SAILAIRE help needed

[indy cv-62]

Hello eveyone.
First of all I'd just like to say hey. I usually frequent the slope threads but, I also have great interest in old school thermal flying.

Now to get to the subject. Last weekend I acquired a mostly built Craftaire (correction, mine is actually a Dream Catcher Hobbies) Sailaire. The bones are all completed. It needs a few odds and ends, radio equipment, and to be covered to be ready to fly.

I have a lot of questions for anyone with experience with these birds. I did get the instructions but, no plans so I'm not sure how to do a few things.

The first area of confusion for me is how the spoilers are mounted into the wing. The little hooks are present, what are they for? How are they actuated? Where is the spoiler servo mounted? How is everyting routed out to the spoilers?

Any info and close up photo's you can pass along would be a huge help. I can't wait to get this gentle giant in the air where it belongs.

Thanks guys.

Mark

[seanpcola]

On the spoilers the hooks are usually for rubber bands. If this is an original Craft-Aire Sailaire then the spoilers are actuated with threads running to a fuse mounted servo. The threads pull the spoiler open and the bands pull them closed. It's a good way to do it but nowdays small servos mounted at each spoiler is often the easiest way to go. The blades are usually hinged with tape at the top leading edge. The threads are routed through tubing such as the outer casing for control rods. I'll try to get some photos this evening.

[Bill Henley]

Congrats on getting one fine sailplane. Mine is the most relaxing to fly plane I own and thermals great. The spoiler on mine uses a tape hinge on in the front. The little hooks are for small rubber bands that return it to a closed position. It uses a line that connects to a small arm for leverage to pull the flap open, runs out the wing root and into the cockpit area connecting to a servo to pull it up. I just made a loop on the end of the line and put it over the screw on the end of the servo arm in the picture and when powered on the position keeps it in place. because i was stupid :( and didn't put the servo arm on the center line I have to loop one around the forward screw and then to the servo so the pull is even. I would put the servo on it's side with the arm on the centerline of the plane and connect both to the same arm for even pull. :D Post the finished picts! :D

[raceredg]

Mark
Save yourself a lot of hassles and put a micro servo in each wing for the spoilers.The Pigaire as it was called many years ago is a GREAT sailplane but after flying the slope try not to fall asleep while your flying it!
Enjoy!
Edg

[Bill Henley]

Yes if I had to do it over again servos in the wings are the way to go.

[indy cv-62]

Hey Edg,

I promise to try not to fall asleep. :D

To be honest with you my sloping skills are such that I don't fly the speedy stuff there (or any where for that matter). I like to slermal my Vista (like a Gentle Lady) off the slope. I am continuing to hone my abilities there as well and will be flying faster more responsive planes off the slope soon. Sloping is kind of in it's novice stage in my area.

Thermalling is not practiced by many in my area either.
That said, if I catch a decent bump, I look like this :eek:!

I will consider the mini servo's in the wings. That would be easier but, I kinda want to stick to stock.

Thanks for your replies guys.

Mark

P.S. I will post photo's of my progress if anyone is interested.

[lincoln]

Everyone says the servos in the wing are easier, but I find the string trick is easier if you have room. And you probably will not stall the servo, which is easy to do with the other setup.
Hey Edg,

I promise to try not to fall asleep. :D

To be honest with you my sloping skills are such that I don't fly the speedy stuff there (or any where for that matter). I like to slermal my Vista (like a Gentle Lady) off the slope. I am continuing to hone my abilities there as well and will be flying faster more responsive planes off the slope soon. Sloping is kind of in it's novice stage in my area.

Thermalling is not practiced by many in my area either.
That said, if I catch a decent bump, I look like this :eek:!

I will consider the mini servo's in the wings. That would be easier but, I kinda want to stick to stock.

Thanks for your replies guys.

Mark

P.S. I will post photo's of my progress if anyone is interested.

[indy cv-62]

O.K.
I got the spoiler thing fiured out. I am going to start covering the plane next week. I think I have a scheme hammered out but, would like to see a few more examples. Anyone have some pictures of theirs?

I have been looking into hi starts that would be up to dragging this thing into the air. Have any of you used a hi start to launch one of these beasts? What did/do you use? I will likely build a winch one of these days, but fundage is at a premium around here right now.

Thanks again for the help everyone. I love this place.

[Wylie Shaw]

O.K.
I got the spoiler thing fiured out. I am going to start covering the plane next week. I think I have a scheme hammered out but, would like to see a few more examples. Anyone have some pictures of theirs?

I have been looking into hi starts that would be up to dragging this thing into the air. Have any of you used a hi start to launch one of these beasts? What did/do you use? I will likely build a winch one of these days, but fundage is at a premium around here right now.

Thanks again for the help everyone. I love this place.


Mate, Take a look at the 3 meter histart from www.aerofoam.com get-er-done.


Best Regards,


Wylie S.

[seanpcola]

What Wylie says.

