Joining wings to a sagitta 600

[flybaby2000]

Hi guys ,

im trying to finish my sagitta 600 as the austrailian thermal time is almost here and a freind of mine has given me some wings of simialiar dimentions of the originial planform with an e205 airfiol to try , but my main concern is that when i go to use a rubber band on the hooks to attach the wings they dont seem to pull together tightly enough , is there any other way to attach the wings tightly , like a bolt system for wings that attach from the sides of the fuse or similiar that i could use to ensure that the wings dont part company and leave my 12 month project and the last sagitta 600 in ruins...

cheers
doug

[kkw]

Hello Doug.
I have had a lot of Sagitta 600's and have never had a wing come off - or for that matter, come loose. I don't use any bands or whatever, to hook into the wings. You could just twist some wire around the hooks, and then twist until they are tight enough. Another option is to nip the joiner bar with a set of side cutters. It will slide into the wings tightly.

kkw
http://www.hsl.org.au

[flybaby2000]

if you have some pics to explain the process then i would be happy to give it a go , or if i could get a photo of how you have done it on other gliders of simialiar planform , i am thinking of using some 3mm blind nuts from the side of the wing screwed into the fuse with bolts , tell me if you think this is a good or bad idea..

cheers
doug

[kkw]

Doug.
I don't really understand why you would need pics to understand. On your last pic, showing the hooks inside the fuselage, just wind some stainless or steel tiewire around the hooks, insert a nail, pen or whatever, and twist the wire. It will tighten up. Just cut it when you want to remove the wings. You could use a cable tie to do the same thing. The wings will not come off. If you use blind nuts then your wings will suffer lots more damage in a bad landing. A V tailed Sagitta. I did that mod and found the cruciform tail much better.

[lenrev]

I use plastic "zip ties" on my 2-pc wings that attach that way. They are also called cable ties.

[flybaby2000]

i increased the active area of the v-tail , as the projectected area of the originial tail would not give enough yaw authority , i like the cable tie idea , i will give that a try later tonight and tell you how i went..

cheers
doug

[fly1milehi]

Flybaby, I would shorten the hooks on the wings, ie make the bend closer to the wing and use a short stiff metal spring. That is a very common way to pull the wings together. If you wing/fuselage fit is not air tight use some 10-15mm wide vinyl tape to keep the air from passing between the fuselage and the wing root.

I would NOT USE BOLTS! the wings and fuse need to flex on those occasionally hard landings.. Bolt and nuts will only result in a fuselage with a long tear down the side anytime you happen to drop a wing tip before you touch down on landing.
Greg

[flybaby2000]

I worked it out really neat guys , i used a cable tie on the hooks and inserted some 5mm carbon rod into the rear joiner pin , and drilled it for the pin , it pulls tight with no gap in-between and im sure that the wing will hold really well , as i will only be using this model on the bungee , and some slope flying it should not be a problem i also installed a ballast tube... i will keep you up to date on my progress as i go . its looking so close to being complete . i get goosebumps when i see her....

I wil also be building an aileron wing for her soon too , should work real well.

cheers
doug

[Fred_L]

There is really nothing wrong with the rubber band idea. I had my Sagitta wings move away from the fuselage if I did any high speed passes or spins. I wasn't worried about the wings coming off as they only moved out about 2-3mm, but I was concerned about keeping a nice low drag airframe configuration. So I installed a hook arrangement similar to yours.

Looking at the picture I think I used smaller hooks and screwed them further into the wing root to increase the separation of the hooks.

I got a small rubber band (you can get them from some groceries and bread wraps) and had to run it around the hooks twice to get the required tension. There is no limit to how many times you can wrap the band around, but long nose pliers help so that you can place the band where you want and remove it at the end of the day.

Fred

[Ravenman]

I've had a Sagita 600 since 1985. i have countless hours of thermal, slope, high start, you name it flying on it. i have never used anything to attach the wings except natural friction on the two wing joiner rods. I think the up, or at times down, pressure of flight must hold them in place. Never had one even think of coming loose. Maybe I've been lucky.

Mootsman

[Ravenman]

Opps, wrong website. I meant to sign Ravenman.

Ravenman

[aeajr]

I use small springs. These were cut from a spring for the throttle on a carb or fuel injection system. Got them from an autmotive store.

[aeajr]

OK, stupid me. Two photos and neither shows the springs. But you can see where the hooks are on mine. I just attach a spring between them.