Switchback Sport on floats

[Martin Hunter]

Hi gang,

Since this video is as popular in the parkies forum as a high school chess club president on a saturday night, I thought I'd post it here.

This is the Mountain Models Switchback Sport on 17" www.foamfloats.com floats and specs out as follows:

motor: razor 400 5.5:1
prop: GWS 10x8
battery: 3s 1200 etecs
AUW: 14 oz

I managed a 47 minute flight on this setup yesterday evening, doing mostly touch and goes, but with some vertical and aerobatics thrown in for good measure.

Here's the video. (www.westhillsweb.net/video/dreamer/sbspflimp.wmv) It's 11 mb in wmv format. It's the switchback doing things on floats most wheeled planes shouldn't be able to and me just having a ball with it. Enjoy :)

Martin

[Ironsides]

Martin:

Nice looking bird. A 47 minute flight is fantastic. Gives whole new meaning to the term "E.T."

David

[Fredrik W]

Nice Video!

I whonder how many touch and goes you could do with a Switchback in 47 minutes? :p


// Fredrik Wergeland
Sweden
www.flyingmodels.org (http://www.flyingmodels.org)
The Great Electric Motor Test (http://www.flyingmodels.org/motortest/Link_e.htm)

[pondflyer]

Fred,
Is that a challenge? Or are you starting a contest?:D And, would the number grow with each retelling, like the length of the fish caught last summer?
How high would you have to go before doing another T & G? I mean, one could just "Skip" along the water for a spell and rack up points.
The possibilities are endless, here. :D :D :D
Dick

[Martin Hunter]

Originally posted by Fredrik W
Nice Video!

I whonder how many touch and goes you could do with a Switchback in 47 minutes? :p

I was wondering the same thing, actually. I also wonder if I've personally got the patience to do only touch and goes for 47 minutes :D

Martin

[uglystick]

Thanks for the video. I love it. That exact set-up will be my next plane.
Going to the MM web site now to see how long I have to save up for it.

[Martin Hunter]

Uglystick, you'll love it. I just received another batch of solite, so I'll be recovering my 3D/GT wing for the switchback and get some more video for you guys.

Martin

[Fredrik W]

Originally posted by pondflyer
Fred,
Is that a challenge? It´s a daydream! I wish I had a boat! :(

Originally posted by Martin Hunter
...I also wonder if I've personally got the patience to do only touch and goes for 47 minutes No other manoeuvrers should be flown when flying over water. Loops and rolls are for the grass strip.


// Fredrik Wergeland
Sweden
www.flyingmodels.org (http://www.flyingmodels.org)
The Great Electric Motor Test (http://www.flyingmodels.org/motortest/Link_e.htm)

[Martin Hunter]

Fredrik, does that mean my low inverted passes over the water are a big "no-no"? :D

Martin

[Fredrik W]

Originally posted by Martin Hunter
...and get some more video for you guys. Martin. Show us more take offs and landings, plz!


// Fredrik Wergeland
Sweden
www.flyingmodels.org (http://www.flyingmodels.org)
The Great Electric Motor Test (http://www.flyingmodels.org/motortest/Link_e.htm)

[Fredrik W]

Originally posted by Martin Hunter
Fredrik, does that mean my low inverted passes over the water are a big "no-no I´ll make an exception for that one. :D


// Fredrik Wergeland
Sweden
www.flyingmodels.org (http://www.flyingmodels.org)
The Great Electric Motor Test (http://www.flyingmodels.org/motortest/Link_e.htm)

[Martin Hunter]

It's time to bring this back from the dead (insert eery B-movie soundtrack here). We got out for some switchback floaty action which is nothing new but we got piles of pictures. Yes, it's the same switchback sport, still going strong into its fourth year despite the floats looking a little beat up and a warped stab :D

Anyway, onto the pics. For more sailing pics, check here. (http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=540509)

Martin

[JimCasey]

Cheer up. Maybe someday you will find a pretty place to fly.

[JimCasey]

I'm hooked. I Conned the Mrs into ordering me a Switchback Sport for my birthday. It is in transit.

I got the HiMax 2105-5400 brushless. ANybody run this and what prop do U use?
Are there any other tricks I need to know, or things you wish you had done to yours when you built it?

Best Birthday since I was 10....

[Martin Hunter]

I haven't found any mods that are really required but it wouldn't be a bad idea to stick some very small carbon in the tail feathers to keep them from warping when they get wet, and it will happen.

I believe if you EPS-C gear that motor with about a 9x7 on 3 cells you'll be set but I've never used it so I can't be sure.

Martin

[JimCasey]

I think you're right about the gearbox. Himax shows a 4x2 for direct drive pulling almost 15A.

[Martin Hunter]

Jim, I just plugged that into motocalc and it looks like 6:1 (EPS-D gearing) will suit it better with the 9x7 on 3 cells. It shows 12A and 20 oz thrust.

Martin

[Kevin Murray]

Martin - What in your experiance would be the best length float for a Switchback Sport ?

I have seen the post about the water filled horz stab and/or elevator.
Would you do 17" inch again with longer rear struts or go longer on the floats ?

[Martin Hunter]

The tail going in the water is purely due to buoyancy or lack thereof. I'd go with slightly longer floats overall (perhaps 20") and have an extra inch or two behind the rear of the current floats.

Martin