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Author Topic: Couple of new projects I just finished.  (Read 982 times)

Offline Andrew Borgogna

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Couple of new projects I just finished.
« on: September 20, 2011, 12:18:35 PM »
I got a couple of requests from friends in the Knights of the Round Circle control line club I belong to for help in the electric flight arena.  Our club every other years works with the people at Fullerton Airport during their biannual open house.  We provide trainer planes and give kids flights on the plane with the assistance of club members.  We have just about warn out the Cox PT-19s we have been using over the years.  This year Larry Renger designed a new trainer and wanted to go electric so we could better control the event.  I ordered up the parts, the club paid for it and I did the wiring and power system testing.  To test the 1/2a sized power system I needed a mule to fly the equipment on.  I had this Baby Flite Streak in a box so I put it together and installed the electric package.  Tomorrow the first test flight of the new power package takes place.  It's ugly but it has a beautiful purpose, get kids flying.

The second plane belongs to another club member Bob Werle, he purchased it at a swap meet and wanted to try electric for the first time.  I sent Bob a copy of a document I wrote for firstimers in control line electric and then offered to put together this first plane for him.  I believe it is a Junior Shark profile, the motor is a Turnigy Park 400 with a Hobby King 30amp ESC and a KR timer.  I will be using a 2200mha Hobby People batter for the first flight.  The prop is an APC 8x4E, I think this is a little under propped an 8x6E would be a better match but I will let Bob get that.

Anyway now that I am retired I have the time to do the things I like to do and these two projects certainly things I like to do. ;D
Andy
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Andrew B. Borgogna

Offline Larry Renger

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Re: Couple of new projects I just finished.
« Reply #1 on: September 22, 2011, 09:40:23 AM »
We flew both planes yesterday.  The Flite Streak shows terrific potential.  There was a wing warp, so we only put in one flight, but it is clear that the wing is not overloaded by the system that is installed.  It looks like there will be plenty of power, too.  ~>

The setup for sport flying is the Turnigy 2627 1200kV outrunner, an APC 7x5 electric prop, Hobby King 12 A Blue seriesSpeed control, Turnigy 1000mAh 3s battery and a KR timer.  The motor is set to run 10 amps on the ground.  We should be able to back down to an 850 mAh pack, as a 5 minute run in the air should only use just under 700 mAh. (Current draw in the air should drop to about 8 amps, and 5 minutes is 1/2 hour, thus about 670 mAh)  Andy is going to recharge the pack we used and see how much capacity was actually utilized.

For the trainers, we are going with 30 Amp speed controls and a 2150 pack.  We plan to do many flights between batttery changes, and no time for cool-down, thus the overkill.  Also, there is no need for a lightweight plane.  Maneuvers will be limited to mild climbs and dives.  Being able to punch through the wind is a much bigger issue.
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Think S.M.A.L.L. y'all and, it's all good, CL, FF and RC!

DesignMan
 BTW, Dracula Sucks!  A closed mouth gathers no feet!

Online Howard Rush

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Re: Couple of new projects I just finished.
« Reply #2 on: September 23, 2011, 10:48:13 AM »
I wish I could finish a project.
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Offline Tim Wescott

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Re: Couple of new projects I just finished.
« Reply #3 on: September 23, 2011, 11:06:57 AM »
Quote from: Howard Rush on September 23, 2011, 10:48:13 AM
I wish I could finish a project.
Ha.  Finishing projects is simple.  All you have to do is to resolve to never, ever, start a project until you get one finished.  That way your backlog never increases.  I made this resolution myself 20 years ago, when I had one car project, two model airplane projects and a couple of honey-do projects in the queue.  Now I have two car projects (one of which is the same one as 20 years ago), four model airplanes in the cooker (not including unbuilt kits), a half-built model engine, two or three electronics projects (which are supposedly for teaching, but look a lot like hobby projects), and innumerable honey-do projects that just need a screw tightened or a nail pounded to be done.

So you see, it's easy.
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AMA 64232

The problem with electric is that once you get the smoke generator and sound system installed, the plane is too heavy.

Offline Andrew Borgogna

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Re: Couple of new projects I just finished.
« Reply #4 on: September 23, 2011, 11:11:29 AM »
I am very lucky to be retired and have a wife who encourages me to engage my hobby.  I enjoy building and I have plenty of time.  I just wish I was a better builder and a better flyer, but what the heck I am having fun!
Andy
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Andrew B. Borgogna

Offline Keith Renecle

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Re: Couple of new projects I just finished.
« Reply #5 on: September 24, 2011, 12:02:24 AM »
Just keep going Andy........you're doing great! Nice project for you and Larry. I can only relate to what Howard says.......I have the same problem!

Keith R
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Keith R

Offline Larry Renger

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Re: Couple of new projects I just finished.
« Reply #6 on: September 28, 2011, 02:44:27 PM »
The Flite Streak has excellent potoential and is getting there!  I weighed and measured it.  156 sq.in. (2 extra rib bays) and 10.2 ounces ready to fly.  45' .008 lines.  We need to work out the power load, as the esc cut the motor early.  Our suspicion is that the drain was too high and the voltage dropped too much. The motor and battery were still cool when it landed, so I am not sure what is going on.  We took the rpm down from 11.5K to 11.2K, and will try the model again soon.
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Think S.M.A.L.L. y'all and, it's all good, CL, FF and RC!

DesignMan
 BTW, Dracula Sucks!  A closed mouth gathers no feet!

Offline Larry Renger

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Re: Couple of new projects I just finished.
« Reply #7 on: October 11, 2011, 04:18:16 PM »
After some flight testing and tweaking, I decided to add working flaps to the Baby Flite Streak.  Also renamed it the "Flite-E".  Here are some photos of the setup

Note the flap horn, it is a piece of brass tubing that has been cross-drilled and then soldered to the flap wire.  It is round at the bottom, so there are 4 solder fillets doing the joining.  After drilling but before soldering, I soften the tube by heating red hot and dousing in cold water.  After soldering, it is easy to squish the top flat and drill for the linkage.

Also, the battery mounting is simple and effective.  Velcro on the wing and a rubberband over the top.  CG adjustment is easy by moving the battery location.

I am flying this on 42 ft of Spectra thread.
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Think S.M.A.L.L. y'all and, it's all good, CL, FF and RC!

DesignMan
 BTW, Dracula Sucks!  A closed mouth gathers no feet!

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