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General control line discussion => Open Forum => Topic started by: Matt Piatkowski on May 12, 2015, 07:30:34 AM
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Hello,
In the March/April 2002 Stunt News, Section: Flying, page 46, I have found the article titled "The Whip CL Trainer".
In this article, the author is shown whipping the 1/2 A size Flight Streak on 6 ft. lines in the inverted configuration.
I have decided to try the concept to see if I can learn to fly inverted and overcome the unavoidable vertigo.
Please see the attachment in which I am presenting the model.
The line length ( model COM to the handle axis) is almost 10 ft. I start flying by accelerating the model using the ski pole held in my left hand. The ski pole basket has the U shaped cut outs ideal to support both lines with the model initially simply hanging on properly stretched lines. My right hand holds the handle and I start turning. When the model reaches certain speed providing enough centripetal force, I drop the pole and whip only with my right hand.
At this moment my record is 22 turns in the inverted configuration and then the vertigo becomes too strong with 10' long lines.
I will check the maximum length of lines allowing to fly this model.
Construction details:
Total weight:193 grams ( 6.8 oz. )
Shock absorber with foam spring in the form of the music wire loop with hard wood plunger held in the fuselage by two screws.
The duct tape on this loop holds 14 grams of lead to have the model balanced 1.25" from the leading edge - it flies much better being a bit nose heavy.
Plunger travel = 0.75" with progressively growing stiffness ( the foam is compressed in the closed fuselage cavity )
This allows to safely drop the model vertically from the height of 4 ft. and hit the grass vertically while flying with no damage.
Each wing tip has 14 grams ( 1/2 oz ) of lead.
The double wire loop at the front of the outside wing protects this wing and allows for some "grass gliding" action while the model lands.
There is also a wire skid at the bottom of the model.
There are plywood spurs saturated with CA on the wings, vertical stabilizer, cabin top and tail.
This allows to land either way on the grass.
The fuselage had to be reinforced by the medium-hard balsa partial doublers as the original fuselage was too weak and broke in half behind the trailing edge after first flight.
I believe that this is the easiest and the cheapest option to practice the C/L flight. You can practice anywhere where there is grass and there is no noise and no pollution. I would like to thank the author ( William Barney Hedge jr.) for the idea.
Matt