Bubble Dancer Wind Penetration?

[neonbutterfly]

Hi...i am about to embark on building a mark drela design bubble dancer....but have some questions.....i fly at our club field in pine island, new york where the wind is usually 5-15 mph......i am concerned about the wind penetration of the BD or the AVA ( for you AVA owners)...since they are basically the same drela design......

i have seen other sailplanes like the "organic" with the MH32 airfoil, penetrate the winds with no problem.....

how does the BD or AVA fair in the wind department??...i have not seen a BD or AVA in the sky yet.....help me out here......i'm getting itchy to start building.

bob :confused:

[rvsixer]

First hand report on the build and flying of a BD:
http://www.badger.rchomepage.com/bubbledancer.html

[thelocust]

Mark says he almost never flies his BD w/ ballast. Perhaps that's just his style of flying! (I have seen him hand-launch his BD into thermals and ride them out of the field) How many 3-meter planes can say that?

I have flown an Allegro-Lite (the "junior" BD) and was amazed at it's capabilities in high winds. The NATS 2-meter competition was plagued with 10-20 MPH winds both days and I was satisfied at how it managed to penetrate (I ballasted 6oz to bring my AUW to 25oz). That said, any lightweight RES ship is not going to penetrate as well in the wind as a heavier and more maneuverable full-house ship. So, comparing an Organic to a BD/AVA is not a good comparison!

RES is wholly different sort of class of planes anyway -- and the BD is truly the top of the line here, and the genesis for the AVA, Topaz, Danny, and Soprano. Get to building, I say! Damn the wind ;)

[Hostage-46]

My Ava is about to fly, I have provision for 15 oz of ballast. That represents over 40% increase in weight, others are carrying 20 oz with success.

I'll report first hand shortly but it seems the Ava does well with ballast.

[neonbutterfly]

ok dan...i'm eagerly awaiting ur test reports on the ava.....ballasted in the wind....please keep accurate records and share with all....thanks

bob :confused:

[Hostage-46]

Bob,

I highly recommend the Ava thread. It covers ballast and other issues that certainly relate to the BD.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=173093

[histarter]

My Ava is about to fly, I have provision for 15 oz of ballast. That represents over 40% increase in weight, others are carrying 20 oz with success.

I'll report first hand shortly but it seems the Ava does well with ballast.
You have my interest.
With about 10oz ballast aboard the typical 37 oz AVA, and noting the CL difference of Drela vs Legionair profiles, the airspeed range should be quite close to what Don Chancey and I used for most of our Cross Country work. Now with a bit more L/D - that is the magic of Dr. Drela, I believe it will work better. :D

[Hostage-46]

If only I could fly it this weekend! Going on a week long trip, won't be able to fly 'till 10/1 :(