Need fuselage help

[carrinsr]

Anyone have any ideas as to where I might find someone who can build a 120", 2-piece sailplane fuselage? I'm scratch building the wings at this point...three sections each. Center section is 6' long x 24" wide. The two outer sections will be 6' long x 24" inboard and 18" outboard...lot of wing! All three sections are flat on the bottom, like the Sailaire airfoil. The center section will be mounted flat to the fuselage, the two outer panels will angle 10 degrees up at the tips. I'll build the fuselage also, but don't mind if someone else wants to earn some $$ building it for me. The fuselage should be flat where the wing joins it...the center wing section will be bolted to it. I have the drawings for the fuselage. Any help out there?

David

[SoCalGliderFlyr]

24" cord? Have a three view you can post?

[carrinsr]

Here's a photo of the center section under construction. There are 4 each 3/4" OD carbon tubes, each capped with Sitka Spruce spars above and below, with an I-Beam design (except for the one closest to the leading edge...that one is boxed).

[SoCalGliderFlyr]

I was going to ask why such a large wing. But I see that it's limited by the size of your building table.

That's a lot of structure for a sailplane. How much payload are you planing on carrying?

[carrinsr]

The wing sections are not restricted due to the size of my building table, but moreso because of the length of materials available. I may build four 6' sections for a 24' wingspan, but am currently planning on three 6' sections for 18'. All up weight should be around 20# but should take up to 10# additional ballast if needed.

[R. Carver]

Try Bob Sealy at Quality Fiberglass. He may have what you're looking for.

http://www.qualityfiberglass.net/

[carrinsr]

Try Bob Sealy at Quality Fiberglass. He may have what you're looking for.

http://www.qualityfiberglass.net/

Thank you! I have sent an email with photos...hope to get a reply soon! I owe you one.

David

[SoCalGliderFlyr]

Interesting. 24 feet. Guess you could use the neighbors miniture dog for ballast.

How many other sailplanes have you designed and built?

[carrinsr]

Interesting. 24 feet. Guess you could use the neighbors miniture dog for ballast.

How many other sailplanes have you designed and built?

Two others. I designed and scratch built a 2 meter and an open class. After years of enjoying the open class, I sold it. Too many sailplanes. I lost the 2 meter because it came off the tow hook in a thermal...I forgot to turn on the receiver and had no control over it! It sure was balanced, though! (o: Back in the mid 1980's I flew one of my Cirrus sailplanes for 13 Saturdays in a row...each time with one launch...each time for over an hour. The 14th Saturday I lost her in the clouds. She was found in the woods nearby a year later. The fuselage was all that remained. I still fly the fuselage...but with new feathers, of course. And I like the Cirrus so much, I own four of them. Not that you asked for all this additional information, but...thought you might be interested. (o:

[SoCalGliderFlyr]

:)

I guess IF you forget to turn on this one you will see it longer than the two meter design before it goes OOS (Out Of Sight).

Still a lot of work for an RC.

Do you have a winch that can hoist it?

[carrinsr]

:)

I guess IF you forget to turn on this one you will see it longer than the two meter design before it goes OOS (Out Of Sight).

Still a lot of work for an RC.

Do you have a winch that can hoist it?

It won't be launched by winch, but rather a man in the back of a pick up truck with a deep sea rod and reel with 400# test line will be connected to the tow hook, while the driver of the truck travels down a Navy touch-and-go runway at the site our sailplane club uses. The driver will receive communication via two way radio, from the "communicator" who will be standing beside the pilot with the transmitter. Another person will steady the wing until lift off. The communicater will direct the speed of the truck, as well as let the driver know when the sailplane rotates, and also when it reaches vertical...I hope! We shall see...hopefully next summer! (o:

[onewingwilli]

Please. please post pictures of this monster. And unless your joking, one of the guy in the back of the pick-up. Better strap him into a "fighting chair" in case the line doesn't disconnect from the plane. :eek: