L Edge
Master member
My motto is "To design and build things that don't exist." Lot's of pilots want to fly EDF jets but they don't have the acreage and runway necessary to takeoff and land that type of plane. Others say that you need certain skill's to handle it.
My answer to that is with a certain planform (BOBCAT) and if you have the ability to place an airplane where you want to from launch to landing, you can learn in a very small area. How about flying and doing acrobatics in an 80 x 160 ft if your brazen enough.(video available) different platform.
If you take the platform of the Bobcat like shown in a recent FT video and forgetting it's looks to shed the weight, you will have a trainer that you can launch, fly around(no rudder needed) in gusty weather and land with ease. I solved all the problems needed to do this. Best of all, doing throttle management, how about 9 to 10 minutes of flight? What EDF trainer do you know that has a 1300 lipo 3S and 64mm EDF and flies that long?
In 14 years of exploring 64mm 5 bladed EDF's, by the way, I nailed it with my version of A-10, SR-71, X-47B, F-117, DarkStar and a Flying Wing(no rudders or vertical stabs). Result of solving
Guessing on flight area including behind me, length 300' wide and 200' depth. What does your trainer need? Good 10-15 real gusty winds, excellent stability, will even wind surf as well as acrobatics, and especially at 9:25 min(I cut power and show you could land with no damage) and then have a landing. Reason showing videos to you is "that is the proof".
Cost: (Freewing) Motionrc.com.
64 mm 5 bladed setup $40
ESCape 30A 23
Lipo- 1300mah 3S that I use for props as well.
Plans:
Free- you will need to go to RCGroups and do a search for plans listed under AlleyCAT and pick the size 32'' (don't try to sell it, only for your use)
Nice thing about it, 6 pieces to cut out and glue together. I cut corners and used only 5!!!
Building:
In order it to duplicate mine, lightweight is imperative. You will also make sure the booms are perpendicular to wing, parallel to the centerline and elevon segment is parallel to wing. If you do sloppiness and make it heavyweight, it will not fly like mine. In fact, it will be a dog to fly. Point made I hope!!!!
3 servos are used for 1 elevator(you can see the elevator on lower boom on wing) and 2 for ailerons.
Next comes important part. Mounting the fan.
Lightweight is important. So you see my mount is basswood, 2 sides of the foam hot glued to base and to EDF.
Here it is: I want when glued, the EDF fan housing pointing 6 degrees nose up and 1 degree right off centerline with end of motor even with foam.
You screw that up, the plane will fly wacky.
If you look at vector analysis, there is a upward component of thrust and that is one of the secrets that makes the plane so smoothly.
I used the app on my phone to measure the angle, you will find that you will spend more time mounting and tuning the angled EDF then building.
History:
If you build it right, need someone to launch it, use a table. Guess what area it covered? I challenge someone to come up with a smaller area. How about my landing strip?
If you keep it nice and light, launch vertical and land twice on a field(no wheels needed thanks to the booms) in a tight area.
I also designed a "stabilizer"(copyright) that reduces drag and allows for it to fly in gusty and turbulent weather and extends flying time for a 3S 1300 battery for 10 minutes using. This planform is super as a trainer and when I cut the EDF power in gusty and windy conditions, (about 9:25 in video) you can auto it in safely. You can not only fly in a tight space, but windsurf, do acrobatics, and dead stick it.(ask me).
So, for $63, a 1300 3s battery, and a planform model, you can learn how to fly EDF's. Now is you want a light landing gear, add it.
So you are not interested in EDF'S. Okay, change and put a motor/prop, landing gear and you have a STOL. Notice my exploring "endcaps" The trees are about 125feet high for approach and about 50 ft back from asphalt. How about those takeoffs( no flaps needed) and landing where forward motion requires it tipping fore and aft to make the proper landing and what about that flare angle(It let's you know by starting to rock). This was my maiden flight and at 3:32 shows a sample of a 10/10approach and landing. That's what I live for. Something that now does exist.
Okay, let's talk building it. Market is very limited for building supplies. So if it your interested (would someone like to to try a printed 3D version?), will help you problem solve if you want. Model could change in size if needed. By the way, made a EZ version of this using version 2 equipment.
