I just got a 64mm edf, What should I do with it?

[TreadHead98]

As the title implies, I got one of these 64mm EDF units from a friend, and now I need to figure out what to do with it. Any ideas for something interesting to build around it? Looks are a pretty high priority, so I’d like something that actually makes a good-looking airplane, not just something to stick an EDF in. And before anyone says it: no FT Viggen/x-29.

Thoughts?

 

[Merv]

I've aways wanted to try an EDF in a FT F22

 

[LitterBug]

Make a Cirrus Vision Jet.....

 

[TreadHead98]

Eclipse 400 might even be better? Or a piper PA-47?

 

[Jo's squadron]

Ben Harbor’s F-16!

 

[L Edge]

If you noticed, not too many planes out there with EDF's. Biggest problem is the weight. With a 64 EDF, the usual weight for flying is usually between 1.2 to 1.5 lbs. If you add up EDF, ESC, battery, it doesn't leave much weight to build the structure. Hence, your "good looking airplane is limited.
One way, is 3D printing like @telnar1236 or see what you can find in plans on the internet. Suggest you also check out a flying video of that model to insure it flys. If you don't build light, it won't fly right.

 

[telnar1236]

Looks like a reasonably powerful unit so you should be ok to do something a bit more aesthetic with a bit less worry about weight. My personal philosophy is that aerodynamics and good ducting matter a lot more than pure thrust to weight ratio, but that isn't necessarily the general consensus, especially for foam board designs.
The F-117 has always struck me as being well suited to foam board with its faceted shape.

Plane - 64mm EDF F117

My 1st attempt at designing an EDF Jet! Tested with the Powerfun 64mm EDF ,11 blade 3500kv motor, and x2 1300 mah 4s batteries in parallel. ( A single 2600mah 4s battery will probably be easier to work with though) This is an advanced build...

forum.flitetest.com

If you're interested in 3D printing, 64mm is a bit of a bad size for it. Looks like there are some designs on Owlplane and some others scattered around from individual designers, but I can't really vouch for how well they fly. Most websites jump from 50mm straight to 70mm or 90mm if they have larger EDFs at all.

OWL ViperJet 64mm EDF 3D printed RC plane jet | OWLplane

Experience sport jet performance with the OWL ViperJet 64mm EDF 3D printed RC plane. Get lightweight LW-PLA STL files and build guides from OWLplane.

owlplane.com

If you're interested in either of my 64mm designs, I have the Falcata and the Rapier - both fly great but remain slightly WIP - so I can throw together the STLs pretty quickly.

 

[TreadHead98]

Thanks!! Could you tell me more about the falcata? Also, how difficult is it to design a 3d printed jet?

 

[telnar1236]

Here's the thread I started on it - reminds me that I still need to try and get video.

64mm EDF Jet Trainer - The Falcata

For the past year, I've mostly been focused on going fast, though I've had two LW-PLA side projects I've built which are both on the slower end. With those faster designs, I've learned a lot about how to improve my construction techniques, how to reduce drag, how to reduce unintended turbulence...

forum.flitetest.com

Short version is it's an ABS jet trainer design with reasonably good stall characteristics and great flight characteristics but doesn't have a ton of excess power. Landings require a bit of finesse to keep it from bouncing. I originally intended it to be grass capable, but I'm not sure it will actually end up that way, so you do need a runway.

Designing a 3D printed plane from scratch isn't really too difficult. You need to be decent with CAD, but otherwise the biggest challenge is controlling weight and realizing that you really do need to print almost every part with a single wall and next to no infill.

 

[telnar1236]

Almost forgot, I also have a laminar flow wing sport jet design, although it is a bit tough to hand launch and probably could do with a gyro - otherwise flies great too and you can give it landing gear like the Falcata though it lands a fair bit faster.

Benefit of this one is you can print it in LW-PLA too

 

[TreadHead98]

What software do you design in? (fusion right?). Also, the Saab 105 became a 70mm correct?

Thanks for all the help!

 

[telnar1236]

What software do you design in? (fusion right?). Also, the Saab 105 became a 70mm correct? When you say decent with cad, how decent do you mean?

Thanks for all the help!

Yeah, Fusion 360. Yeah, the Saab 105 became a 70mm and I mostly gave up on further developing it since it needed such a deft touch with landing to stay upright and the performance wasn't worth the effort to keep updating it - in many ways the concept for it became the Falcata which is able to get away with a much lighter setup in the same size airframe thanks to the more efficient ducting.

The better you are in CAD, the better the plane will turn out looking, but you can start with pretty basic skills and work from there. At a bare minimum you need to understand how lofts and extrudes work and how to make sketches. You will also get better at CAD in a hurry by designing a plane - the best way of learning is doing. And to make a nice flying plane, you just need some very basic skills.

 

[LitterBug]

Almost forgot, I also have a laminar flow wing sport jet design, although it is a bit tough to hand launch and probably could do with a gyro - otherwise flies great too and you can give it landing gear like the Falcata though it lands a fair bit faster.
View attachment 260128 View attachment 260129
Benefit of this one is you can print it in LW-PLA too

What a beauty!

 

[telnar1236]

What a beauty!

Up among my favorites of the things I've designed and I always forget I have it - need to repair the aileron and pull the gyro from the Rapier 64 to put in this for hand launches