Electric ducted fans have really come a long, long way in the past few years. Most stout eflight modelers eventually get one, and as eflight continues to expand the EDF presence at flying fields becomes more assiduous. Today, some entry-level ducted fans are so inexpensive and efficient  that, sometimes with a little luck, even an eflight beginner can upgrade to one after mastering their beloved Wingo, for example. Or, with some more experience and more money, move up from a Pico Jet to a Steamy Cheek (read on).

At the spectrum's other end, breaching the upper-crust of EDF technology has become an art, and for many that's the name of the game. Progress with beauty. Here, Aspach really assembles the EDF scene into a powerhouse display, provoking a typical "Unbelievable..."--even for a Steamy Cheek--from even the most experienced eflight modeler. Live and learn. And read on.

Electric Ducted Fans

Photo taken by T. Sorensen

Christian Hoffmann has flown at Aspach since its second meeting in 1991, and since 1997 his big Messerschmitt Me-262 EDF has been a staple attraction. He flies it with impeccable skill and its performance always impresses. Yet it was becoming so routine that something more unique was needed in his collection. So, after a year of on and off building, his marvelous Henschel HS-132 EDF (below) also showed up at Aspach 2002--and to dispel any nay-sayers, it is easily mistaken for a Heinkel Salamander. Even more impressive was the maiden flight on Friday evening before Saturday's event opening.

Henschel HS-132 EDF

At the end of World War II, the Henschel company completed just one HS 132 prototype and started building a second. The prototype hadn't even made a test flight before being captured by the Russian Army and taken to Russia for analysis. German engineers had designed the jet as a dive bomber for one 500-kilo (1100-pound) bomb hanging from its belly. In order to withstand the g-forces while pulling out of a dive, the pilot flew while resting on his stomach; his chin and neck were also positioned on a cushion support. Surprisingly, this was quite ergonomic, although the pilot's position resulted more from having a narrow fuselage needed for efficient aerodynamics at close-to-sonic speeds--and to counter the drag created by a big external bomb.

Henschel HS-132 EDF

Christian had little useful information for his model's construction. He did find some photos of the uncompleted second HS-132 (minus wings and engine) and a 3-view drawing. But probably most useful was a small plastic model made by the Humas company and sold in many hobby shops and toy stores. He built his plane from balsa and covered the sheeted wings with paper and the fuselage with fiberglass. Wing span is 1.56 m (61.42 in), wing area 54 dm2 (837.2 sq in), wing loading 100 g/dm2 (32.77 oz/ft2), length 1.8 m (70.87 in) and weight 5.4 kg (11.88 lbs). Motor is a Plettenberg HP 355-37-5 in a 120 mm wooden fan designed by Uli Amacker. ESC is a Schulze mf43-60 and battery 30 x RC2400. The fan can deliver 3.3 kg (7.26 lbs) static thrust for an excellent thrust-to-weight ratio of 0.61:1. Retracts are from Giezendanner.

	Watch a video of the Messerschmitt Me-262 EDF
	Watch a video of the Henschel HS-132 EDF

The robbe BAe-146

The robbe BAe-146 is a styrofoam model that was more or less before its time. Despite eflight's growing development back then, I suspect a vast majority of modelers were not comfortable paying around $350 in 1997 for a big four-engine EDF kit (with fans and motors), much less a foam one. Slow sales compromised further production so robbe ceased it and let inventory expire. Then, a short time later, more modelers suddenly wanted one and demand for the discontinued kit outstripped remaining supply. The hunt was on. Adolf Geier (above left) and Matthias Froetzheim (above right) each snagged one and did a little creative teamwork. They painted their models in old Lufthansa livery and added winglets, although in reality this 146 version never existed. (Lufthansa's CityLine airline does fly the type, but it entered the fleet after the the blue cheater line livery had disappeared.)

The robbe BAe-146 on display.

Measurements: wing span 1.9 m (74.8 in) with an Eppler 205 profile and wing area 54 dm2 (5.6 sq ft). Power: 4 x robbe Rojet and Power 410/12 motors. Adolf's weighs 2.8 kg (6.16 lbs) with 14 x RC2000; ESC is a Schulze mf-90. Matthias's weighs 3 kg (6.6 lbs) with 16 x RC2400; ESC is a Schulze 75bo. Both are covered with silkspan and painted, and flight times are anywhere from 4 to 5 minutes if the model must takeoff under its own power.

