Hai-Lee
Old and Bold RC PILOT
During my time on the FT forum I have seen some fantastic builds and aircraft and some so elaborate I could only aspire to build such a model. Unfortunately I have also observed many builds, (some marathon builds) and great designs either fail to leave the ground or crash immediately upon becoming airborne. Whilst there are a myriad of different reasons for the failures and crashes there was an overall issue with most and that was the AUW, (All Up Weight).
Some builders dismiss a heavy build as being good and having great wind penetration but the truth is that increased weight equates to increased drag, higher wing loading, greater in-flight stresses on structure, more severe crashes, lower top speed. higher landing speed, and reduced handling agility. Sure some designs are great and strong but some have extra strength where the strength is not needed and from observing the progress of some members the extra strong and heavy areas are never subject to the stresses as the plane invariably is written off and replaced after a heavy crash due to the damage incurred.
Building in extra strength and extra weight can have an adverse effect upon every aspect of the aircraft's performance and life span.
Almost anyone can draw an outline and quickly fold up a silhouette for a plane and add a similar style wing and tail set. Then add a motor and battery and go flying. I should know as I have done it often but have not always been happy with the results even though the flight performance was adequate it was somewhat less than I had expected in most cases.
As a result of the failures posted on the forum and of course my own failures I started looking into weight issues and with this came structural issues. Recently the FT crew took a quantum leap in the use and application of FB in model aircraft design with the release of the "Master Series". I wholeheartedly applaud their extensive work in developing the series and curse the lack of an FT outlet in my country, (that I know of). As you might expect I immediately started practicing with their techniques in relation the locally available FB.
Anyway for those interested this thread will soon have a build using as much of the new techniques as possible used in its construction as well as a serious emphasis upon keeping the build light using techniques I have been using in my own designs locally.
The build subject:
Pic to be supplied when the project starts.
Have fun!
Some builders dismiss a heavy build as being good and having great wind penetration but the truth is that increased weight equates to increased drag, higher wing loading, greater in-flight stresses on structure, more severe crashes, lower top speed. higher landing speed, and reduced handling agility. Sure some designs are great and strong but some have extra strength where the strength is not needed and from observing the progress of some members the extra strong and heavy areas are never subject to the stresses as the plane invariably is written off and replaced after a heavy crash due to the damage incurred.
Building in extra strength and extra weight can have an adverse effect upon every aspect of the aircraft's performance and life span.
Almost anyone can draw an outline and quickly fold up a silhouette for a plane and add a similar style wing and tail set. Then add a motor and battery and go flying. I should know as I have done it often but have not always been happy with the results even though the flight performance was adequate it was somewhat less than I had expected in most cases.
As a result of the failures posted on the forum and of course my own failures I started looking into weight issues and with this came structural issues. Recently the FT crew took a quantum leap in the use and application of FB in model aircraft design with the release of the "Master Series". I wholeheartedly applaud their extensive work in developing the series and curse the lack of an FT outlet in my country, (that I know of). As you might expect I immediately started practicing with their techniques in relation the locally available FB.
Anyway for those interested this thread will soon have a build using as much of the new techniques as possible used in its construction as well as a serious emphasis upon keeping the build light using techniques I have been using in my own designs locally.
The build subject:
Pic to be supplied when the project starts.
Have fun!
.
