Bwb

[N2EC]

Take a look at the photos. Interesting concept considering that the company (Lew Aerospace) has range from 39" till 4 meters presently and is also considering a larger one.

I was on the aerodynamics of the wing. I have been able to think of the following:

Easy Access to parts and electronics and transportation.
Longitudunal Stability
Tail on Tip with slight dihedral - necessray down force to compensate the turining moment of the wing.

What would be the other advantages of Staggering the Wing, dihedral on wing tips ?

N2EC

[N2EC]

Photos

[macboffin]

I have to say that this looks like a pretty draggy and ill-thought-out design.
Why not mould the wings with wash-out at the tips? And up-curved tip fins?
DDraggy motor mount also! The usual sort of result of electronics expertise combined with amateur aerodynamics. Not my idea of a "role model"!
Feeble excuses please?

[clolson]

I have to say that this looks like a pretty draggy and ill-thought-out design.
Why not mould the wings with wash-out at the tips? And up-curved tip fins?
DDraggy motor mount also! The usual sort of result of electronics expertise combined with amateur aerodynamics. Not my idea of a "role model"!
Feeble excuses please?

Don't mean to pile on here, but it seems like they could have come up with a slightly cleaner way to attach the pieces together and mount the motor. Looks like they designed it for an R/C system that did not have elevator/aileron mixing?

That said, it looks like it would break down and pack into a pretty small box ... that could have been one of their design constraints. Also, you could swap out the different pieces and use different center sections/payloads, different wings (sweep, length, chord, airfoil, etc.) and different winglets.

I think we would have to know what it was designed and built to do ... before we could heap on too much praise or criticism.

Curt.

[workshop]

I held that model (and others) from Lew Aerospace in my hand at an air show (Nellis AFB) and was amazed how light and strong it was. Beyond what I expected even for CF. Yes, it was loaded with gear.

I believe some of the unconventional design is due to the material choice. Videos showed it performing like a typical flying wing at those sizes.

Jeff

[dalbert02]

I think it looks cool but not particularly aerodynamically effecient. The rivets, the motor mount, the servo orientation, etc could all be improved upon regardless of the mission as long as the mission includes some type of flying.
-dave

[N2EC]

Not with the intent of bashing any of the previous comments but my thoughts for the airplane being built in the manner in which it has are as follows:

Wings have been joined in the manner to give the airplane torsional stiffness and would guess that there are no ribs or spars inside the airplane to keep the area clean for payload. Also, helps in breaking down for transport.

Fins, assume are easily replaceable and attached separetely to make it modular.

On the aerodynamics, I would like to know the reason for making the tips wider. Would it be to avoid tip stalling by generating extra lift ?