Eiffel 401

[Tom Harper]

I was inspired by Bjorn to try something more efficient than my 7 pound Conduit. So, I sketched up a little flying wing and sent off to Heads Up RC for one of those pretty little outrunners they sell and here is the result:

Area: 547 sq in - 3.8 sq ft
Span: 54 in
Root chord: 12 in
Tip chord: 8.4 in
Section: Eiffel 401
AR: 5.26:1
Weight: 39 ounces
Wing Loading: 10 oz/ sq ft
Motor: 2830-10
Prop: 9x6
Batteries 2 3S 2200 mah Lipos
Camera: Olympus FE 280 8mpx

Photo 1 is an early version with the motor on top of the rudder - doesn't work! Motor was lowered to almost wing center line.

Photo 2 shows Carl Moore ready for maiden flight this morning.

It takes off with half power and cruises at 1/4 throttle. Could drop down to a smaller motor.

This shows real promise. Will spend some time with it before installing Atto.

Tom

[dmgoedde]

Looks great. I love wings, and can't wait to see some power data logged by your Atto.

Is this built up or foam? Looks amazingly similar to a wing I have been flying made by RP Flight systems.

[airmcn_3]

Looks great. I love wings, and can't wait to see some power data logged by your Atto.

Is this built up or foam? Looks amazingly similar to a wing I have been flying made by RP Flight systems.


I thought the same thing........... :D Nice birdy Tom!

[Tom Harper]

Built up - I got out a pencil and some balsa and it just growed.

[icebear]

Very nice and a "perfect" size Tom! :D
Look forward to seeing it go autonomous.

Cheers,
Björn

[Tom Harper]

Cleaned up the motor mount and fin. Left the ESC heat sink exposed to the breeze. Mounted the pitot tube on the fin tip. This gets it out of the way of the future camera mount and should avoid dirt on roll overs.

I ordered an Olympus FE 360 camera. Very small camera, but doesn't have all of the manual features of the larger ones. Will see how it works out.

Haven't organized the POD yet. Will do that when I build the camera mount. You can see the Lipos ( at least one of the Lipos) mounted in the wing box spar.

Should fly again tomorrow morning. Hope I can find my data logger by then.

After a few flights, the goal is to switch to a folding prop and remove the landing gear.

[Gary Mortimer]

Well cool Tom, top job!

I'm thinking about copying this with my next flying wing, once I have sorted out the Vtails I have properly.

So much to do so little time.

[Tom Harper]

That one looks neat. I like using the pod for a skid.

The only plan I have for mine is:

12" root chord
8.4" tip chord
Half span 26.5"
LE Sweep 30 degrees
Section is Eiffel 401
POD is Section times a multiplier to make it as thick as you need.
POD is 5" wide.

[Gary Mortimer]

Yeah, I think I will keep the motor on the back though, allowing those forward facing shots.

Well done for getting that wing flying, looking forward to the with Atto results.

Time to stop playing and start out on the trails!! For trials

[Tom Harper]

I was using Google Earth to look for some counting pens that are supposed to be around the Paraje town site. Right across from Paraje I spotted a group of loops that are too good to be true. I don't know if they are walls, paths or swales. I've been driving by there, on the ranch road, for years and I never noticed anything.

These could be the Contadera counting pens. They were used in 1700 and 1800. Possibly earlier. Historian Spencer Wilson described them as 8 miles of winding road. If that was .8 miles it would fit.

The wife and I will visit the ranch manager next week and investigate the sites. There are two of them. Will probably use Conduit for aerials.

[Tom Harper]

Tried the old yellow one that's been kicking around for years - very bad - noise and vibration. Black one is smooth as silk. I'll use that one.

[Tom Harper]

So far so good. Trims to hands off and behaves itself.

According to the data logger:

______Take off: 17 MPH ; 26 KPH ; 25 FPS
_Min level flight: 20 MPH ; 32 KPH ; 29 FPS
________Cruise: 26 MPH ; 42 KPH ; 38 FPS
_Max level flight: 30 MPH ; 48 KPH ; 43 FPS
_____Max speed: 55 MPH ; 88 KPH ; 50 FPS

I think I'll load it with the camera then Atto.

I like the rudder mounted pitot. It doesn't break off all the time.

Tom

[dmgoedde]

Tom,

After you get familiar setting up an atto v1.8 for a flying wing, you'll be ready to try the IMU (as a beta tester) in that bird. Timeframe is end of next week.

[Tom Harper]

Great - I'm ready!

[Gary Mortimer]

And perhaps you could share the setup with me, I'm finishing my wing today, maybe!!

G

[Tom Harper]

I'll give you a running account.

[Gary Mortimer]

Good show, I've just had a quick flight of my flying wing, its um ok but a bit pitchy will have top address that.

Photos when its finished.

[Tom Harper]

Completed the camera mount. Decided to leave the gear in place for now - safety in not changing anything.

Looks like everything will fit OK. Now for the plumbing exercise.

Tom

[Tom Harper]

A bit of pressing and forming and everything fits. Actually, not bad. AUW is now 44 ounces for a wing loading of just under 12 oz per square ft.

[Gary Mortimer]

Heres my one, flew it with co pilot and it manages 40 minutes every time but at 50 inches I think I made it too small, feels like it will be already.

It shifts through the sky and I can tell that stitched images will be an issue.

But then if you don't try how will you ever know.

Right where's the EPP

[Tom Harper]

Gary,

Small size may be an advantage - as long as it holds the gear.

Tom

[Tom Harper]

Modified the SET file for elevons and #1 XY sensor orientation, plugged in the power and it all worked. Switched to AUTO and rolled it around to check the response. Looks fine. A feature of AttoPilot is that the longer you use it the smarter it gets!

I left the status LED loose for now. I cut off the old status LED and wired in an ultra bright with a transistor amp. Mine's bigger than Dean's and it's green. I'll front mount it or stick it up through the POD behind the brace - later.

Access to the POD is nowhere near as convenient as Conduit, but it's acceptable.

Tom