Convair XFY-1 (Pogo)

Ed Couch · Jun 11, 2006, 12:44 PM

After about 18 month of tinkering and test flying the contra/rotating motor the little Pogo is about ready for its first flights. The contra/rotoating motors have been test flown over 75 hours now without any problems and have been discussed earlier in various threads, and the test ship has proven an excellent vehicle coming in at about 10 plus ounces. The full bodied bird was built for me by Mike Foster here in Ft Worth as I have been off doing other things and just could not seem to get things done. But the specs are as follows: Construction - blue foam/carbon fiber, wingspan - 18 inchs, length with spinner - 25 inchs. height - 16 or so inchs. Weight will come in about 11 ounces and at this time it will hover at about 55 percent throttle with the twin Fiego 12 mm power plants and 10/4 props. If things work out to Mikes and my satisfaction we will take it up about 10 percent and try molding it out of Depron as the test bird is a hoot to fly and the transistion in and out of hover while not that easy is doable. I've made hundreds of vertical ascents and transistions into hover and landing with no problems except when I get a little lax and she tips over from my less than perfect flying skills. With the motor turning she makes quite a bit of noise with the props being as close as they are but thats what makes her so unique as she does not buzz around the gym or field but roars her song for all to hear. For me this has been the holly grail next to getting my Wright Flyer to fly correctly on single engine with belt drive and wing warping. Thanks to Mike for all the time and look forward to first flight.

Ed Couch · Jun 11, 2006, 01:03 PM

Ok, lost the last reply so lets do this again. A few additional photos of the new Pogo and the Test Item utilized for proofing the drive assembly and teach this old pilot how to transistion into and out of a hover in a scale like manner.

SpleenRippa · Jun 11, 2006, 02:32 PM

beautiful!

Inari · Jun 11, 2006, 08:00 PM

Super nifty, Ed. Better than your flying fish! You are not allowed back on the forum to report the flight without a video. It's in the bylaws somewhere...

Good luck,

-John

flyingrandy55 · Jun 11, 2006, 08:48 PM

I am in Keller, just up the road from you. Drop me a PM when you plan to fly this beautiful AC. I will help or do whatever(watch). I go to Bear creek Park when its not too full of kids and fly.
Randy

Ed Couch · Jun 11, 2006, 10:10 PM

Appreciate the offers guys but its easier if Mike and myself make the first flight solo. Once things are dialed in we will see about the video. It should happen in next couple of weeks as I'm tied up this weekend on several other projects. Its been a while coming and we are just taking our sweet time and I need some more practice with the bluebird before we blast off for first flight on the little Pogo.

Here is a 1958 Debolt Live Wire Cruiser I've just finished restoring for a friend. Silk and dope finish and covering was at least 30 years old and I was able to restore it after a bad crash about 6 years ago.

busconv · Jun 11, 2006, 10:31 PM

Ed...great to see your latest projects...wish I was close enough to see one of the upcoming flights...maybe this fall at BEST?? Hope you still have those plans in the back of the van...Bill

Ed Couch · Jun 12, 2006, 07:21 AM

Bill, I plan on being at BEST this year and I have the plans in the van already just in case. Hopefully the little bird will be tagging alone as well. ed

RobinBennett · Jun 12, 2006, 03:23 PM

Do you have two speed controls mixed to the ailerons for yaw control in the hover

Ed Couch · Jun 12, 2006, 04:16 PM

Brushless motors require one speed control for each Fiego motor and the flight controls are conventional in nature with no requirements for any mixing of motor and ailerons. The rudder is utilized for most of the turning in high alpha situations and I use opposite ailerons at very low speeds to keep everything in alignment. Once you get past the learning curve its not that complicated to fly but just takes patience and soft hands on the controls. I have let several of the local modelers fly it that are good at 3D work and they have done quite well once things get sorted out. To me, gyros work great in choppers but I learned to fly choppers without one many many years ago and its held me in good stead ever since so I don't feel they are needed with this vehicle. There are several video shorts of the test bird available here and show its slow speed handling and vertical ascent and decent capability. Also several other discussion threads on the contra-rotating power cell if you care to read more. ed

Corky Boyd · Dec 19, 2006, 12:08 AM

Ed

Did your contra Pogo fly?

I am working on a similar concept, using Graupner boat drives and some machine work for a contra drive unit. Many years ago I made one using the smaller Speed 400 boat drives. Would pull 22 oz of thrust on 7 cells using sp 400 motors. Weight of motors, props, gears, shafting, torque tube, hub, wires and connector was 9.8 oz. It can be seen here.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/attac...chmentid=60496

New one is being built with larger Graupner boat drives which has more robust gearing. Should pull about 80 oz using two AXI 2217-12s, 2.5 gearing, 3 cell lipo and 13.9" Vario props. Plane will be much simpler than yours.

