Foamie Ornithopter???

[Don Sims]

Has anyone built one of these as a foamie and electric powered? What type of rotorsand gearbox would I use for the rotors??:confused: :confused:

[t6e23]

As I understand it, the angle of attack of the wing has to change between the upstroak and downstroak. Up, the trailing edge has to be below the leading edge and down, the te has to be higher. If you used solid wings, they would have to rotate. Most ornithopters seem to use a spar for the le and then a fabric (e.g. kite material) which is unsecured in the te.

Most seem to be rubber band powered, but I've seen a few electrics out there.

This site has some good info and links:
http://indev.hypermart.net/photos.html

And NorthEast Sailplains is selling an electric ornithopter now:
http://www.nesail.com/Ornithopter/parkhawk.htm

--Todd

[Don Sims]

Thanks for the link, that looks like a reasonable price. Does anyone have one of Sal's birds??

[t6e23]

If you search here for "ornithopter" you'll find a few threads... http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=32318&highlight=ornithopter

I find the ornithopters to be pretty fascinating, but I just have a rubber band powered one. I'm always afraid to fly it because my cats go nuts when they see it. If it ever hits the ground in my apartment, it will be torn to shreds. :) Maybe once I get my tax refund this year I'll invest in one of those rc ornithopters. I wonder how well they soar/slope with the motor turned off?

--Todd

[eflyer12345]

For those that were wondering, and as a reply to the earlier parts of this thread, I now have these ornithopters in stock. These are the same Sean Kincade ornithopters that Sal was showing at the Wram and Toledo shows as well as on his web site.

A bit of information can be found on my web site at http://www.egsystems.com/pfc/images/support/jgrc/jgrc.htm

As far as soaring, the original did not do that so well, the newest release, those in stock, has a ratchet claw that locks the wings in a cruise position. The glide rate is not the best at about 4:1.

-Jeffrey

[gerico]

Jeffery,

Couldn't get the link to work for some reason.

[Don Sims]

It's not working for me either!:confused:

[eflyer12345]

Sorry about that but my provider changed it a bit on me. Soon I will have my own site and better control over things like this. The correct site is now:

http://www.egsystems.com/pfc/images/support/jgrc/wp.htm

For those interested, I have several in stock at the moment but they are selling at a fair pace. Worst case, I should have more in the next week or two.

-Jeffrey

[gerico]

Jeffery,

The link worked. Nice uhhh....bird.

Do you know if there will be any video available??? I'd be pretty interested in one but would certainly like to see it flap around a bit before plunking down $200.

Thanks

[eflyer12345]

Gerico,

I hate to send people to competitors sites, but there is some video on R&R's site at

http://www.randrmodelaircraft.com/RC_Ornithopters.htm

I do not think that anyone has these at the moment. I have sold out but have 18 on order. I expect these in a week or two. I am fairly sure everyone else will have some stock in the same time frame. I will have more video myself soon. Just please think of me when you choose to buy.

-Jeffrey

[gerico]

Jeffery,

Thanks! I'll wait until you get a video and buy from you in the future.

Gerry

[kasra]

Jeffrey,

I mailed the videos I took of Brian to you on a CD this morning. I will work again tonight on clipping them to send to interested parties. I got the Park Hawk last night. It is very nice.

Kasra

[eflyer12345]

Thanks Kasra. I hope you enjoy your Park Hawk. Let me know how it goes when both you and Brian are in the air at the same time. :-)

-Jeffrey

[kasra]

I will send video's of us doing formation flying as soon as possible. Thanks.