Maxi Lady

[adtalbott]

Hello all
I have just finished an enlarged version of the Gental Lady,it has a s3021 airfoil and the span is 108".I have only flown it a couple times,and I think it will do a great job.I am going to try and post a pic.

[histarter]

Give me Wing Area, height of wing tips above center junction, TMA in inches (CG to center of stab area), Stab + elevator area, vertical fin + rudder area, and RTF weight in oz. (empty) and I can run it on my 'design engine' program. Profile figures are already installed for the S 3021. With the info I should be able to predict potential.

[histarter]

I think you posted to the wrong group. A Maxi Lady would have no interest to competitive thermal flyers - who are saturated with high technology. If scaled up from original dimensions, but with some considerations on structure mods that would improve tortional wing strength your Maxi Lady could be a fun machine because the original design is a sleeper design i.e. having lots of soaring potential in the right hands.

It is a suprisingly clean machine for being so crude and simple.

An enlarged version would have great ballast capacity and suprisingly wide speed range[if upper surface sheeted to the tips with 4 inch wide 0.062 balsa, and filler block from top of spar up installed 3/4 span, and bottom of main spar laminated with epoxy glass -along with stiffening baffles added. Plug in tips would require a bit more concideration using ply plate coupler and box rather than the original tube and pin].

[erich]

histarter,

Instead of using a computer to predict a built planes potential, wouldn't it be easier, not to mention more fun, to just fly it? Just my small 2 cents worth.

erich

[Soar_dude]

I think you posted to the wrong group. A Maxi Lady would have no interest to competitive thermal flyers - who are saturated with high technology. .

Histarter It is not the technology that wins the contest it is the flyer that is in tune with the conditions and his sailplane. Joe Wurtz won a thermal duration contest at the Rose Bowl with a 2 meter foamie!! I have out flown folks with the high buck sailplanes because I have read the conditions right and took advantage of it and knew what my sailplane was capable of.

Soar Dude

[sierra-gold]

I think you posted to the wrong group. A Maxi Lady would have no interest to competitive thermal flyers - who are saturated with high technology.

I guessed I missed the word "competition" in the description of this Forum. ;)

SG

[erich]

Sierra-gold

I do not believe there is a "competition" descripter in this forum. But at any rate. A lot of us can't wait to see pics of your stretched out lady. Most of us have built GL's and would love to see something new with our old and beloved lady. For what it's worth I think it, will, do a good job.

erich

[histarter]

Sorry, I kinda thought the lack of interest on such a good topic was because of the title thermal instead of sailplanes. Now we have good comments coming in. Thanks guys, for the enlightening statements.

I use my design engine that works on physics programs to visualize what to expect. It is kinda neat to find out why a GL is more effective against BD's in spite of its poorer PERFORMANCE - that becomes enhanced when looking at sink in turn as programmed by airspeed - that is seen as rate of climb in lift.

Obviously, Maxi still is a test of execution skill to get it together, and I never rebuff helpfull suggestion. Looking at the GL's potential at 2 mtrs I believe it will be quite a machine.

I am a sport flyer, but wish there was socialized simple competition where our creations can fly - with out perfection being the target. i.e. standardized BI-lateral limits on: winch, launch real estate employed, and standardized task. No limitation on sailplane type, construction materials, with a limit on wing area - as a maximum not to be exceeded. After a couple of years of evolution our designs would be quite interesting, and not the 'gaggle of penquins' with different names I see at current contests.

[adtalbott]

I believe the title of this thread is THERMAL,nothing about competion.I enlarged the GL to have what I feel will be a fun airplane,and it is,and also to use in RES contests.
The wing construction is my design,on the order of the type of const.the Gemini has,i.e. D tube,three piece.I wanted it to have the shap outline of the GL,I even covered in the colors on the original box.
If I can ever figure out my camera software I will post a picture.
AD

[adtalbott]

I think I figured this out,I will try

[ejett]

All right!!! :D

Have you flown it yet?

Keep us posted.

