Monster FF to 2M Sailplane conversion.

[jrgospod]

Monster Free flight to 2M Sailplane conversion.


Hi all. I saw the Lanier foam U2 Freeflight Glider on sale for under $20.00 so I just couldn’t pass it up.

[URL=http://www.lanierrc.com/lrcprivate/LRChtmpages/21stCenturyarfs/U2freeflightglider.htm]

I figure with a reinforced wing, toe hook, and receiver (ruder/elevator) I could hi-start this monster and have a very light fun flyer just under 2M. I have seen some info on making an electric out of it, but haven’t seen anything on making a straight sailplane. Anyone tried this? If so could you lend some insight? Thanks.

[fprintf]

If this is one of those foam gliders like you might buy at WalMart during the summertime, good luck. I bought 4 of them for $4.95 each with the hope of making them into RC gliders.

When I tried the basic foam plane, it flew pretty well stock and my Dad and I (he is a retired planeaholic too) had a fun afternoon playing in the backyard with them. They probably glide 40 yards from an eye level javelin toss.

Once you add in spruce or arrow shafts for the wings, and then tape and a hook it quickly got to be very heavy. Plus the foam is basic styrofoam and was not at all durable and tended to snap when hitting the ground hard.

At that point I abandoned using the stock fuselage and tried mounting the wings, Probonded together, onto an arrow shaft. That worked better, as it was much lighter, but I had difficulty justifying using HS-50 or 55 servos on such a plane. Wingspan was under 50".

With all this said, there are a huge number of people into E-flight who have had tremendous luck fitting 400 size motors to these things, using parkflyer sized radio equipment for either elevator or R/E control. You can find out more by searching the foamies forum.

I ended up spending less money on a foam cutting rig to make my own wing cores, and just a little more money on the supplies to make entire planes (arrowshafts, a little balsa, and the foam), than I did on all 4 of those planes that eventually ended making little floaty styrofoam bits all around my garage. :)

[jrgospod]

Fprintf, this is not the $4.95 WalMart SPECIAL. Take a look at the link.

www.lanierrc.com/lrcprivate/LRChtmpages/21stCenturyarfs/U2freeflightglider.htm


This is a made by Lanier R/C and is a 74” Free Flight Glider. It is made of foam but that is the point. I had done searches and found all the info on the Lanier and U2 and Glider that I can. All that I have seen is about successfully converting them to electric, like this.

http://www.northlandflyer.com/The_Hangar/LanierU-2/body_lanieru-2.html

With comments like this:

"On several flights I almost lost my U-2 to thermals, I couldn't get the plane out of it. Several times I've spent 5 minutes at low altitude circling the field in light lift only landing when I was ready"

Now I want to find someone who has converted then to Sailplanes. I must say that I am surprised that you had so much difficulty with your Wally special. The electric guys seem to have great success with them. Maybe the choice of materials was your downfall. Anyway I would still appreciate anyone who has made a conversion to a sailplane to drop a line. Thanks.

[emoone]

I have one of these models I am very impressed with the looks of the pieces. The foam looks good and the fit and finish is way beyond what the wally world foamies have.

http://www.lanierrc.com/lrcprivate/LRChtmpages/21stCenturyarfs/U2freeflightglider.htm

The link above lists the weight at 1.5 lbs which is about what mine "feels" like when I pick it up. I think adding some wood dowel wing spars and covering the wings with packing paper and white glue ( at least the LE ) would stiffen the wings tremendously with a very small weight gain. The fuse is my only concern.

I was hoping to power mine with an electric motor with a folding prop to get it up and then just glide. I've even read about people working up the rubber band powered versions for thermal flight. They just used the rubber band engine to get them up high and then hunt for thermals. The rb version also has an aluminium spar that runs through the fuse which should really add some structural integrity.

Eddie

[jrgospod]

Got this as PM.


Oh sure ...I ran a couple lengths of Fiberglass strapping tape from tip to
tip under the wing ...plus it's already epoxied with dowells(provided in box)
in the center......the wings always survived the rest of the plane
...especially if you cover it with some low heat mylar material ...I've used
Solarfilm ...works great.........you need to inset a piece of hardwood on the
fuselage belly for screwing the towhook in to several locations according to
the wind...but you know that! I just hinge half (one side only) of the
elevator ...simple works fine.......Really you can't beat it for
$20.00......