JamesWhom
Project Air on YouTube
Just wanted to see what you make of my newest design - the de Havilland Vampire.
It is a swappable pusher. Its small size and powerful motor makes it feel just like a Jet in the air. It is completely my own design.
Performance
The thing tracks like it's on rails. It isn't the fastest plane I have ever flown, but it's quite close. I haven't accurately measured it, but I estimate it cruising at 40mph, perhaps diving at 50-60mph full throttle.
The climb rate is very nice. It isn't one of these planes that can do vertical, but even so, you don't notice any problem with performance while trying to gain altitude.
Aerobatics are so much fun with this plane. The roll rate is great and can turn on a penny, even though it's only 3 channel, a 'bank and yanker'. The smoothness of it tracking on rails means you feel completely in control, even whilst doing more extreme manoeuvres like figure 8's and stall turns. I was very surprised how nice it flies, as I was expecting more problems from the classic 'jet' aerodynamics.
Build
It started with drawing out the fuselage sides and building the power pod. The battery is actually now located at the the very front of the nose within the power pod.
Then I started the wings.
The tail was quite tricky with the tail servo being located right at the back.
The servo lead goes through the tail boom.
Overall the build was fairly easy. There are 3 main sections, the fuselage, wings, and tail booms/tail.
Specs
1200KV NTM Propdrive Motor
40Amp Basic ESC
6x5 Master Airscrew Prop
2200Mah 3s 25c Turnigy LiPo
Orange 6ch Rx
Test Flight
The first test flights and glides went better than expected. I first flew the plane yesterday, and it was so good I went ahead and painted it straight after!
Here it is on the glide test. I tested it in a small field with long grass to cushion the landing. Sorry about the out of focus camera.
I then took it to my flying field up the road and gave it a few laps around. It was great!
The only thing I had to adjust was the expo levels. At first the plane was very pitchy. I think this may be because of the distance of the tail control surface to the motor and CG point. I reduced it to just 20 percent (!) and it now has the authority you would expect to fly with. It still is extremely maneuverable.
Here it is after the powered test flight.
Summary
To sum up, this is a great flyer. It is small, agile, and most of all, a ton of fun to fly.
Depending on if people want it, I may end up drawing up the plans so you can make your own DH Vampire.
Let me know what you think in a reply to this thread. I look forward to hearing your feedback
Thanks!
It is a swappable pusher. Its small size and powerful motor makes it feel just like a Jet in the air. It is completely my own design.
Performance
The thing tracks like it's on rails. It isn't the fastest plane I have ever flown, but it's quite close. I haven't accurately measured it, but I estimate it cruising at 40mph, perhaps diving at 50-60mph full throttle.
The climb rate is very nice. It isn't one of these planes that can do vertical, but even so, you don't notice any problem with performance while trying to gain altitude.
Aerobatics are so much fun with this plane. The roll rate is great and can turn on a penny, even though it's only 3 channel, a 'bank and yanker'. The smoothness of it tracking on rails means you feel completely in control, even whilst doing more extreme manoeuvres like figure 8's and stall turns. I was very surprised how nice it flies, as I was expecting more problems from the classic 'jet' aerodynamics.
Build
It started with drawing out the fuselage sides and building the power pod. The battery is actually now located at the the very front of the nose within the power pod.
Then I started the wings.
The tail was quite tricky with the tail servo being located right at the back.
The servo lead goes through the tail boom.
Overall the build was fairly easy. There are 3 main sections, the fuselage, wings, and tail booms/tail.
Specs
1200KV NTM Propdrive Motor
40Amp Basic ESC
6x5 Master Airscrew Prop
2200Mah 3s 25c Turnigy LiPo
Orange 6ch Rx
Test Flight
The first test flights and glides went better than expected. I first flew the plane yesterday, and it was so good I went ahead and painted it straight after!
Here it is on the glide test. I tested it in a small field with long grass to cushion the landing. Sorry about the out of focus camera.
I then took it to my flying field up the road and gave it a few laps around. It was great!
The only thing I had to adjust was the expo levels. At first the plane was very pitchy. I think this may be because of the distance of the tail control surface to the motor and CG point. I reduced it to just 20 percent (!) and it now has the authority you would expect to fly with. It still is extremely maneuverable.
Here it is after the powered test flight.
Summary
To sum up, this is a great flyer. It is small, agile, and most of all, a ton of fun to fly.
Depending on if people want it, I may end up drawing up the plans so you can make your own DH Vampire.
Let me know what you think in a reply to this thread. I look forward to hearing your feedback
Thanks!
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