My answer to that is with a certain planform (BOBCAT) and if you have the ability to place an airplane where you want to from launch to landing, you can learn in a very small area. How about flying and doing acrobatics in an 80 x 160 ft if your brazen enough.(video available) different platform.
If you take the platform of the Bobcat like shown in a recent FT video and forgetting it's looks to shed the weight, you will have a trainer that you can launch, fly around(no rudder needed) in gusty weather and land with ease. I solved all the problems needed to do this. Best of all, doing throttle management, how about 9 to 10 minutes of flight? What EDF trainer do you know that has a 1300 lipo 3S and 64mm EDF and flies that long?
In 14 years of exploring 64mm 5 bladed EDF's, by the way, I nailed it with my version of A-10, SR-71, X-47B, F-117, DarkStar and a Flying Wing(no rudders or vertical stabs). Result of solving
Guessing on flight area including behind me, length 300' wide and 200' depth. What does your trainer need? Good 10-15 real gusty winds, excellent stability, will even wind surf as well as acrobatics, and especially at 9:25 min(I cut power and show you could land with no damage) and then have a landing. Reason showing videos to you is "that is the proof".
Cost: (Freewing) Motionrc.com.
64 mm 5 bladed setup $40
ESCape 30A 23
Lipo- 1300mah 3S that I use for props as well.
Plans:
Free- you will need to go to RCGroups and do a search for plans listed under AlleyCAT and pick the size 32'' (don't try to sell it, only for your use)
Nice thing about it, 6 pieces to cut out and glue together. I cut corners and used only 5!!!
Building:
In order it to duplicate mine, lightweight is imperative. You will also make sure the booms are perpendicular to wing, parallel to the centerline and elevon segment is parallel to wing. If you do sloppiness and make it heavyweight, it will not fly like mine. In fact, it will be a dog to fly. Point made I hope!!!!
3 servos are used for 1 elevator(you can see the elevator on lower boom on wing) and 2 for ailerons.
Next comes important part. Mounting the fan.
Lightweight is important. So you see my mount is basswood, 2 sides of the foam hot glued to base and to EDF.
Here it is: I want when glued, the EDF fan housing pointing 6 degrees nose up and 1 degree right off centerline with end of motor even with foam.
You screw that up, the plane will fly wacky.
If you look at vector analysis, there is a upward component of thrust and that is one of the secrets that makes the plane so smoothly.
I used the app on my phone to measure the angle, you will find that you will spend more time mounting and tuning the angled EDF then building.
History:
If you build it right, need someone to launch it, use a table. Guess what area it covered? I challenge someone to come up with a smaller area. How about my landing strip?
If you keep it nice and light, launch vertical and land twice on a field(no wheels needed thanks to the booms) in a tight area.
I also designed a "stabilizer"(copyright) that reduces drag and allows for it to fly in gusty and turbulent weather and extends flying time for a 3S 1300 battery for 10 minutes using. This planform is super as a trainer and when I cut the EDF power in gusty and windy conditions, (about 9:25 in video) you can auto it in safely. You can not only fly in a tight space, but windsurf, do acrobatics, and dead stick it.(ask me).
So, for $63, a 1300 3s battery, and a planform model, you can learn how to fly EDF's. Now is you want a light landing gear, add it.
So you are not interested in EDF'S. Okay, change and put a motor/prop, landing gear and you have a STOL. Notice my exploring "endcaps" The trees are about 125feet high for approach and about 50 ft back from asphalt. How about those takeoffs( no flaps needed) and landing where forward motion requires it tipping fore and aft to make the proper landing and what about that flare angle(It let's you know by starting to rock). This was my maiden flight and at 3:32 shows a sample of a 10/10approach and landing. That's what I live for. Something that now does exist.
Okay, let's talk building it. Market is very limited for building supplies. So if it your interested (would someone like to to try a printed 3D version?), will help you problem solve if you want. Model could change in size if needed. By the way, made a EZ version of this using version 2 equipment.
