EZ Pack B2 Spirit being tested

[L Edge]

While exploring rudderless planes, wind has me grounded, so I decided to try making a EZ Pack V2 version of a B2 Spirit to see it that works
. Using Adams Redi-board (black), put one together that weighs 47.8 grams and decided to make it a pusher version.

For testing, used my setup in the cellar and went thruB2 designs and came up with one that seems to work.

I can say no damage was done where the tarplin catches the plane and it slides down and it gets caught by the loop and stops before it slide off.

To check CG, the concept is you release your plane at 1/2 throttle(say 5 ft) and see what happens, if it nose drops quickly, move your battery backwards. If the nose climbs, move your battery forward. To tune it, now move backwards say to 10 ft. Repeat the process move at intervals. I can go 42ft 3inches back.
What I do is, if the plane doesn't go straight, I move the battery laterally.

So now, 1/2 throttle, it will fly level, more power, it will climb and less power, it will slope down. Now the only thing left is to check is turns, so try low speed or high speed and you are set.
Make sure you pick a distance so it flys straight and then starts the turn and yet hits the tarp. So now you still have a brand new plane and no dings or damage to fuse or motors/props.
Wind is 5/15mph and tried it outside, hung in until swirling gust hit it, so will have to wait till another day.

By the way, if you are doing glide tests of your model, why not try something like this and save the dings and possible damage especially if it is a printed 3D model. The scoop on the bottom is a life saver.

 

[L Edge]

Using the EZ system, I got it to fly, but rate it about 2/10. So to me, it is a failure. After scratching my head, this is nothing more than a flying wing.
So I added material to the end(under segment of prop flow) to insure airflow across reflex area. After three adjustments to change reflex angle and battery for CG, it worked!!!!!
Got video for proof and ran out of prop battery, so film is short. Will do more and also want to see what happens in winds. Will put video up tomorrow.

Meanwhile, this is what it looks like. Added a 1" strip just behind props to original shape. Tape to added, glue to hold angle.

Started at high angle

Ended up best angle where reflex piece is 1/2 way down thickness of fixed fuse. Works out to about 3 degrees.
Then trimmed with battery movement and found out less thrust is needed to keep it level.

All for today.

 

[L Edge]

This is the video of the B2 Spirit getting its flight for about 1 min before the battery died due to adjusting reflex a number of times.
When the rain stops, will check out a series of left and right turns plus how it handles the wind.

I am really impressed with the EZ Pack especially if it can get the rudderless models to fly.

 

[bisco]

beautiful! was it hard to control?

 

[L Edge]

beautiful! was it hard to control?

After homing in on the reflex angle, it was easy-peasy. Again, want to see if I can do tight figure 8"s within the small field like my other models.
When I was adjusting reflex, backed off throttle and had good response to my landing glide slope.

Must add that over the period of using the EZ Pack, found that when throttle is maximized, can't use differential to turn. So, if you back off top throttle and add your differential, it will increase the RPM's and do the turn.

So if you synchronize movement of throttle and turn, it will work. If you watch the video again and look at the turn 12 secs on, you can see where I backed off full throttle and took my turn.

 

[L Edge]

The B2 does have some SPIRIT, for it is a winner. Not very often do I rate my own plane, but I would give it a 9/10. First of all, a pilot needs a 3.5 out of 5 to fly this one.
It is a weird one to fly, you release with say 3/4 throttle and it tends to go nose up, when your high enough and fast, you bump back the throttle so it nose's over, hit throttle and it slides level and starts to go like h++l, so you need to throttle back to about 1/4 in order to keep it level. Because you are minus any rudder, the drag is really low.
Now you want to turn, the differential thrust cause it not only to turn, but the added thrust makes it climb, so the game becomes:

you being able to apply the correct amount of differential thrust and add or subtract enough throttle movement so you make either a level, turn, climbing turn, or descending turn. If you screw up, the nose either tips up and does a loop or drops giving you a steep decent when you add the power. Now you see why the pilot needs a 3.5/5 rating. So the dexterity of left and right hand have to be working well.

Getting the plane on step is the key to flying it. It is really the same as flying the plane from water. Need enough power and speed to get it on step. Because the drag is so low in flight, I took 3 flights that lasted anywhere from 10 to 12 minutes and was able to even wind surf when it was nose up into the wind. It is a "kick butt" plane.

 

[bisco]

my skills are about 1.5 out of 5