The robbe BAe-146 flying The robbe BAe-146 landing.

Each plane also has a towhook in the nose and sometimes a gas-powered model tows one aloft like a sailplane to about 200 feet altitude. Both Adolf and Matthias say the 146 is very docile behind a towplane and ascends quite easily. Once released they can fly anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes depending on thermals and power usage, etc.  This shows is how dramatic the power consumption can be at takeoff, as it easily eats up cruising flight time--in this case 50% or more.

Watch a video of the BAe-146

Joerg Rehm's colorful wing creation with the long nose is called Blade. Just the name conjures a cutting performance, and his truly delivers with a thrust-to-weight ratio of 1.12:1. The model is all fiberglass and painted with scratch-resistant automobile lacquer. Measurements: wing span 1.37 m (53.94 in), length 1.007 m (39.65 in) and weight 2.52 kg (5.54 lbs). Power: 2 x Scheubeler DS-51 3-ph fan each with a Plettenberg HP 220-20 A3 S P6 brushless motor, 2 x Hacker "Jeti Master” opto ESC and 16 x RC2400.

Photo taken by Torben Sorensen.

After Aspach's official closing Joerg tried 16 x GP3000 NiMH cells at the field and flew for 3.5 minutes without problem. He measured 70 amps static and reckons the motors draw around 50 amps in flight, and since Aspach the NiMHs have been holding up just fine. By the way, the company aero-naut will be producing this model as Blade 2 with very minor imporvements. It is designed for 90 mm fans and should hit the market later in 2003. Aero-naut also produces the [prototype] F-9F Panther, sitting next to the Blade, which Joerg also designed (see Aspach 2001 review).

The Rafále C flying. Rafále C's exhaust.

Matthias Schulze brought his aero-naut Rafále C piloted by Ulf Herder. What makes this model interesting are the two Estes series-D rocket engines in the tail for a big boost of extra thrust. Measurements: wing span 104 cm (40.94 in), wing area 41 dm2 (4.41 sq ft), length 134 cm (52.76 in) and weight 4.33 kg (9.53 lbs). Power: 2 x WeMoTec Midi Fan each with an HP 220-30-A5 SP4 motor and Schulze Future 35bo ESC, 24 x RC2400. Motors are wired in parallel and yield 50 amps at full throttle. Flight time is 4 to 5 minutes.

EDF Boeing 767 on display. EDF Boeing 767 being shown off.

Thomas Maier builds his models light, very light. At 1.9 kg (4.18 lbs) with a 2.5 m (98.43 in) wing span and 22 g/dm2 (7.21 oz/ft2) wing loading, his EDF Boeing 767 drifts like a glider. It's scratch built from balsa and there's little sheeting. Construction is mostly frames, ribs, and runners covered with "survival foil,” which is super lightweight and displays a mylar-like appearance. It's glued to the balsa but can still be ironed to take up any slack. Power: 2 x aero-naut EDF Turbo Fans with Hacker brushless motors, 2 x Kontronik Smile 30A ESCs and 8 x GP 3300 NiMH. Each motor draws roughly 21 amps and total flight time is around 8 minutes. On hot days the plane responds well to thermals and has achieved 20 minute flights in such conditions.

Watch a video of the B-767

Smart Fish

Here's a bunch of Smart Fish. The EDF is a fiberglass ARF kit by Rotschi (http://www.smartfish-model.com) and costs about €570 euros, or about US$600. Measurements: wing span 77 cm (30.31 in), length 1 m (39.37 in) and weight 2.5 kg (5.5 lbs). Power (used in Ulf Herder's): Lehner 15-30-6Y in a WeMoTec 480 Mini Fan, Schulze Future 18.61 ESC and 16 x Panasonic 3000 NiMH. Flight time is 6 minutes.

