I have np doubt that the airplane you are looking at is everything that Bob says it is and does, and has the advantages that electric can bring to the table for learning the pattern. But you have to ask yourself, is that all you want to do with it??
I volunteered at the KidVenture C/L circles for 16 years and about half way through that run, we were starting to run out if airplanes that could take the Timex Test, take a licking and keep on ticking! Bob Arata and I used to spend the long ride home talking about what to design and build, and the first thing that came to my mind was, I did NOT need to be capable of stunting, and that it had to survive a one point, Lawn Dart Landing in the hard ground at Pioneer Airport! We also decided that as few parts and components as possible were from the hobby shop because they are quickly vanishing from the face of the earth, but Hardware and Building Supply Stores are all over the place. We came up with our TuffBaby trainer that was built from Core-Plast plastic, yard sticks, and bamboo BBQ skewers and is designed as a Primary Flight Trainer. You can probably find out a lot about it by searching the forums here because I know I have typed out the story many times, and the plans may be in one of those threads, and if not, PM me and I will send them too you. The TuffBaby or (Tough Baby) was first introduced at Oshkosh in 2010 with 5 models and I think at least 4 of those are still in service, with the 5th once having had the flying surfaces replaced, which is one of the primary features of the airplane. It has a more or less indestructible fuselage with rubber band mounted engine (Norvel .061 ) and the flying surfaces are sandwiched in between the top and bottom of the fuselage and held together with four 4-40 screws. The airplane has some weight to it, which is desired in the winds they fly in at Oshkosh and also helps with line tension. It's not the prettiest airplane you ever saw but the beauty of it is that you could make it look like anything you want if that is desired also. It does have an IC engine but the Norvel is as tough as an anvil, and would restart with a small electric starter in an instant. The glow plugs are the toughest I have ever seen also. This airplane will stand up to the Timex Lawn Dart Test!
Larry Renger and the crew from The Knights of the Round Circle came up with a neat looking electric trainer that is also built with Core-Plast plastic called the ET-1. Our club is going to build up a few of these this winter/spring. It's an electric pusher design that gets the motor and prop away from the nose on those inevitable crashes, and has tricycle landing gear for pavement take offs. The interesting feature of this airplane is they control the motor speed by radio from outside the circle. This has the advantage of this is to control the flight speed of course, and also the flight duration and if need be, cut power on a crash. This airplane is also just intended as a primary flight trainer and Larry and the Knights have had lots of success with it. I think you can probably find plans posted in a thread also. If not I have those also
So in short, like any job you have to do, you usually make sure you have the right tool for the job! If it's primary flight training, choose accordingly. If the pilot can competently fly the airplane is comfortable in moving on to a more maneuverable model, then the Skyraider or something like it is the obvious choice. Each pilot is different and it can vary how soon they are ready t move along. Above all, have some fun with it!
Type at you later,
Dan McEntee
Topic: foamboard electric trainer by Bob Hunt? (Read 4588 times)