EZ Wright Brothers Flyer

[FoamyDM]

The Wright Flyer

I watched this video on the wright brothers being first in flight: (

)
As these things usually go for me, I got inspired. I have been wanting to build a model for a while and the EZ kit seem like a perfect matchup

When watching a movie last night, instead of building a Sorcerer out of foam board (

), like I planned, I went and built a Wright Flyer one of these: (no plan again)



The Maiden flight will be shortly. As soon as I can pry my eyes open!

 

[Matthewdupreez]

this looks like a neat itty bitty plane.

 

[Phin G]

The Wright Flyer
View attachment 206925

I watched this video on the wright brothers being first in flight: (

)
As these things usually go for me, I got inspired. I have been wanting to build a model for a while and the EZ kit seem like a perfect matchup

When watching a movie last night, instead of building a Sorcerer out of foam board (

), like I planned, I went and built a Wright Flyer one of these: (no plan again)

View attachment 206920 View attachment 206921 View attachment 206922 View attachment 206923 View attachment 206924 View attachment 206925 View attachment 206926 View attachment 206927

The Maiden flight will be shortly. As soon as I can pry my eyes open!

Awesome build, ive always wanted to make one out of foam or balsa. I think 13th squadron has plans for a 50” wright brothers flyer, i think.

 

[Matthewdupreez]

they sure do
https://www.13thsquadron.com/wright-flyer.html
except it's 50in wingspan...

 

[FoamyDM]

Awesome build, ive always wanted to make one out of foam or balsa. I think 13th squadron has plans for a 50” wright brothers flyer, i think.

They do ... the comments are that they never got it to fly well, but build away. This uses Split 1/8" skewers to keep it light and strong. As I glide test, I realize I need to add a little weight up front. (using a penny seems to work so far.) breakfast break, then powered test.

 

[Matthewdupreez]

can't wait

 

[FoamyDM]

Sadly it didn't go as well as I hoped.

it was unstable. it did take a crash well and the 1/2 BBQ skewers held up better than I expected. AUW was around 45g. The original freighter is 52g.


I took the wings off after I gave up and turned the wings into a trainer style plane. It took a few laps around the cul-de-sac. It brightened my spirits.

 

[GrizWiz]

Looks sweet! I think you just need nose weight or angle the front elevator to give it more down thrust.

 

[Baron VonHelton]

My observations:

1. Wingspan is too short.
2. Front Canard is too close to the wings.
3. Front canard needs to be slightly angled upwards.
4. Adjusted CG should be the exact center of the wing.
5. Main wings need to be slightly angled up as well.

Just my zwei pfennig......

 

[FoamyDM]

My observations:

1. Wingspan is too short.
2. Front Canard is too close to the wings.
3. Front canard needs to be slightly angled upwards.
4. Adjusted CG should be the exact center of the wing.
5. Main wings need to be slightly angled up as well.

Just my zwei pfennig......

Thank you for your 2 pfennig. it is appreciated.
This Project was a off-the-cuff whim. I was not looking for a scale model but more something that flew well that looked the part. @Baron VonHelton Have you built a working scale model? based on the museum piece pic, I see your references - Danke.
my canard AOA ~10deg, main wings AOA ~3deg. This whim was based on having 6-8" of full width (20") of DTFB leftover from another project. (and an EZ unused.)

Based on the interest here though... I just might give this another attempt. something better thought out.

 

[Baron VonHelton]

Thank you for your 2 pfennig. it is appreciated.
This Project was a off-the-cuff whim. I was not looking for a scale model but more something that flew well that looked the part. @Baron VonHelton Have you built a working scale model? based on the museum piece pic, I see your references - Danke.
my canard AOA ~10deg, main wings AOA ~3deg. This whim was based on having 6-8" of full width (20") of DTFB leftover from another project. (and an EZ unused.)

Based on the interest here though... I just might give this another attempt. something better thought out.

I'm going to put that black foamboard I bought to good use.......A Pfalz E.I will be my first aircraft. It'll be a 3 channel, so I won't have to worry about wing-warping. I used to make & fly realistic paper airplanes years ago. Made a huge B-17 entirely out of paper & won an award when it flew for several feet. Of course, most of my aircraft recently have been in computer games.

 

[cyclone3350]

Thank you for your 2 pfennig. it is appreciated.
This Project was a off-the-cuff whim. I was not looking for a scale model but more something that flew well that looked the part. @Baron VonHelton Have you built a working scale model? based on the museum piece pic, I see your references - Danke.
my canard AOA ~10deg, main wings AOA ~3deg. This whim was based on having 6-8" of full width (20") of DTFB leftover from another project. (and an EZ unused.)

Based on the interest here though... I just might give this another attempt. something better thought out.

Yes! Do another one if U can. The Wright Flyer is a very elusive design. The original only went about 300 ft @ the end of the day and straight forward flight was the best it can do. In 2003 a team of aeronautical experts replicated the first one right down to the stitching and was unable to get it to fly. I think U can do it.

 

[Baron VonHelton]

Yes! Do another one if U can. The Wright Flyer is a very elusive design. The original only went about 300 ft @ the end of the day and straight forward flight was the best it can do. In 2003 a team of aeronautical experts replicated the first one right down to the stitching and was unable to get it to fly. I think U can do it.

There MAY be a problem.......According to the video he linked to, the Wright Flyer design is optimal at SEA LEVEL and below. This could be the reason his micro scale didn't fly.

 

[FoamyDM]

I am excited that you have such interest. The A Pfalz E is a really interesting plane

I found this:
https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=4181
CG - is JUST in front of the wing on this peanut stick&tissue rubber powered glider
Here is a CG calculator I ran:

 

[Baron VonHelton]

I am excited that you have such interest. The A Pfalz E is a really interesting plane

I found this:
https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=4181
CG - is JUST in front of the wing on this peanut stick&tissue rubber powered glider

I still maintain CG is right in the middle of the main wing, but try their CG first. I'm willing to be corrected.

 

[FoamyDM]

Some Inspiration. This is not "EZ"

another success (not me):

This is two Slow Sticks wings (and tails) with two 10x3.7 props. Note that Battery placement for Balance.

 

[cyclone3350]

I am liking this discussion on CG. Six moths ago, I had finished designing the Wright Model Ex and sent it off to Arizona Models for making the metal detail parts. It took me a year to find as much info as I can to make this an exact 1/4 scale replica. the one thing that was not published, was the center of gravity. It is estimated, through load moment calculations, that the original CG was about 55% (if I remember correctly) of the wing chord from the leading edge. It was also noted that the pitch was unstable and made it very prone to stall spins. To combat over controlling in the pitch, they braced the rear stabilizer ( this one had a conventional tail ) and the pilot had to warp the surface area outside of the stabilizer bracing wires. After consulting with several expert individuals, it was recommended to make the CG somewhere @ or forward of the 25% chord. Preferably 20% for maiden. Looking @ the oz plans, it looks like this would be about right for a canard. This is the what I finally came up with for for plans drawn in 1/12th scale.