Dampf Backe

Before all the crashes, the Dampf Backe (meaning steamy cheek) was a Pico Jet. To keep it flying Michael Walzer had only one choice: make it into an EDF. Wing span is 75 cm (29.53 in) and weight 1.2 kg (2.64 lbs). Power: Kontronik FUN 400-36 brushless motor and Smile 40-6-12 ESC in a WeMoTec 480 Mini Fan, 10 x CP1700. Flight time is about 4 minutes. Surface color is brown Acrylic. It's ugly and might look better at the bottom of an aquarium. But hey, it's fun...and it flies!

Bill Kleinbrahm missed last year's event while he underwent training as a Chief Maintenance Inspector for Airbus in Hamburg. His new job added incentive to try building the A300-600ST "Beluga”. This is Airbus's oversize, fat twin-turbine transport that actually does resemble a Beluga whale.

"Beluga”

Bill's model is completely scratch built from foam with balsa/plywood supports, and covered with 25 g/dm2 fiberglass and HSB water-based finishing lacquer. Measurements: wing span 1.7 m (66.93 in), wing area 41 dm2 (4.41 sq ft), wing loading 140 g/dm2 (45.9 oz/ft2), length 1.9 m (74.8 in) and weight 5.7 kg (12.54 lbs). Power: 2 x Schuebeler DS-51 fan each with a Plettenberg HP 290-30 6 motor, 1 x Jung 90A ESC and 20 x RC1700. Flight time is very short at 1 to 1.5 minutes. Main retracts are old (Bill forgot the brand) and the nose gear is self-built, yet a runway start is wobbly without bungee assistance for a straight takeoff.

"Beluga” getting ready to take off.

Unfortunately the model stalled and crashed while turning final for landing during Friday's trial flight. The massive fuselage and very high wing loading created unforgiving flight characteristics, and the model simply got too slow in the turn. According to Bill it was a handful, even with an aileron gyro for added stability.

Watch a video of the Beluga.

This Airbus A320, owned by Heinz Ernstberger, is available as a semi-kit from Norbert Rauch in Germany (rauch47877(at)aol.com). The kit contains a foam fuselage and fiberglass cockpit/nose section, vertical stabilizer and engine nacelles. Ribs are provided for the wing and horizontal stab, but Heinz wanted these surfaces in balsa covered foam and Norbert has contacts that performed this service. Actually, Norbert offers a near complete range of Airbus models for gas-powered ducted fans, and Heinz's A320 was the first made for EDF. This simply required all fiberglass parts be made much lighter--and they're half the original weight.

Airbus A320 on display. The Airbus A320 flying.

Measurements: wing span 2.13 m (83.86 in), wing area 47.8 dm2 (5.15 sq ft), length 2.35 m (92.52 in) and weight 6.3 kg (13.86 lbs). Power: 2 x Donath 90 mm fan with a Mega 22-20-3 brushless motor, 2 x Jeti 70-3ph Opto ESC and 15 x RC2400 (30 cells total). Retractable gear is from Daniel Schuebeler (a rather unusual source for landing gear) and flight time is 4.5 minutes. Heinz covered the wings with Oracover; and the fuselage is covered with 1 mm balsa and painted. The plane made only 3 flights prior to Aspach and, unfortunately, crashed a few weeks later on flight number 8. Just after a steep takeoff rotation it flew into a big wind gust and stalled. Fortunately, Heinz said it's repairable. A320 Movie

Watch a video of the Airbus A-320

Kurt Eich and his Lockheed S-3A.

Kurt Eich came from Switzerland with his scratch-built Lockheed S-3A Viking. It's all balsa with a foam/abachi wing and covered with silkspan. Measurements: wing span 1.35 m (53.15 in), wing area 16.5 dm2 (1.78 sq ft), wing loading 70 g/dm2 (22.95 oz/ft2) and weight 1.92 kg (4.22 lbs). Power: 2 x WeMoTec Mini Fan 480 each with a Speed 480 Race motor, 1 x JES 500 ESC and 8 x CP1600. Maximum RPM is 22000 at 14 amps per motor. Flight time is about 3 minutes.

El Bandito flying.

