L Edge
Master member
When you evaluate swinging a wing from aft(Tomcat) to the X-29(forward swept wing) in flight, the most common answer is you have to use a moving battery.
Since it doesn't exist, I chose to evaluate it and came up with an alternative which solved the problem of the shifting CG. About 11 years ago, I flew this model and it really was very stable including slow forward flight by video. Camera crapped out on landing, so I did another just recently to show. When the AMA had it's district electric funfly, I took this plane and it made the lunch demo group since it was different. So now I usually fly it once or twice a year since it is fragile.
Not the best video due to sun glare to see wing change, do slow motion. Even bring it close to stall with wing swept forward where camera dies.
Way I built is to have a well re-enforced frame and install 2 servos so each wing moves independently. Sorry, the black stuff is graphite powder. Plane is launched with wings perpendicular in Mode 1.
Now, here is something new and different. Pilots move the wing forward or aft by a switch. So it is either normal, flip switch and it goes full aft or full forward to limits on 3 position switch.
Now the way you can do it is by throttle and move it incremental fore or aft as you fly. For instance, I wanted 45 degrees aft and the max of 30 degrees forward.
If you are aware of helis, you set up plane in helicopter mode. This allows you to control the throttle speed(flat,increasing or decreasing) as well as the position of the wing the way you want in increments.
When throttle is center, mode is changed so throttle is programed from 50 to 100%, and if you pull throttle back, it increases speed and wing begins to move back slowly and at zero throttle, is negative 45 degrees. Move to center and wing is perp, add some throttle and wing moves slowly forward until throttle is at 100%, the wing is swept forward to 33 degrees!!!
Added red strip to hide graphite and show a landing that it still works and has plenty of stability. To make model last, decided not to bring down close to ground. Only one around.
By the way, if you want to build a fast plane and have a slow landing, build a TOMCAT!!!!!!!
Since it doesn't exist, I chose to evaluate it and came up with an alternative which solved the problem of the shifting CG. About 11 years ago, I flew this model and it really was very stable including slow forward flight by video. Camera crapped out on landing, so I did another just recently to show. When the AMA had it's district electric funfly, I took this plane and it made the lunch demo group since it was different. So now I usually fly it once or twice a year since it is fragile.
Not the best video due to sun glare to see wing change, do slow motion. Even bring it close to stall with wing swept forward where camera dies.
Way I built is to have a well re-enforced frame and install 2 servos so each wing moves independently. Sorry, the black stuff is graphite powder. Plane is launched with wings perpendicular in Mode 1.
Now, here is something new and different. Pilots move the wing forward or aft by a switch. So it is either normal, flip switch and it goes full aft or full forward to limits on 3 position switch.
Now the way you can do it is by throttle and move it incremental fore or aft as you fly. For instance, I wanted 45 degrees aft and the max of 30 degrees forward.
If you are aware of helis, you set up plane in helicopter mode. This allows you to control the throttle speed(flat,increasing or decreasing) as well as the position of the wing the way you want in increments.
When throttle is center, mode is changed so throttle is programed from 50 to 100%, and if you pull throttle back, it increases speed and wing begins to move back slowly and at zero throttle, is negative 45 degrees. Move to center and wing is perp, add some throttle and wing moves slowly forward until throttle is at 100%, the wing is swept forward to 33 degrees!!!
Added red strip to hide graphite and show a landing that it still works and has plenty of stability. To make model last, decided not to bring down close to ground. Only one around.
By the way, if you want to build a fast plane and have a slow landing, build a TOMCAT!!!!!!!
