The spar is Balsa?

Well, if that is the case you won't see me trying to launch it on a winch. A medium hi-start will probably be OK.

Thank you for the spar insight because I have been leaning towards 1000W of power, and the wings may rip off. So, instead of too much power, why not go light and just stick to @500w.

I am not sure more power will increase climb much. My setup with a Hacker 30XL on four cells produces close to 600 watts. At half throttle there is not a huge difference in climb rate. For ALES, I get to 200 meters in about 15 seconds. When angled down to climb to 200 meters closer to 30 seconds cutoff, it is pretty far out. There is only so much power you can dump in -- very much a case of limited return. Weight seems to make more of a difference. I went from 2200 to 1300 mAh batteries. That 105 grams lighter was noticable. Plus, it was easier to not stall out when the motor cut out.

Originally Posted by DeadstickDuck

Thank you for the spar insight because I have been leaning towards 1000W of power, and the wings may rip off. So, instead of too much power, why not go light and just stick to @500w.

I am using the recommended motor with 4S. It is faster than I can manage.In 40 seconds, it will be high enough so that I can't see it.

Rick

What size prop are you running with the 4s setup?

Originally Posted by Rickn816

I am using the recommended motor with 4S. It is faster than I can manage.In 40 seconds, it will be high enough so that I can't see it.

Rick

http://www.hobby-lobby.com/40_size_b...33019_prd1.htm
and

APC 13x7 folding on 3s4500 lipo

We've got a few flights on the plane and doing well. I'm mostly a jet/powered plane guy and have a question. When the prop is idle and I'm just carrying the plane around, the prop blades go WAY forward. When it's full power, I guess centrifugal force causes them to spin normally and they fold back just fine when flying. Is this normal? They just flop forward a lot more than my Radian so I was wondering. Thanks

Originally Posted by N227CT

Is this normal?

Yup !

Chris

Originally Posted by aeajr

The spar is Balsa?

Well, if that is the case you won't see me trying to launch it on a winch. A medium hi-start will probably be OK.

Main Spar is Spruce, 10mm x 6mm in the center. 10mm x 6 tapering to 10mm x 3mm at the Tip.

Pete

Originally Posted by TeamHorizon

Main Spar is Spruce, 10mm x 6mm in the center. 10mm x 6 tapering to 10mm x 3mm at the Tip.

Pete

Thanks. That makes a lot more sense. I presume it is not carbon capped or you would have mentioned that.

Originally Posted by aeajr

Thanks. That makes a lot more sense. I presume it is not carbon capped or you would have mentioned that.

"No Carbon".
I did 20 or so Hi Start launches on the Hobby Lobby up to 3M rubber (Its the Red bungee rubber they sell).
Rubber length was 50', I then used some 135 mono (Some old “J” line I had lying around) 150' long so total un-stretched was 200'. Seemed to work great. I also winch launched my Mystique at the Soaring Masters on one of the LSF winches, seemed to launch ok as well.
If you look at the Horizon Video there is a shot of me launching on a Hi start in the video which was the setup described above.

Pete

Peter,

Thanks so much for the additional info about the Spar, the HS and the winch. While I am sure most people will set this up as an electric there are a lot of us who love pure gliders and would rather winch than motor to height.

And, if anyone really wanted to beef up the wing It would probably be pretty easy to remove the wing covering, do a little sanding and add the carbon. But likely that would not be needed for sport flying.

TXG8 - I'm using the recommended "stock" prop.

Rick

You don't by chance have any amperage and wattage numbers do you? Just curious

Originally Posted by Rickn816

TXG8 - I'm using the recommended "stock" prop.

Rick

Hi,

my first flight in rather windy conditions was with a Aeronaut 10" x 6" CC on the recommended E-Flite 25 and a 4s 2500 mAh Lipo - altogether delivering some 400 W at the beginning. The plane went up vertically against the wind with an angle of attack of some 60°.

This is ample power for "normal" (thermal) flying and I would not use more. May be that ALES people would appreciate a little more "frosting" - but 1000 W is way off for me ...

Herbert