ptlpc
Sep 11, 2005, 05:02 PM
I put together an eGlider from MRC called a Cinnamon. I wanted to have something that would give me some extra stick time since my club only has the winch out on Sunday mornings.
I had an awesome brushless motor called an AON (T2815-3002) and I set out to find a suitable airframe.
http://www.aonelectric.com
After a bit of a search, I found the Cinnamon:
http://www.modelrectifier.com/products/rcPlanes/product.asp?ID=1317&Subcategory=OK%20Model%3A%20EZ
I installed the AON using a CC Phx 45 and I had a Thunderpower 3100 handy (which is a bit overkill). I also upgraded the prop to a Graupner Cam 6x4.
Plane flies great and the AON brushless allows almost vertical climb.
My longest thermal with a glider was only 10 minutes on my BOT. Today however I climbed for about 30 seconds, cut the engine. and began circling under a big puffy cloud. Well I can report to all newbies, that yes, there are thermals! I had doubted it - at least for myself - but they do exist!!
I got sucked up and up and up like a magnet! If it was freakin' amazin'!
I kept checking the left stick to make sure the engine was indeed off and I kept climbing. I was so high that the plane even got lost in a low cloud for a few seconds. I panicked a bit and flew out and over to the next cloud to see if I was living a fluke or if today was THE day. Sure enough, I was climbing again!
All the signs of thermals were present. Hawks, Clouds, bugs, etc.
Well, after about 45 minutes - no motor - the breeze picked up a bit and I had a harder time finding/staying in lift.
So all-up time wo/engine - total 50 minutes! Wee Haa.
Things I learned that have helped:
1) Trim for hands off level flight. Can't tell you how important this is. You need to have a baseline and level flight is it!
2) Big circles help maximize lift when there is a lot of it.
3) Don't fly through bad air - if you flew through zero or negative lift, why go through it again? Go another route.
4) A properly trimmed plane will go up in lift wo/the use of the elevator - If your trimmed to just before stall, any lift will lift you!
5) The higher the launch, the better the chances of catching a thermal.
6) Keep flying. I'm amazed at how much better I do when I keep the speed up. Hovering in wind doesn't help. If your not going up you're going down!
(your mileage may very)
I've only been doing this less than a year with mostly a BOT. I read some great articles here:
http://www.quicktechhobby.com/articles/thermal_surfing%20part%201.htm
http://www.quicktechhobby.com/articles/thermal_surfing%20part%202.htm
and
http://kohlin.com/air/soar-faq.htm#589882
I had heard that small gliders were not that good for thermaling. However, today conditions were perfect and I specked it out! Just had to share.
Thanks to John Powell - my sailplane mentor and
Steven Chao of AON for recommending such a kick-butt motor.
I had an awesome brushless motor called an AON (T2815-3002) and I set out to find a suitable airframe.
http://www.aonelectric.com
After a bit of a search, I found the Cinnamon:
http://www.modelrectifier.com/products/rcPlanes/product.asp?ID=1317&Subcategory=OK%20Model%3A%20EZ
I installed the AON using a CC Phx 45 and I had a Thunderpower 3100 handy (which is a bit overkill). I also upgraded the prop to a Graupner Cam 6x4.
Plane flies great and the AON brushless allows almost vertical climb.
My longest thermal with a glider was only 10 minutes on my BOT. Today however I climbed for about 30 seconds, cut the engine. and began circling under a big puffy cloud. Well I can report to all newbies, that yes, there are thermals! I had doubted it - at least for myself - but they do exist!!
I got sucked up and up and up like a magnet! If it was freakin' amazin'!
I kept checking the left stick to make sure the engine was indeed off and I kept climbing. I was so high that the plane even got lost in a low cloud for a few seconds. I panicked a bit and flew out and over to the next cloud to see if I was living a fluke or if today was THE day. Sure enough, I was climbing again!
All the signs of thermals were present. Hawks, Clouds, bugs, etc.
Well, after about 45 minutes - no motor - the breeze picked up a bit and I had a harder time finding/staying in lift.
So all-up time wo/engine - total 50 minutes! Wee Haa.
Things I learned that have helped:
1) Trim for hands off level flight. Can't tell you how important this is. You need to have a baseline and level flight is it!
2) Big circles help maximize lift when there is a lot of it.
3) Don't fly through bad air - if you flew through zero or negative lift, why go through it again? Go another route.
4) A properly trimmed plane will go up in lift wo/the use of the elevator - If your trimmed to just before stall, any lift will lift you!
5) The higher the launch, the better the chances of catching a thermal.
6) Keep flying. I'm amazed at how much better I do when I keep the speed up. Hovering in wind doesn't help. If your not going up you're going down!
(your mileage may very)
I've only been doing this less than a year with mostly a BOT. I read some great articles here:
http://www.quicktechhobby.com/articles/thermal_surfing%20part%201.htm
http://www.quicktechhobby.com/articles/thermal_surfing%20part%202.htm
and
http://kohlin.com/air/soar-faq.htm#589882
I had heard that small gliders were not that good for thermaling. However, today conditions were perfect and I specked it out! Just had to share.
Thanks to John Powell - my sailplane mentor and
Steven Chao of AON for recommending such a kick-butt motor.