Hello all,

When are we going to kick this contest of building the lightweights off??

Jens

I'm in high gear, but got a few projects ahead of it.

I see this thread as sort of a clearing house of light plane ideas, build logs and discussions. We will all contribute at different times. I'm probably a couple of months out. I'll probably start with sketches, then Rhino modeling, then build log. My version may not be the lightest plane in the world, but it will be the lightest plane in my hangar.

Looks like you may be the first up to bat.

Kent

Jens,I'm sure the rate you're going you'll have crossed the finish line and done a victory lap before I even startKents in high gear,I can't even find 1st!.Bought a slab of foam the other day and Im working out a design for a small hand held hot wire.Too much granddad stuff with the hols.Also I'll need the airfoils I mentioned in post 30 to make templates.
Regards Stuart

Stuart: Attached is a PDF of the HM50 at 180mm. Try this out. If OK, let me know and I'll post others.

Kent

Stuart: The rest of the airfoils for your plane. Good luck with this.

Kent

Not directly involved in this so called competition.

However watching it unfold, I had the feeling that there might be a better comparison if it was wing loading based rather than span based.

Just a thought

Thanks a lot Kent,that looks fine.My printers on homework duty at the moment so it'll be a couple of days till I run a copy off.
Regards Stuart

Originally Posted by HerkS

Not directly involved in this so called competition.
However watching it unfold, I had the feeling that there might be a better comparison if it was wing loading based rather than span based.
Just a thought

You might need to hit your refresh button on your browser. I have revised post #1. It's not a competition. It is currently called a "Build-Off". There really are no requirements. I hope all readers will feel free to post what ever they like that has any thing to do with a light flying wing. It's really just an on-going discussion about light planes. Wing loading is my preferred method of determining "light".

I hope to post my light plane in a couple of months. So Jens and Stuart will probably be done by then.

Kent

OK Kent - just saw all that about 1.5 meters and though that was becoming the definition of the thread. As I said - I'm just an interested observer. My shop has no room for any more models. As my daughter says - I have an air traffic congestion problem in there.

Ok just the wing loading ... I like it :-) Means I can try the Manatee at 1 meter wingspan ... that ought to be interesting !!

Jens

If you're moving the goal posts I can beat you all with one of these.I got the idea from Derks &Dayheads posts in the walk along gliders thread on the free flight forum.They have been good value with the kids over the hols.Just enough weight to balance,twist the wing and a touch down on the centre.Just a slight push and they go into an almost flat glide.This is one of the least successful,not enough wing area,but still floats across the room.

Hello Stuart

Wow that is cool, make a video of it !! I wonder if you could put one of those Plantronics subminiature RC set-ups on it and fly it around indoors?

Jens

Jens,you should make some of these!They demonstrate how these things fly.Leave them flat and they just side slip away.Put some twist in and they go straight as an arrow.It's surprising how much effect bending just the bat tail makes.I've been using 2mm depron and kitchen film.This ones a bit too small,I was trying to get a bit of durability!I'll leave you to rc one,bet you've got the bits somewhere
Regards Stuart

Since there are so many linear twist flying wings in the vintage section, thought I'd try a high aspect ratio version. This free flight model is for testing CG. It has a thicken MH45 at the root with 10 degrees of linear twist out to a SD8020 at the tip. Cut from foam with a 1/64" plywood spar caps. The tip chord matches the lawn chair slats in width.

Kent

high AR 10 deg linear twist (0 min 7 sec)

Nice wing Kent.Now we know why all the tissue testing!
Did you have any issues with the foam bending after the hot wire?I must admit a slight concern about this when I come to cut the sections that you sent me for Verns wing.
Looks like you had some still air,where did the cog end up?
Stuart