FTFC20 Carl Goldberg Ranger 30 designed by Jon Carlsen

[TooJung2Die]

Thanks, everyone. Rained all day... no flying.

I forgot to mention... The whole airplane fits on less than one sheet of Adams foam board.

 

[Mr. Gandalf]

Excellent work!

 

[bracesport]

@TooJung2Die - super nice - seems you can twiddle your thumbs until the rest of us in the FTFC20 catchup!

 

[TooJung2Die]

@TooJung2Die - super nice - seems you can twiddle your thumbs until the rest of us in the FTFC20 catchup!

Thank you.
This is the beauty of foam board design. Even while taking my time with no marathon building sessions a completely new airplane design was completed in just a few days. Even if you need to make revisions it is quick and easy. If you can think it, you can build it!
(That may become my new signature)
Jon

 

[Corbarrad]

@TooJung2Die - super nice - seems you can twiddle your thumbs until the rest of us in the FTFC20 catchup!

Maybe consider adding an FT-style wing for a better chance of having your design selected in the second part of the challenge? The fuselage should translate well to DTFB.

I really like the plane you came up with. It looks almost identical to its conventionally built counterpart.

 

[TooJung2Die]

Maybe consider adding an FT-style wing for a better chance of having your design selected in the second part of the challenge? The fuselage should translate well to DTFB.

Been there, done that. Follow the link in Post #1 to the FT style Ranger 30 I designed in 2015. The purpose of this build is to make an ultra-light indoor venue airplane using advanced building techniques. Qualifying for the challenge was secondary. The Flite Test built Ranger 30 is a great flying airplane. Build it as a 3 channel trainer or 4 channel for some sporty aerobatic flying.

 

[Corbarrad]

Yes, basic reading comprehension, my nemesis...

Totally missed that bit.

 

[TooJung2Die]

I know better. The glue joint where the balsa leading edges join is a weak butt splice. It should've been a scarf joint. It was too windy but I flew it anyway. A minute in the air, a strong gust came up and suddenly there was a lot more dihedral. The weak joint had cracked. It was still flying so it landed safely. I'm glad that was the only thing that broke.

I sanded a flat spot on the dihedral joint where it cracked. A gusset made from a small scrap of spruce is Gorilla glued to the front of the leading edge.

That's better. I'll try again soon to get some video. It was flying really well until that gust came along.

 

[TooJung2Die]

The bare balsa wood wheels didn't look right so they got painted to look like tires.

Jon

 

[TooJung2Die]

Build slideshow and flight video.
If you've seen the build, jump to 3:20 for the flight.

Jon

 

[TEAJR66]

Looks and flys great. Congratulations, another excellent build!

 

[Willy Nillies]

Very nice!

 

[TooJung2Die]

I made the landing gear long and leggy because I wanted it to protect the prop on landing and be soft and springy. It turned out too soft and springy so I cut off about one inch and bent new axles. That one inch difference resulted in a significant increase in stiffness. It may even look better proportioned.

There's still enough prop clearance.

Jon

 

[bracesport]

@TooJung2Die - I like the dihedral support - I had an issue on my FB DLG wing and this should sort it out - I will try it!

 

[TooJung2Die]

I like the dihedral support - I had an issue on my FB DLG wing and this should sort it out - I will try it!

Go with carbon fiber tube not balsa. Especially with the force exerted on a DLG wing. Even with the reinforced dihedral I have not attempted a loop. The wing is pretty flexible. I might make a second wing using 3 or 4mm carbon fiber tube for the leading edge. Then what do you use to join the tubes at the dihedral angle? Maybe aluminum rod?

I flew the Ranger again for 20 minutes on one charge. Checked the battery and flew another 10 minutes. She flies exactly like I remember my first free-flight balsa Ranger with a Cox .020 Baby Bee. Once trimmed she climbs counter-clockwise and glides back circling clockwise. What a nice glide! Even with this tiny motor she has a nice steep climb at 2/3 throttle. Cut the throttle and go looking for lift. She glides like a little sailplane.

Jon

 

[TooJung2Die]

The smaller 350 mAh 2S batteries arrived. After adding some paint, vinyl sticker, and wing reinforcement the new lower weight is 118 grams or a touch over 4 ounces. I flew her like a free flight for half an hour, climbing up and gliding down, and checked the battery. Over 50% of the battery was still left. I am most pleased with how she glides. Just like a true free flight airplane. The only time I use the elevator is when landing and I want to get it down quicker. Since I still haven't programmed the brake on the motor the prop free-wheels. It might gain some more glide time when I get the brake working.