El Bandito by Ralf Dvórak (www.rd-jets.de) was here last year without landing gear. Now the model has retracts and flaps and orders for this particular kit version are slowly gaining momentum. The fuselage is fiberglass and wings are abachi-covered foam with extensive glass reinforcement for the landing gear. Measurements: wing span 1.23 m (46.43 in), wing loading appr. 90 g/dm2 (29.5 oz/ft2), length 1.2 m (47.24 in) and weight 2.97 kg (6.53 lbs). Power: Kontronik FUN 600-18 brushless motor in a Schuebeler DS-51 3-ph carbon fan, Kontronik BEAT 35-8-30 Opto ESC and 16 x RC2400 pushed cells. Retracts are Springair 600 and flight time is 3.5 minutes. Ralf has also flown the model with a Plettenberg HP 200-30-A4 SP4 brushless. The pictured model is the prototype and hadn't been fully painted.

Watch a video of El Bandito

Ulf Herder was really excited about his BD-10 from Bill Griggs Models until after the maiden flight. It crashed on takeoff. According to Ulf, there was little elevator authority because the control surfaces are too small. An inherent model design flaw?

BD-10 on display.

Wing span is 71 cm (28 in) and weight appr. 800 g (28 oz). Power: WeMoTec Mini Fan 480 with an HP Mosquito 140-25-A4 motor, Schulze Future 25be and 10 x 700AR. Model was covered in Oracover.

The F-18/A Hornet on display.

Many modelers are already familiar with the all-fiberglass F-18/A Hornet kit made by Axel Schreiner. This one belongs to Ulrich Achenbach. Measurements: wing span 1.14 m (44.88 in), length 1.7 m (66.93 in) and weight 5.3 kg (11.66 lbs). Power: 2 x Schuebeler DS-51 fan each with a Plettenberg HP 220-30-A4 motor, 2 x Schulze future-55bo ESC and 22 x RC2000 (44 cells total).

The Heinkel He-280 taking off.

Johann Wagner's Heinkel He-280 has been here before, but I didn't get any video until 2002. And, unfortunately, after developing all my film I saw that I forgot to photograph it! Searching my old files I did find the above photo from Aspach 1999--but don't forget, the video's new! Johann's model is scratch built from balsa and covered with 25 g/dm2 china paper and lacquer. Wing span is 2 m (78.74 in) and weight 5.8 kg (12.76 lbs). Power: 2 x Schuebeler DS-51 fan with Ultra 930-6 motors in series, Schulze ESC (designation unknown) and 32 x RC2000. Flight time is around 5 minutes 30 seconds.

Watch a video of the Heinkel He-280

Helicopters and a Flapper

The BK-117 on display.

This prototype BK-117 helicopter belongs to Guenther Raich and a fiberglass kit is expected to cost around €200 (about US$225) from the firm Gensmantel. The rotor is 96 cm (37.8 in) and weight is 2.3 kg (5.06 lbs), but the production model should be about 100 grams lighter. Power: Kontronik 600-18 brushless motor, Gensmantel 13.3:1 mechanic, Kontronik Beat 40-8-24 ESC and 10 x RC2400. Current during flight is around 14 to 15 amps and flight time is 7 to 8 minutes. Production fuselage will come in white.

Watch a video of the BK-117

The Hughes 500E flying.

Ralf Kayser's Hughes 500E helicopter is a modified Graupner kit. It weighs 4.2 kg (9.24 lbs) and the 1.4 m (55.12 in) rotor is from Excel in the USA. Power: Actro 24-4 Aussenlaufer, Graupner 10:1 Heim Mechanic, Actronic 70-32 ESC and 24 x RC2400. Flight time is 6 minutes.

The Tribelle is from Stefan Dolch of Braun Modelltechnik (www.braunmod.de) and a kit costs around $750. It requires a 4 channel radio with 2 mixing channels. This unusual model isn't something you can buy and then install your own motors, props, etc., because every component except the batter and receiver is specially built and this makes it expensive. The concept is nonetheless very interesting and well-proven.

The Tribelle on display. The Tribelle flying.