Here is a good deal on one right now. Just popped up.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=896305

Sean

[IHAVAWDY]

Indy; hosemonster is a good product but they're shut down till late August. I purchased the Yellow highstart from Hobby-Lobby for my Oly III and it is awesome, I would highly recommend it for the larger ships.

[indy cv-62]

Thanks for the suggestions.
I have PM'd the guy with the hose monster to see if he still has it.

IHAVAWDY, I scanned the skies as we passed through Ennis on our way home from picking up this beastie in Twin Bridges. I was really hoping to see a glider so I could stop and meet you.

Mark

[IHAVAWDY]

Indy: With the way the thermals have been breakin loose around here lately you'd have to have some VERY good eyes to see my OLY III :D Seriously though, if you get thru here again anytime send me a PM. I've got a 40 acre "landing zone" that should be enough even for that sailair! I'll do the same next time I ''have'' to go to Billings. ;) good luck with your new ship, keep us posted.

[indy cv-62]

What kind of string do you guys use to pull open the spoilers?

[Bill Henley]

I use a new "no stretch" braded fishing line that is very strong. This brand is New Tech power cable 80 lb. Works great!

[ChuckA]

I use 60 pound Stren fishing line bercause I had some on hand from wrapping spars. For the last 30 years, I used some braded line that I salvaged from a Davy retriever. That appeared to be about 20 pound test line.

[raceredg]

Mark
Although I haven't used pull cords in 15 years, back in the day we used dial cord which was used in old radios to move the channel pointer. We'd get it at Radio Shack, they might still have it. I'll dig around and see if I still have some.
Edg

[indy cv-62]

I have considered using braided fishing line but, I was concerned that it would wear through the little plastic guide tubes in the wings. I have heard of some these lines wearing through steel line guides on fishing poles.

Have any of you using the braided line experienced problems with it cutting through the plastic guides?

[schrederman]

I use 1/2A stainless steel flying wire. It's finely stranded, doesn't stretch, and in 5 years of flying the original Houston Hawk, hasn't even begun to wear the tubing. I use a fixture I make out of 2 E-Z connectors to hook it up. There's 1/16 copper tube silver soldered to the stranded wire. This works so well, I haven't even been tempted to screw around putting servos into my thin wings. Yardbird depicted because it illustrates the cockpit portion so well.

Jack

[schrederman]

OBTW... I use Spyderwire (braided fishing line) some, too, and have never had a problem with it wearing the tubes. There just isn't that much pressure.

JW

[indy cv-62]

schrederman,
Wow! What a clean build and radio install. I think I may have picked up a couple new methods just from the photo!

Thanks

Mark

[schrederman]

Glad to be of help...

JW

[lincoln]

I have considered using braided fishing line but, I was concerned that it would wear through the little plastic guide tubes in the wings. I have heard of some thses lines wearing through steel line guides on fishing poles.

Have any of you using the braided line experienced problems with it cutting through the plastic guides?
I think that one or two casts and returns would put as much line through the guides in a fishing pole as you'd get back and forth in spoiler tubes in a year's flying. So don't worry. I've used braided fishing line for spoilers before. I think now, since I have some around, I'd use Spider Wire, but the old "squidding line" was fine if you can still find it. It's very tough stuff. I have some on my high start that has outlasted, I think, two or three replacements of the surgical tubing.

[indy cv-62]

So next question.

What would you guys recommend I do for a battery pack in this beastie.
I have no clue what it is going to take to balance this plane.

Anyone with hands on experience have suggestion.

Thanks,

Mark

[carrinsr]

So next question.

What would you guys recommend I do for a battery pack in this beastie.
I have no clue what it is going to take to balance this plane.

Anyone with hands on experience have suggestion.

Thanks,

Mark

Mark,

Not trying to brag, but I probably own more Sailaire sailplanes (eight left, recently sold one) and I probably have as much if not more air time flying the Sailare than anyone on the planet.

I have a few electric Sailaires, and also a few that break down for easy transporting (4 piece wings and 2 piece fuselages).

About the battery, you're going to need to add some additional weight to the nose anyway, so why not turn that weight into energy for longer flights? I use the Sanyo CADNICA Model 4N-1200SC. It's their 4.8 volt, 1200mAH VF. Call Interstate at 1-866-842-5368.

If your servo tray allows, put this battery pack in the nose of the Sailaire, wedged with foam for protection and so it won't move, and you're good to go.

I also prefer using releasable tow hooks connected to the spoiler servo. They work great!

David in Florida

[indy cv-62]

carrinsr,

I have heard of you O' Great One.

I have looked into some of your mods for breaking the Sailaire down for transport. I have considered doing it but, for now I am trying to get it ready for an upcoming fun fly.

Thank you for your response to my question. I will look into that battery.

Could I trouble you for a picture or two showing how you set up your radio equipment? How do you run the releasable tow hook off the spoiler servo?

Thanks again for your help.

Mark