG 25% of the wing, used a 2100 3s battery(inside the wing) and built a frame to hold the rest of the electronics. Do not make the under rudder to high for on landing, the props will dig into the ground. Prop angle is set at to about plus/minus 15 degrees to give good roll and pitch.

Flights:
Taking off is rather simple, you can hand launch or launch vertically sitting on the ground. Flying is normal.

The flaring on landing is were you will have to make adjustments. Amount of pitch is controlled by the prop RPM and servo angle, so as you ease off on throttle to land, you are loosing pitch control. Change angle, for a while it can be okay, but weight is overtaking lift as the RPM's decrease and soon you are facing damage to the aircraft.

How to solve it:
I have designed some STOL models so took the same approach. testing: Decided to increase the servo angle (5 degrees + each time) and holding the model, add power until it was equal to weight. Chose 25 degrees.
Set up a 3 flight mode condition in the transmitter.
FM1: normal flying
FM2: wrote a mix to offset servo 25 degrees (when landing, speed slowed down, now flip to FM2 and servo jumps to +25 degrees), it worked in flight, but throttle was too course, next added a FM2 only throttle curve which slope was flatten from 0 to 15 % throttle.
FM3: backup for normal flight

Went up 3 crash heights and first tested 25 degree servo angle and various low throttle settings simulating landing. It was wild. After a flatten throttle curve was added, it now took a number of practice runs of getting low speed, switching to FM2, throttle management of getting the positive angle of attack on the wing and holding flare until wing touches ground. Used landing in the high grass while I was learning, hence, no crashes.

Result: Was able to land in front of me with this plane that doesn't exist. It is "Unique" in flying. Got bored, threw it in my boneyard where it sat for 10 years.
Want to try building one? Provided enough dimensions that you can start. Will assist if you need help.

Here is maiden flight. Just to show it could fly. Boring except for landing. Forgot about pitch and quickly adjusted to only minor cosmetic surgery.

"Unique" will be modified(not much) to enter the VTOL world.


The new thread will be started soon.

 

[ProfessorFate]

That looks really light and fun L Edge!

25 years ago I built the Hortons Wingless version from this 1950s magazine powered with a 40 glow engine middle of leading edge with extensions, covered in chrome, still flew very tail heavy. Gave it to Bob Bray who worked on RC stuff, wish I'd kept it, would've looked interesting hanging from the ceiling.

I may still have that magazine

Saw that sky sniper from long ago too.

These magazine covers are inspiring and some imaginative aircraft look like they could fly.

When you start looking, you'll find most interesting air water land craft, retro-futurism.

Are there any threads discussions and EXOTIC builds like this?

Just had to share, yours and the Hortons are so similar

Push The Button... Max


Historians claim the US Navy first aircraft purchase was the Curtis pusher, also Professor Fates' airplane in The Great Race.

Jack Lemmon and Peter Falk


Fan jet and Energy Saving Race Glider, by French designer Luigi Colani

 

[L Edge]

That looks really light and fun L Edge!

25 years ago I built the Hortons Wingless version from this 1950s magazine powered with a 40 glow engine middle of leading edge with extensions, covered in chrome, still flew very tail heavy. Gave it to Bob Bray who worked on RC stuff, wish I'd kept it, would've looked interesting hanging from the ceiling.

I may still have that magazine

Saw that sky sniper from long ago too.

These magazine covers are inspiring and some imaginative aircraft look like they could fly.

When you start looking, you'll find most interesting air water land craft, retro-futurism.

Are there any threads discussions and EXOTIC builds like this?

Just had to share, yours and the Hortons are so similar

Push The Button... Max


Historians claim the US Navy first aircraft purchase was the Curtis pusher, also Professor Fates' airplane in The Great Race.

Jack Lemmon and Peter Falk


Fan jet and Energy Saving Race Glider, by French designer Luigi Colani

As far as I know, don't think there is a section on EXOTIC builds. Looking at your mag covers, tried a few already. Got a circular 3ft flying saucer that has a set of elevons on the back, ailerons on the side and a set of spoilers,flaps in the inner upper area. To fly in very low winds, I dial flaps down to keep the nose up(so it doesn't nose dive) and to fly in higher winds, the flaps are turned up to act as spoilers to drive the nose down. The reason the ailerons are added is to promote the roll.

Another I did was modify my Eye SPY so you can land inverted. Then, if you like, you can take off inverted. How many pilots can say they have taken off inverted? It is called "THE OTHER UP".

 

[JasonK]

have you seen this?

no moving parts other then the motors.

myself, I think I would switch from a camera switcher to a servo tilting the camera... which would solve the signal flicker/loss when the mode is switched and might even allow a more continuous flow between 'hover' and 'forward' modes.

 

[ProfessorFate]

I built the Hortons 24" wide 36" long chord
And there's a variation with a triangular pointed nose and Horton also had a version of same with wing tips sliding out 6 ft about chord about 2.5 ft

When watching these space series early 2000s
Star Trek Reliant, Andromeda Slip Fighter and BSG 2000 Cylon Raider were all interesting fantasy sci fi aircraft that looked good as exotic aircraft projects.

Imagine the Star Trek Reliant as pusher with prop behind the disk fuselage, center mounted

Found luft46 and started an Arado 555 version 1 flying wing. As a beginning builder then I probably got it too heavy, now I would make it in foam, lighter.

Saw a video somebody built an electric foam Arado 555 and flew it in quiet country

Remember when SG1 got hold of that death glider?

Here's another version of Colani race glider

 

[ProfessorFate]

L Edge.... Hi

I kept going, found this site with the actual flying prototype.

Horton got financing from Howard Hughes who, after appearance of interest and contracts, wanted to cut Horton out and make him just the project engineer. There's videos on this page and it flys good. Couldn't produce due to trouble with Hughes.

This could be an interesting easy foam build
Notice the pusher design too, probably be hard putting that much weight aft

 

[L Edge]

have you seen this?

no moving parts other then the motors.

myself, I think I would switch from a camera switcher to a servo tilting the camera... which would solve the signal flicker/loss when the mode is switched and might even allow a more continuous flow between 'hover' and 'forward' modes.

Thanks, but the FC I am using has good transition inputs from hover to forward flight. You not only can set up your own time for transition from h to ff and back (each time can be different) if you like, but sets your throttle transition curve which is different than a throttle curve.
It even shows how to set up a square root of sine curves approach to get that continuous flow . Don't want to drop out of the sky when going from FF to hover.

The "bicopter" is the toughest to master, having 2 servo/motor/props handling all 3 axis from hover, transition to FF. "Unique" is the simplest, the Osprey is the toughest, that's why I picked the order.