EJ

[adtalbott]

Yes I have,first two flights trim flights,only not much trim change[got lucky] third flight about 20 min in marginal air,I believe it will be a good one.
AD

[histarter]

Good looking machine. What is your launch system? Is your Maxi Lady scaled up from GL plans (i.e all dimensions of original times 1.4 scale) for about 1200" of wing area? Weighing in about 50 ounces empty RTF? Is the fuse set up to carry about 2 lbs of ballast for RES competition - and is the wings stressed for the competitive winch i.e. does it have I beam and diagnal truss, or the original floating spar scaled up? The Gemini structure was for a bit thicker profile than average, and that is what made it so strong. D tube is smart for use with winch.

I am thinking of doing something similar with my Shuttle design; however a bit sneaky. I wish to use my 2 mtr fuse, with 96 inch wing of the same chord as the 2 mtr wing. Tip panels to have fixed flap reflex of about -3.5 degrees (Flying wing tip panels - that also compensate for washout). It works out mathimatically to maintain damping.

My 2 mtr oversized rudder would be just a slight bit small for the new standard size wing, so I would inch up poly a smidge to compensate - to keep airspeed, and low speed potential competitive to original. Oh, I am sure there will be a natural increase in speed range, and the little fuse allready handles 1.5 lbs of ballast as needed for winds 25 mph plus.

Your spoilers look neat (I have never seen them on a Lady).

[e-sailpilot86]

nice! Way cool!

[adtalbott]

I launch the Maxi with a winch,I do not zoom it ,well maybee slightly,It seems to be strong.I have not thought about ballast yet,but I will look into it.
Yes I worked from original plans,but it is not exactly 1.4 scale,I adjusted a few numbers.The span is 108",main chord 10.5",tip 8.25".Weight 56 oz ready to fly,also as stated earlier the foil is s3021,this is one of my favorite foils.The fuse has 3/16 sq basswood longerons in the corner,as the original fuse was a little weak in the aft area,the sheeting is 45 degree diaginal opisate top and bottom,just a few const notes.
I plan to fly it in a RES contest June 5,that will be the tell tale.
Later AD

[adtalbott]

Another view

[adtalbott]

I tried awhile ago but it didn't seem to work so I hope this is not a duplicate

[steelhead]

So... how was the june contest? How did the maxi-lady perform?

Dean

[adtalbott]

Actually I did not get to fly the Maxi at the June contest,because sadly one of the spoiler servos was stripped.I do not know what caused this problem,but I had to replace both servos,so I have not had it to a contest,maybe next year,but I do like to fly it.

[csc]

Well, how is the Maxi Lady doing? Have you flown it in competition yet?

[kwmtrubrit]

Did you also enlarge the tail feathers? I have a second GL still in kit form and am thinking of lengthening the wing. I will build it with upper and lower spars CF'd, but not change the cord. I may D box, but will definitely shear web and givr it some phillips entry. Spoilers are for sure. My intention is to put triange stock in the corners of the fuse to allow sanding some round into it. We shall see how time goes. :)

[histarter]

histarter,

Instead of using a computer to predict a built planes potential, wouldn't it be easier, not to mention more fun, to just fly it? Just my small 2 cents worth.

erich
The point was for the sharing of info. I made stretched aircraft (like Big Chicken a 4 mtr Mirage - and was surprised by interesting un-predicted characteristics). :eek:

Statistics was wanted for selfish reasons - to run my dormant works program and observe the Re shift, evaluate speed range, and tailplane error damping. This happens to be my fun. I like to make bookmark comments that can be helpful in getting the most out of big guy attempts - that may be just a wiggle of the stick away. :D

[adtalbott]

Hello All
No I have not flown the Maxy in any contests yet.I flew it today and got it trimed out.I had a flight of about 40 min after two short trim flights,On this last flight I brought it down four times and thermalled it back up each time.This plane has the flattest turn of any plane I have flown,its a joy.The Maxy is on ch 26 and most of the contests I fly I use ch 31.
I enlarged all dimensions of this plane,the only thing that is the same is the outline of the plane.
I hope the next RES contest I go to I hope that I will be able to use ch 26.
Later ADT