1/2 sheet FFF "POP" Plain Old Plane - combat ready?

[magic612]

Hello -

Let me state up front that I don't fly combat - not because I don't want to; more because my flight time is limited, and when I do fly, it's usually by myself at the high school in town. Hard to fly combat when there aren't any other planes in the sky to hit... ;)

Anyway, I designed this little plane that I call "POP" - because it's a Plain Old Plane, that's quick and easy to build, and only uses a half sheet of FFF to make. The plans are more of a template, allowing this one set of plans to build all kinds of different plans: high wing, mid wing, straight wing, swept wing, A/E/T, R/E/T, R/E/A/T, on down the list. I've listed all the options in the original thread about this plane (http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1075208) in the Scratchbuilt Foamies section.

But it occurred to me that this simple little design might make for a good combat type plane, given that it's light, easy to make, cuts through the wind pretty well, and is inexpensive to make. It's a 36" wingspan (that could be cut down shorter if desired), with a 24" length.

If not, well, that's okay too. Just thought I'd share it since it seems like it might fit into this category of planes/flight.

Here's a video of me flying a high-wing, swept wing, A/E/T version of the plane with a Blue Wonder outrunner and a 7.4V 460mAh Lipo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbBVDsi3toQ

[sketchanderase]

doesn't look like it would be strong enough for combat....

[magic612]

It can be made stronger by a variety of means - EPP foam, additional spars, etc. It's more of a template that can be built quickly, cheaply and easily; that's why I thought it might be useful for combat. If not, that's okay - just thought I'd throw it out there as a possibility.

[sketchanderase]

oh ok. well if you brought like 8 of them from one nights work to the field you could last a while.........i'm just kiidding, but maybe thats what you would do...

[natergater]

not to burst your bubble but that thing would get slaughtered. try a flying wing with 2 sheets of laminated FFF (blue foam) that lasts me and my buds a while

[magic612]

Perhaps someone could post a little to explain what it is that makes a given plane good for combat, instead of the "you'll need eight of them" or "it'll get slaughtered" statements??? :rolleyes:

I mean, my first sentence in my first post states I don't fly combat. I even said it it's NOT right for combat, that's okay too. So it's not like I've got a huge knowledge base about combat from which to draw; what I have read about combat planes in the past is that people want something that's quick, cheap and easy to build and can be fixed at the field.

Are those incorrect assumptions? If not, can someone write a sentence or two as to what am I missing?

I thought this plane seemed to fit the "quick/cheap/easy" bill pretty well, so I thought I'd share it here. I guess I'm not well-versed in what is "wrong" with this plane versus what makes a given aircraft "right" for combat. :confused:

I mean, does no one use EPP foam for combat? Are all combat planes wings/deltas now? Are traditional wing/tail planes not used in combat anymore? Pardon the dumb questions, but I did say up front I'd never flown combat. I thought maybe I might get some helpful - even if constructively critical - responses based on that initial statement, but nothing that's been posted so far explains WHY this plane would "get slaughtered" or why I'd "need eight of them."

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

[jwjohnson]

Magic,
Here's a try at answering some of your questions.

Our group uses EPP foam flying wings with the motor in back. Reasons? Main one is durability. With a group of 4-5 flyers we expect to see 10-20 collisions in an hour or so of flying. That doesn't count the additional 20+ collisions with the ground that usually happen as well. With our current planes we can most of the time just pick up a downed plane, give it a toss, and get back in the action. EPP bounces off other planes and the ground much better than other foams or coroplast. Motor/prop in back mean less likely to damage anything when you hit the ground or another plane. The EPP wings we use are thick enough at the center to fully embed the battery, servos, and radio - thereby giving additional protection. The most common damage is broken props or broken control horns. We still have wings torn in half, but usually only after repeated collisions have caused some damage to the foam. Our hardcore guy keep a hot glue gun in the car they can hook up to an inverter for rapid field repairs. We routinely have headon collisions with closing speeds of over 100 mph that both planes either are able to recover and keep flying or just take a pick up and toss to get going again. Check out the videos on www.utahflyers.org to see video of what we have been doing. The planes we are currently flying can be built in a few hours by most builders. We even have build parties and get a bunch of people working on them at the same time.

Another advantage of the EPP foam/prop in back combination is that if an out of control plane happens to hit someone it's an annoyance, not an injury.

Of course, we are always more than happy to have someone join the fray with a slow stick or some foamy GWS warbird and say, "I'll bet you can't hit me." :)

[pdiddyg40]

lol! I think that they would have a hard time. I know very little about combat, but i think that most of it has to do with the bounce-ability of the plane. Hence, the EPP. The only problem with Epp is that it is not sold at lowes, like blucor. Lol. good luck with it!

[magic612]

Okay... so it would likely make a good TARGET plane for the real combat planes to aim for?

[jwjohnson]

Now you've got it! Drool..........

[pdiddyg40]

speaking of which, name some good full combat planes... somewhat cheap and good for an afternoon with friends

[magic612]

Now you've got it! Drool..........

Heh. Lot cheaper than a Slow Stick or GWS warbird! :D

[jwjohnson]

Here's what I fly.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=12871877&postcount=252

[TBolt]

magic612,
my club and I have flown combat with SS, and it is alot of fun, but if you toss in a combat flying wing we would be slaugtered. Now if you limit your combat to the POP planes, you could have alot of fun, with minimal expense. Enjoy your design, and I hope you find a few people to combat with.

Victor

[pdiddyg40]

Here's what I fly.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=12871877&postcount=252
I always wanted to get into combat and the flying wings look like a ton of fun.

The problem is.... no one flies around me! So i guess i'll do combat with the trees...

[magic612]

magic612,
my club and I have flown combat with SS, and it is alot of fun, but if you toss in a combat flying wing we would be slaugtered. Now if you limit your combat to the POP planes, you could have alot of fun, with minimal expense. Enjoy your design, and I hope you find a few people to combat with.

Victor

Victor - thanks for the encouragement. Now I just need to find some other people near me to fly combat with....

Oh, and others, please feel free to use this plane as a "target" if you're using combat wings. Be sure to post some video if you do. :D