2-prop Speed 300 VTOL got simple

[garygress]

Hi,

I think it was this past Feb. that I posted a thread about the first successful hovers of my 2-propeller Speed 300 VTOL plane. I made claims then about how it easy it would be to transition from hover to airplane mode.

Well, that hasn't quite happened yet. But the hover control mechanics have become very simple in the meantime. So what I've done is created a website to show anyone interested how it works, at

http://www.gressaero.com

It can hover for about 4 min. with an 8-cell 800mAh pack, and I think it flies as well as a Draganflyer - but with only two of its props.

I've made plans available, but if you were to make one you probably won't need them as the concept is very simple - as you will see in the Technology/Aircraft Pitch Control page.

The real difficult part, however, was finding components that work together. Things like motors, CW and CCW props, mixers and gyros. I've spent more time dealing with this than with (what I thought was) the real issue: aircraft pitch control. So, if you ever contemplate building a small 2-prop electric VTOL or whatever take a look at the Parts page at the site. It lists all the major commercially available components that went into this babe and made it as stable in roll as a Draganflyer - and has links to the supplier sites.

It would be great if anyone was interested in building one or something similar, or just wanted to exchange ideas about electric VTOLs.

Gary

[juantrinidad]

Ever since I saw the article of your experiment in a mag and reading your further exploits here, I have been a fan of yours. Anytime you get your VTOL working and commercially available. I will line up for one. Your approach to this hobby is exactly how I'd like to be if i had as much knowledge as you.

JT

[garygress]

Thanks JT, those are really kind words.

The plane works as a VTOL in the same sense that a Draganflyer III does, so I've been looking for a manufacturer to give them competition. The sum of $ for all the seperate components is extremely high; a production version with integrated components should bring that way down.

Transition has been a problem with such a small plane. Wings add weight - and download, depending on where you put them - so does the transition servo and mechanics. The worst part is pitch-up in fast forward flight when the prop axes are not yet horizontal. I think I've figured out how to solve this, as indicated at the site (see Technology/Transitioning Aircraft) but it appears it will require a much larger bird and even more complicated electronics.

Gary

[Neil Stainton]

I would also like to congratulate you (again) on your notable achievement. And I am sure that with more innovation, lateral thinking, and experimentation you will soon achieve transition to forward flight.

> I've made plans available, but if you were to make one you probably won't need them as the concept is very simple

It may seem simple to you now after so many prototypes, but I think to most other people the design and implementation of your ideas would be rather testing! I am interested in purchasing plans but a bit more info about the construction would be helpful. In particular is any machining required? A few more extracts from the plans or close up photos of the plane would let me see if I have the skills to make it.

Also what piloting skills are required? Are you a heli pilot? I can fly fixed wing competently, but gave up on my Hornet micro heli.

Your web site is well done and interesting, though I do find the Sky Scooter at bit hard to take. We are all so apprehensive of being conned, that I would be careful of giving visitors the impression you are pedalling another Moller Skycar type dream.

Neil.

[garygress]

Neil,

Your're rignt, plans do help - but are only one way of implementing the contol methods. There might be better ones.

Some machining is required.

I am not a heli pilot. I did purchase and fly (15 min. total) a Draganflyer III, but mostly to pilfer parts and ideas during development.

The Sky Skooter is there to show viewers the site is not about one particlar aircraft, but about using two propellers for lift and control. The skooter works using the same method as the model. The site was created after I got the technology/control method to actually work (hover) so its a realistic dream.

Gary

[Neil Stainton]

> Some machining is required.

Can you expand on that please? Is just a lathe required, or a mill as well?

Regarding the Sky Scooter, the illustration on the web site doesn't look as though it would allow the fans to be tilted, which negates the control ideas that I think you invented and are trying to popularise. Plus of course the fans are so much smaller than the Poco's blades that the power required would become excessive, and the giroscopic forces may be too small.

TIA,

Neil.

[garygress]

Just a hobby lathe.

Gary