Yakovlev Air-5 / 3 month DTFB slow-build

[augernaught]

DTFB Yakovlev Air-5

Special Thanks to NewZee.
He took the time to personally explain to me how he pulled a 3-view drawing
from the .net, and turned it into a workable template.
Without his input, I would never even have attempted this project.

I will just post a link to my Photo Bucket album for those that care to follow an
almost chronological order of its development, being a visual
log of the decisions I made along the way that changed the final outcome.
(close to 100 pictures/ 44" ws x 37" cowl to tail)

Please enjoy the slide-show while I gather the strength
to add more details......... I just don't have it in me right now to elaborate,
and I am not sure the Supertigre .10 motor I put in her is enough to lift
her AUW of 1062 grams, even with the recommended APC 10/5/E.

Have a look at my PB pics here:
http://s1196.photobucket.com/user/cogfounder/slideshow/Yakovlev Air-5

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[FlyingMonkey]

Looks great!

 

[Widkin]

Holy cow, is that foamboard?! Looks amazing!

 

[Foam Addict]

Awesome job!

It's beautiful, great work on, well, everything!:applause:

I have to say, it looks like a soviet Spirit of Saint Louis.

Really really cool!

 

[augernaught]

Thanks everybody!
It means a lot to me that you appreciate my efforts.
I owe everything I learned about how to build this plane to the folks here on FT,
and if you look real close you will notice a lot of "borrowed" ideas.

Depending on who you ask, only one Yak Air-5 prototype was ever built.
It was powered by a Pratt and Whitney J4 Whirlwind radial engine,
which just happens to be what powered the Spirit of St. Louis.
(Foam Addict :applause: at least the pilot can see out of the front of this one...)

It was approved for production, but.........
when the P&W J4 suddenly became unavailable to the Eastern Blocks,
Yakovlev re-designed the air frame by scaling it down so it could be powered
by a locally produced M4, 5 cylinder radial engine of lesser horse power.
This aircraft became known as the Air-6, and was produced in reasonably significant numbers.
It was a mix and match air frame with a tube fuselage and wooden wings,
but they were popular as a light utility aircraft because of it's STOL capabilities
and relatively large cargo space throughout the 1930's.

This was one of the reasons I chose to replicate the Air-5,
and after looking over hundreds of 3-views, I am sure you too, can see that the lines
of this air fame lend themselves nicely to the FT foam board building techniques
with no major turtle deck design issues and a relatively squared off fuselage.

I am a war bird enthusiast at heart, so I chose to paint my plane in the colors
of an inter-war Polish air force scheme, and as still being a communist Block,
Poland used many Soviet aircraft during this era. It also meant using just one solid color
of latex paint that I had custom mixed at Walmart, and applied after the "Minwax treatment".

I used the Testors Custom Decal water transfer papers (available at Hobby Lobby)
but designed the decals in Corel draw 7. While very useful, the finished decals are a bit hard
to work with at this scale, so only having to cut out simple square Polish air force "roundels"
won out over trying to cut out Soviet star emblems that I might have torn during application.
The numbers and letters are vinyl stickers purchased at Hobbly Lobby,
and the tail stripes are hand cut from a roll of sign vinyl.

I also took some engineering liberties, such as expanding the flying surfaces a bit
in hopes it might enhance the STOL/low-and-slow flight characteristics,
and adding flaps and a steerable tail wheel, neither of which were found on the Air-5/6.

Now comes the thing I hate doing the most, setting throws and determining a working CG
to see if this 1062 gram cinder block with wings will actually fly!
If I am going to make a fatal mistake, this will be where I do it..............

Wish me luck!

 

[NewZee]

Auger....Looks FANTASTIC!!! believe me when I say I'm proud (and honored) that you give me even a little credit for inspiring this great build! All I did was discuss how I planed my Cub without formal plans, and you took it to a whole other level! Hope to see her in the air sometime, maybe even the Cub and Yak together !!!

 

[augernaught]

Well, NewZee,
now you know I was paying attention to what you were trying to teach me.

Technical specs to follow soon....

 

[DDSFlyer]

That is just a sweet looking plane! Congrats on all the hard work that it took to make it and good luck on the maiden!

 

[augernaught]

A few tech specs:

>> Tactic TTX650 6-Channel 2.4GHz SLT Computer Transmitter

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXCPXU&P=ML

>> Tactic TR625 6-Channel 2.4GHz SLT Rx Twin Antennas

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXDPFP&P=7

>> SuperTigre .10 Brushless Motor

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXXGY4&P=ML

>> Hitec HS-81 Standard Micro Servo (X6)

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXN676

>> Flyzone 40 AMP ESC

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXCPGK&P=Z

>> Flyzone Tail Wheel Set DHC-2 Beaver Select Scale

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXCPFY&P=Z

>> Venom LiPo 3S 11.1V 2100mAh (X6)

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXXGL9&P=7

>> Venom Low Voltage Battery Monitor 2-8S

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXBVDG&P=ML

>> Testors Custom Decal System

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXESK4&P=7

>> Dave Brown Lite Flite Wheel 2-3/4" (3" and 3-1/4" also, depending on terrain)

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXB909&P=ML

>> Tower Hobbies Spinner Hub Corsair EP (4mm)

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXCLPY

 

[NewZee]

Auger......50mph wind gusts today.....rain...... I think you should try and maiden her!

 

[augernaught]

Auger......50mph wind gusts today.....rain...... I think you should try and maiden her!

Weekend after next looks like it might be fair:

http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/14092

I look at the wind speeds more than the temps but if it gets close to 60*, that would be nice too!

I think even if I get out then, I would only bring a comfort plane or two to fly first.
It's been a long, cold, hard winter and many months since I have had the sticks in my hands.
I have only been at this flying thing for a year, and with our weather that means only a few months.
I only have maybe 20-25 flights under my belt so far.....

This way I can spend the next week getting some time on my sim,
and taking a few HUNDRED pics of the Yak Air-5 before I maiden her,
because, well, you know how that can go sometimes...........

OH, BTW, I learned of a place we can get together where you won't have to
worry about AMA membership or park permits like at my clubs field.
(not sure I am allowed to bring guests anyway??)

It's called Gratwick Waterfront Park, in NT. look it up on Google earth.

It is a huge park right off of the river (on River Rd.), so have to check the weather about wind,
but its an easy 1500 foot strip with zero trees in the way, and zero houses nearby.

http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/14120

It is also a lot closer to you than my field.
The only thing is I have no way to know when they will hold an event there,
like the speed boat races etc, where the whole park fills up with people,
and semis/campers, vendor tents, yada yada....

Just wanted to let you know about the place in case you
wanted to spread your wings on a bigger field.

 

[NewZee]

Thanks for the location of the park, ill check it out!

 

[Flynn]

Amazing work! Thanks for the write up. Let us know how she flys.

 

[augernaught]

Bomb drop servo/deck assembly and velcro "ironing board" for the 808 #16 camera. (wide angle lens)

 

[Foam Addict]

Very cool!
Just don't drop the 808!

 

[Montiey]

This is cool! How hard is it to make a plane from a 2D design?