Is my 56" Bluto to Heavy???

[hmhoshi]

Compared to Tenover's, I think I made my Bluto like a tank. It weighs in at 40.6 oz's. I got carried away with the tape, what I did was cover my entire Bluto with reinforcing tape. I want to try DSing, so I made it extra strong. Also I didn't make a ballast tube, as much as mine weighs who needs one.

I don't want to have to recover it and make it lighter, until I thrash it and it really needs it. I don't know what to expect with my Bluto since it weighs so much. Or am I worrying about nothing? How strong will the wind have to be to keep mine in the air???

Henry

[Brian Courtice]

I covered my entire Bluto 56 with strapping tape, and also ultracoated it, AND installed a ballast tube. I don't know the weight, but it was heavy. (Sadly was, the plane recently ended up in the ocean and was lost...)

Mine was definately heavy but flew great. My ballast tube held about a pound total, and I often flew fully ballasted. The plane had to be 50 to 55 oz fully loaded. It ripped.

I don't think you need to be concerned about the weight.

[markwslope]

henry,

your bluto will be fine. remember that the the people that are building them "light" are only coming in about 4 oz below you. The bluto 56 is heavy but flies very well. I've flown it on some very light days and it IS heavy(needs to be flown at a higher airspeed) but it is also very efficient. Just let it cruise along without pulling back on the stick. Also like you I don't have a ballast tube. I fly mine at around 42 oz and the extra weight is in added durability like yours. I've DS'd mine alongside some other 56's in the 35 oz range and the extra weight was helpful in carrying mine up from the backside. Granted, I fly at a spot that has turbulent DS and you often have to go very deep into the backside to get max speed. A friend of mine was flying his Gulp SR and had trouble until he loaded his up and his wing loading was almost equal to mine.
Your conditions may vary.

good luck, and let us know once you DS. I remember my first time I really "got it going". Like others have said, once you go over to the darkside, you will never be the same.

Mark

[tenover]

Yeah Henry, I wouldn't be too worried about it. Mine came in at 37oz.. It flies great.

[hmhoshi]

Now that I have weighed my Bluto several times, it weighs in at 43.6 oz's, not the 40.6 oz's as stated before. The scale I got is rather funny, because after 3 weights of the same I get something a totally different weight. I just hope I have used the hold function properly, so which ever is right I am not worried. So mines is a little heavier than before, but no worry it will give mine more penetration on those windy days.

I can't wait to give her a test flight, I sure hope I have all the trims dialed in right. I have also 30% expo programmed in till I get use to it.

I plan to test fly it at Coyote Hills, because it is the most ideal site that we have close by. Now all I need is for the wind to pick up. (Meet you over on the "Darkside.")

Thanks guys Henry

[Daemon]

Just a datapoint. Mine's somewhere around 41-42oz, and while it doesn't fly in light winds on most slopes, it was never intended to be a floater either. Just get the CG right and let it keep its speed up and you'll be ok. Try to fly it slow and it'll fall out of the sky. Your CG may be a bit forward too so that's worth looking at. (seems a number of 56" Bluto pilots have found that their CGs could be moved back).

ian

[hmhoshi]

Daemon;

I am just waiting for the wind to pick up, the next winter storm is suppose to bring some high winds. I hope it doesn't bring to much rain along with it. Although we need more snow.

I will remember to keep my Bluto flying fast, that way I can keep mine from falling out of the sky. I will have to keep reminding myself to not slow it down.

Henry

[torcgolf]

xmas came early (friday) and i cant wait to build it. my question is, considering we hardly get some serious wind around here, do you guys think i should put the balast tube in it? i have a moth and didnt put one in and still like flying it. considering the bluto is a lot heavier, should i even bother with ballasting it?

[hmhoshi]

Torgolf;

That is why I didn't even bother building a ballast tube for mine. I have been at Coyote when it has blowing 25 mph, but I haven't made it to any of those 40 mph plus days. I also heard that Sierra Road has had some 50 to 60 mph winds, and I didn't go. Norm (from dumpsters) said he went to Sierra and it was epic, that was during the first storm we had. So we have a lot of sites to go to when the winds are really howling.

So I am going to make those tape on ballast weights, and make them in several increments. I think it will be much easier and will act as a skid for landing.

I used a 1400 mah nimh battery for my Bluto, so I didn't have to add as much nose weight to get the CG right.

Who has the tape on sheets of lead weight?

Henry

[Mark Wood]

Originally posted by hmhoshi
Who has the tape on sheets of lead weight?

most tire stores.

[torcgolf]

what size packs are you guys using and how much nose weight are you putting in them? also, since this ship is so huge, what about using heavy duty servos to handle all the force?

[tenover]

I used a 1500 mah nimh, 5-cell battery. Fits up front perfectly, and I actually *ALMOST* got the CG right on. I actually had to add about 1/2oz.. Ixnay on the Allastba ubeta....

[hmhoshi]

Tenover;

I still haven't test flown my Bluto yet. There just hasn't been enough wind, none to speak of.

I did however give my Cobra Racer, or should I say attempted to fly it in little on no winds, not even enough to sustain a HLG. All it took was a little down trim, and I was able to make a few turns into the wind, before it landed easily. So I wasn't able to really put the Cobra Racer through its paces, although it did handle quite nicely.

What else can you tell me, other than to not fly the Bluto slow and the proper trim settings? I saw a friend launch his XR resting on the top of his head, and give it a toss down into the wind. I have tried it and it works with my XR and Sonic, and I think it will easily work with Bluto. How do you launch your Bluto?

Henry

[tenover]

Well,....I can tell you not to launch your Bluto from the top of your head on a light wind day Seriously, I've only flown my Bluto about 3 times, all in gooooood strong wind, and I haven't been disappointed(sp?). I always have to remind myself that that's what the Bluto is MADE for, and I always have to stop myself when I want to throw it out on an average San Diego day (5-10mph). It's an awesome glider, and you'll absolutely LOVE it, but don't expect it to fly on the light days with the Zagi THL's and the Red Herrings! I personally bought my Bluto to have as a glider to fly exclusively on strong wind days, and to DS with, that's it, period. One of my favorite quotes (That REALLY pertains to gliders) is - Don't expect to much, and you'll never be dissappointed(sp?)...so far I'm not.

-Scott

[hmhoshi]

Scott;

Still waiting for winds to cooperate, and I can hardly wait for the right type of conditions to give my Bluto its first toss off the hill.

I have several of my friends tell me horror stories about the warps in their wing in the foamies that they built, but I have yet to have that problem. And I didn't have that problem with the Bluto as far as I could tell. I have built a Texas Twister, JW, Sonic, XR, Cobra Racer, and a Bluto and all seem to have little or no problem with their maiden flight. So I hope my Bluto flys just as well.

I just wish I could do a better covering job. I am still learning how to cover, but my Bluto turned out pretty good, but it doesn't look half as good as yours. I had the most trouble covering the Cobra Racer, all those curves in the fuselage, at least she flys better than she looks. I guess I have to get the right tools other than a xacto knife and scissors.

Henry