Carbon fiber tubing creates a triangular platform with the longest span being 57 cm (22.44 in). With 6 x 750 NiMH Twicell it weighs 280 g (9.92 ozs). Three Braun Modelltechnik 1524-12 motors each have a 12:1 gearbox and 370 x 160 millimeter rotor. These provide all directional control via a Braun Modelltechnik module with 3 high-frequency ESCs, each with its own piezo gyro. Flight time is 13 minutes; with 2 x Lithium 1800 mAh cells it can fly for 40 minutes.

Watch a video of the Tribelle

The Park Hawk flying.

Uzs Syzmanski came from Switzerland with his Park Hawk, the same type that was recently reviewed in The E Zone (see article archives). Urs purchased his from Micheal Blott in the US and it raised a lot of eyebrows at Aspach--and also raised a lot of giggles. This little flapper (or thing, model, airplane, bird...or whatever) is really impressive. With a Speed 300/6v motor and 8 x 750 NiMH cells, 5 to 8 minutes of flying time keeps up with the rest of our electric brethren. It's clear that we've had such ever-expanding developments in the eflight spectrum that this is hard to criticize. So now when some eflight critic says our hobby is for the birds, show'em this. Then ask if they could get it to work with a gas motor!

Watch a video of the Park Hawk

A Few Remaining Propeller Models

Andreas Decker owns the company AFF and produces balsa CNC-kits for Hoellein. Two new models are the Citabria and Calimero. The Calimero is a glider and was designed to be towed by the Citabria. These models were seen at the Eudenbach E-Meeting 2 weeks after Aspach.

The Citabria and Calimero on display.

Citabria specifications: wing span 93 cm (36.61 in), wing area 17 dm2 (263.57 sq in), wing loading 32 g/dm2 (10.49 oz/ft2), length 72 cm (28.35 in) and weight from 450 g (0.99 lbs). Power is from a Hacker B20 18L brushless motor, 4:1 Maxon gearbox, APC 10 x 4.7 prop, Jes 30-3ph ESC and 8 x 500AR. Covering is Oracover. Flight time is about 10 minutes.

Calimero specifications: wing span 1 m (39.37 in) with modified SD-7037 profile, wing area 11.3 dm2 (175.19 sq in), minimum wing loading 19 g/dm2 (6.23 oz/ft2), length 74 cm (29.13 in) and minimum weight 220 g (7.76 oz). Four 350 mAh receiver batteries balance the model. Covering is Oracover. Towing Video at http://www.aff-cnc.de/segl.htm

The Facetmobile FMX-4 taking off.

The Facetmobile FMX-4, 1:5 scale, is from Fritz Loosli of Switzerland. It's scratch built from balsa and took 2 months to assemble. Measurements: wing span 91.5 cm (36.02 in), wing area 77 dm2 (8.29 sq ft), length 1.2 m (47.24 in) and weight 2.44 kg (5.37 lbs). Power: LRK 345-20 motor, APC 13 x 8 prop, Jes 40-3P Opto ESC and 14 x CP1700. A carbon rod strengthen the wing. Static current is 26 amps. For more on the real thing, visit: http://members.aol.com/slicklynne/facet.htm

The Katana on display.

This aero-naut Katana is from Gert Schaeufele. Wing span is 1.5 m (59 in) and weight is 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs). Power: Speed 480, 2.64:1 gearbox, aero naut 8.5 x 6 prop, aero-naut ESC (unknown designation) and 10 x N 1800SCR.

Watch a video of the Katana

The Fun Extra on display.

Sascha Fliegener's FUN EXTRA and other slow- and parkfly models can be seen at www.slow-flyer.net. I thought this photo was effective and quite simple advertising. It's colorful. Measurments: wing span 80 cm (31.5 in), length 85 cm (33.46 in) and weight 300 - 350 grams (10.56 - 12.32 oz). Power: Permax 280BB motor, 5:1 gearbox, Slim 8-be ESC and 8 x N-250AAA cells.

Aspach 2003 will be held on 20th and 21st September.

You can also view the MFG Aspach Webstie at: http://www.mfg-aspach.de

All photographs and movies herein are copyrighted © 2003 by James D Frolik unless otherwise attributed. Unauthorized reproduction or use is prohibited. Any questions? Feel free to e-mail me.