Jun 11, 2006, 12:44 PM	#1
Ed Couch Registered User Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: North Richland Hills, Texas USA Posts: 1,495	Convair XFY-1 (Pogo) After about 18 month of tinkering and test flying the contra/rotating motor the little Pogo is about ready for its first flights. The contra/rotoating motors have been test flown over 75 hours now without any problems and have been discussed earlier in various threads, and the test ship has proven an excellent vehicle coming in at about 10 plus ounces. The full bodied bird was built for me by Mike Foster here in Ft Worth as I have been off doing other things and just could not seem to get things done. But the specs are as follows: Construction - blue foam/carbon fiber, wingspan - 18 inchs, length with spinner - 25 inchs. height - 16 or so inchs. Weight will come in about 11 ounces and at this time it will hover at about 55 percent throttle with the twin Fiego 12 mm power plants and 10/4 props. If things work out to Mikes and my satisfaction we will take it up about 10 percent and try molding it out of Depron as the test bird is a hoot to fly and the transistion in and out of hover while not that easy is doable. I've made hundreds of vertical ascents and transistions into hover and landing with no problems except when I get a little lax and she tips over from my less than perfect flying skills. With the motor turning she makes quite a bit of noise with the props being as close as they are but thats what makes her so unique as she does not buzz around the gym or field but roars her song for all to hear. For me this has been the holly grail next to getting my Wright Flyer to fly correctly on single engine with belt drive and wing warping. Thanks to Mike for all the time and look forward to first flight. Attached Thumbnails Blue foam contstruction, Twin GWS drive componants modified to hollow shaft with two Fiego 12 motors installed one reversed driving main gear throw forward hollow shaft. Five bearing used. Ten/four Cermark right and left props. 69.8 KB · Views: 234 Spinner is last thing to be completed. Will be fiberglass 2 piece component. No small feat of engineering by Mike Foster. He is a model maker for Lockheed Martin here in Ft Worth. 48.4 KB · Views: 130 Right side, note landing gears are fully functional and two stage in action. They extend about a 1/2 inch once weight come off. 71.1 KB · Views: 140 Vertical fin and initial panel work. Still likes stars/bars and final test marking after initial test flights. 46.2 KB · Views: 113 Planform from bottom with hatch open. Will use same C/G used in test item. 71.8 KB · Views: 183

Jun 11, 2006, 01:03 PM	#2
Ed Couch Registered User Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: North Richland Hills, Texas USA Posts: 1,495	Ok, lost the last reply so lets do this again. A few additional photos of the new Pogo and the Test Item utilized for proofing the drive assembly and teach this old pilot how to transistion into and out of a hover in a scale like manner. Attached Thumbnails 56.4 KB · Views: 145 73.8 KB · Views: 175 44.3 KB · Views: 136 72.1 KB · Views: 211 45.6 KB · Views: 127

Jun 11, 2006, 08:48 PM	#5
flyingrandy55 JSF pilot Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Keller, TX. Posts: 468	Hi Ed! I am in Keller, just up the road from you. Drop me a PM when you plan to fly this beautiful AC. I will help or do whatever(watch). I go to Bear creek Park when its not too full of kids and fly. Randy

Jun 11, 2006, 10:10 PM	#6
Ed Couch Registered User Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: North Richland Hills, Texas USA Posts: 1,495	Appreciate the offers guys but its easier if Mike and myself make the first flight solo. Once things are dialed in we will see about the video. It should happen in next couple of weeks as I'm tied up this weekend on several other projects. Its been a while coming and we are just taking our sweet time and I need some more practice with the bluebird before we blast off for first flight on the little Pogo. Here is a 1958 Debolt Live Wire Cruiser I've just finished restoring for a friend. Silk and dope finish and covering was at least 30 years old and I was able to restore it after a bad crash about 6 years ago. Attached Thumbnails 82.5 KB · Views: 80 78.2 KB · Views: 64 177.5 KB · Views: 76

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Jun 11, 2006, 02:32 PM	#3
SpleenRippa Yes, right there. Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Comox, BC, CAN Posts: 545	beautiful!

Jun 11, 2006, 08:00 PM	#4
Inari Las Vegas Realtor Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 1,052	Super nifty, Ed. Better than your flying fish! You are not allowed back on the forum to report the flight without a video. It's in the bylaws somewhere... Good luck, -John

Jun 11, 2006, 10:31 PM	#7
busconv Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Mission, TX Posts: 162	Ed...great to see your latest projects...wish I was close enough to see one of the upcoming flights...maybe this fall at BEST?? Hope you still have those plans in the back of the van...Bill

Jun 12, 2006, 07:21 AM	#8
Ed Couch Registered User Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: North Richland Hills, Texas USA Posts: 1,495	Bill, I plan on being at BEST this year and I have the plans in the van already just in case. Hopefully the little bird will be tagging alone as well. ed

Jun 12, 2006, 03:23 PM	#9
RobinBennett Sussex, UK Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Crawley, West Sussex, UK Posts: 5,606	Do you have two speed controls mixed to the ailerons for yaw control in the hover

Jun 12, 2006, 04:16 PM	#10
Ed Couch Registered User Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: North Richland Hills, Texas USA Posts: 1,495	Brushless motors require one speed control for each Fiego motor and the flight controls are conventional in nature with no requirements for any mixing of motor and ailerons. The rudder is utilized for most of the turning in high alpha situations and I use opposite ailerons at very low speeds to keep everything in alignment. Once you get past the learning curve its not that complicated to fly but just takes patience and soft hands on the controls. I have let several of the local modelers fly it that are good at 3D work and they have done quite well once things get sorted out. To me, gyros work great in choppers but I learned to fly choppers without one many many years ago and its held me in good stead ever since so I don't feel they are needed with this vehicle. There are several video shorts of the test bird available here and show its slow speed handling and vertical ascent and decent capability. Also several other discussion threads on the contra-rotating power cell if you care to read more. ed

Dec 19, 2006, 12:08 AM	#11
Corky Boyd Excellence thru mistakes Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Sanibel Island. FL Posts: 312	Ed Did your contra Pogo fly? I am working on a similar concept, using Graupner boat drives and some machine work for a contra drive unit. Many years ago I made one using the smaller Speed 400 boat drives. Would pull 22 oz of thrust on 7 cells using sp 400 motors. Weight of motors, props, gears, shafting, torque tube, hub, wires and connector was 9.8 oz. It can be seen here. http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/attac...chmentid=60496 New one is being built with larger Graupner boat drives which has more robust gearing. Should pull about 80 oz using two AXI 2217-12s, 2.5 gearing, 3 cell lipo and 13.9" Vario props. Plane will be much simpler than yours.