White Lightning

[Warren Leadbeatter]

Hi guys,

Heres a pic of my ½A White Lightning prototype. I built this in September last year but up until now I have been unable to show anyone.

It was designed by Bruce Feaver of Canada and I was paid to build a prototype, take building pictures, make comments and make a video and pictures of it flying.

This was a real buzz for me to do and what's more it flies unbelievably well for a sheet wing 1/2A plane. It's very easy to build and can almost be built from wood out of your scrap balsa box or bin.  A great one for a beginner too.

Bruce has now released the plans for sale on eBay as well as his own website and he's also thinking of kitting it. So you may see more of this one around. If you decide to get the plan, please let Bruce know that you heard about it from me.

Wing Span 28"  Wing Area 168 Sq in. Length 21.25"
Engine Norvel 049/061 OR Tee Dee 049/051
6x3 prop and .008 x 44' lines.

Oops nearly forgot. Where do you get it?  http://www.mts.net/~bfeaver/whitelightning.htm

Enjoy...

Also, see video of it flying below

[youtube=425,350]4qonrzwTXeI[/youtube]

or click here if the video doesn't work for you

[Warren Leadbeatter]

C'mon guys I thought I'd get at least one reply for the excellent video taken by my 10 yo daughter Amy.  Isn't it great how you can put video in a message on this forum! 

[Harry Rice]

Hi Warren,

I a have a PAW 06 in the engine box - do you think it would be too much (weight @ 75g) for this???


Cheers


Harry

[Warren Leadbeatter]

Hi Harry

The Norvel 061 is about 1.7oz or 50 grams. My all up weight was 7.5 oz (215g) which is light, and the CG is right on the bellcrank pivot point. I'm guessing the extra weight of the PAW will move the CG forward a bit if you build it as light as I did but I reckon you'd be ok. We're talking less than 1 oz. You might just need a bit of tail weight if it needs it.

I dont know much about the PAW 06 is it powerful?

Cheers

[Vincent Corwell]

Looks nice
your lap times look way
ahead of my old reflexes

Vincent

[Harry Rice]

Hi Warren,

PAW claim 0.14 BHP @ 21,000 rpm - recommended prop sizes 8x4 to 5x4.

Runs nice on bench with a 7x4.


Cheers


Harry

[Warren Leadbeatter]

Hmm well the Norvel screams at 22,500 and produces 0.34 BHP so I guess your lap times would be a bit more conservative.  Remember also that the White Lightning was designed take 049 to 061. A Cox Tee 049 puts out about the same as the PAW 06.  As you can see from my video it _is_ fast with the setup, but changing to a 6x2 prop slows it down to a much more relaxed speed.

[Keith Spriggs]

Warren, Thanks for the video. It is a real attractive plane and it looks like it flies just as good as it looks. Let's see I have an old TD and only 348 projects ahead of me hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm............................

[Mark Scarborough]

great video except of course I am horribly jelous of the weather, still miserable here, though today its supposed to sneak up on 40 F, oh but of course its raining too.  Nice trim job on the plane

[Randy Powell]

Overcast, 43F and raining here, too. Great building weather.

[Roger Vizioli]

Warren,
Super camera work by Amy.
I know many (a "few?" years older) who could not keep up with the flight.
Roger