Has the Plane been in any contests yet? How does it compare to the others in the wind? How much ballast needs to be added for changing conditions?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Chris

Well I did fly in a local MI contest, and it was called short for wind.. Now if only the cd would post the scores.... cause id like to know how I did too !
Although I'm admittedly not the smartest or best competitor on this field, I figure I'm somewhere in the middle of the standings......

After it was called off, I continued to fly and try different things in the name of testing the limits. This plane is flyable at 8.5 ounces in turbulent 15+ mph winds. I also tried ballast in 1/4 ounce increments all the way up to 9 3/4 ounces all up weight. Plane still felt solid to launch and flew just dandy at the higher weights too.

I did find that a cg adjustment was needed when the wind picked up, it was set at 65mm when I started the day, but I added about 4 or 5 grams to the nose. Prior to adding the nose weight I lacked penetration even at 9.75oz, after the nose weight I kept removing weight until I was back to 8.5oz. The nose weight was actually more effective than the ballast because it helped me hold momentum, especially in turns. Thinking more forward would have been even better?? and even in the less windy conditions at the beginning of the day forward might have been better as well.
I need to get it back on the bench and see where I actually am, but based on prior messing about I'll guess 62ish. Paul and I are thinking 60mm is going to be the recommended setting, with it set there, this plane is SO easy to fly that you can concentrate more on where you want to fly it than how you need to fly it.

This plane for me is the closest thing to a jack of all trades DLG that I've had yet. With two of these one could adapt to just a bout any contest condition imaginable... The plane is really easy to fly due to the forward cg settings, but because it's so light it still indicates lift. In addition to that she can really scoot too! There were a couple times where I launched, turned downwind and covered 200+yards in less than ten seconds and, just for the record, that is Fr3aKy fast
I also discovered that even heavy Blaster 3s can still fly slower, but i can climb past them in the same lift, and my downwind run speed makes them look stationary.
Also seemed like I was holding my own or better with the two polaris that were there.
A brand new Predator was there as well.... I have one that's beat to crap, but until the Firefly it was my go-to plane, because i just know it so well after two years. I have always wanted to get another one for a fresh start, but I think I'm over that desire now.... I need more Fireflys!

When I actually get to know this plane, I should be a top three threat at these local contests..... as it stands now, the contest was only my fifth flight day on this plane, so I'm very much still figuring it out.

Light Blasters climb. Heavy blasters move. Pick one

There are lots of airplanes that are good at moving nowadays, heavily favoring launch and run. The Steigeisen and the Fr3aK really pushed hard in that direction. Higher AR airplanes will be good at it too. We've known for years that if you throw 4oz in an AG foiled airplane they would move but climbing is a challenge. The game now is designing airplanes that remain flyable empty when the wind blows some, and that can be modestly ballasted when it's really howling. Looks like you're on to it.

From what I've seen of the Polaris, it's not a really great wind airplane. I know I'll catch it for saying so, and I'm not saying it's deficient, but that's just not it's element. Now in calmer light conditions I think they're phenomenal.

FWIW, never ever be in a hurry to go anywhere, even if you know where the thermal is. Speed mode isn't minimum sink... and if you're traveling downwind you have the wind speed PLUS your airspeed working for you so you're outrunning the airmass anyhow. Fly normal cruise when going downwind and you'll get to the thermal a few seconds later, maybe a few yards further downwind, but ALOT higher. Use your speed mode only to come home because it's not your best L/D.

One of the things I find with speed mode on the Fr3aK.... I can fly right through the lift without hardly noticing it if I'm not careful. I know Nate's plane was pretty quick but I'd still race him up wind with the Fr3aK. I think that plane works into the wind like no other. It also can be a bit of a handful without ballast. I haven't bothered trying ballast however. I flew a lot of 3d back a few years ago and helis so my reflexes are pretty good.

I'm with ya Nate... I'd like to see some scores too.

Reading the air well at high speeds takes practice that few do. It is a skill worth learning however. One is frequently in that situation when returning from downwind. It is also useful for scouting before a round starts, maximizing distance examined for the time available. It is also useful for scouting air at the end of one flight before relighting for the next. A good skill... All DLGs read the air fairly well once set up. Some are just more obnoxious about it than others.

Gerald

Nate, I'm really happy you are enjoying getting to know her.

Luap

Nathan,

Thanks for the info. I have been following the higher A/R threads as I have been a proponent of high A/R ships for a very long time. Most of my larger TD type ships are high A/R types and fit what I like to fly. For DLGs, it's a different tradeoff.

The Firefly I would personally characterize as a medium high A/R ship, while the XXLite is more towards the higher side. It is not really at the high A/R stage compared to other ships. It is very interesting to hear the comments on returning from upwind. Tom's comments are cool also. I often compare the frontal area of a wing in regard to the drag and how it flies coming back upwind. This is for me, and I an not trying to distract this thread into that direction. There is much more than thinness of a wing to consider, and I often wonder about higher lift airfoils on higher A/R wings and how they can be reflexed to get the speed, yet cambered so mauch to get the lift characteristics we desire. I know in the Frreflight realm, they have much higher A/Rs, reflex the airfoil ofr launch, then camber significantly. If you are flying a AG/Zone type airfoil, then seeing the flaeron dropped 4 mm, then 6mm, that is very significant.

We all know that even though you have working wing, the rest of the plane must match the wing to make it effective. Some say you need a shorter moment for some features, others require larger or smaller surfaces to make a wing work. It can also come down to wing wiehgt and plane weight distribution in the entire airframe. I am not sure we mange to take all that into account.

Thanks for the interesting coments.

Chris

Well - couldn't resist and I got myself a Firefly DLG. It arrived about a week ago after making it through UK customs - and it looks awesome! I do like Nate's pink (weirdly), but mine's in funky blue/violet which is way cool!

I've done a fair bit of GF'ing and foam cutting my own designs but kudos to Paul this is superb quality stuff! Super light, super stiff - and there was me doubting small shops could kick out really top quality stuff.

This kit has really been thought out, the wing/boom mount especially. Interestingly the mount is now through the boom, rather than kevlar wrap - although I guess I could go that way. Paul's had to put up with way too many dumb questions from me already as I try and figure out the clever stuff in the design (still can't figure out the 'L' shaped torsion spring). Anyway, I can't wait to get building, and I've had to hold back tampering as work is stiffing me at present after a fortnight's holiday......grrrr....

Anyhow I'll get started on it soon, and then post the build - if this thing flys as good as it looks it's going to be sweet, there's already a few at the club who want one so nice to have one of the first, cheers mate

I am thrilled tht you like her. I will shoot you a note on the spring if someone on here doesn't beat me to it.

Questions aren't dumb, not asking them is dumb !!!! I love writing back and forth, I am learning English all over again......

Paul

Originally Posted by The_Builder

I am thrilled tht you like her. I will shoot you a note on the spring if someone on here doesn't beat me to it.

Questions aren't dumb, not asking them is dumb !!!! I love writing back and forth, I am learning English all over again......

Paul

Thanks for the email explanation - maybe it's just us over here in blighty but it's not a layout I've seen anywhere before! Very smart though and I'm embarrassed I didn't think of the design as it's so obvious - I'll use that on my other pull-spring designs now instead of the more trad' C or e layouts. Do I need to include the usual tubes to stop it blowing through the GF skin with your layup?

Skins are tough enough, you can just shove them in the foam and secure them with a drop of foam safe CA.

It is a good idea to insert the spring ends so they nest near the hardpoints and horn.

I've done my springs with a few drops of CA like Nathan says and never had a problem, even in really light foam cores. The foam safe CA hardens the foam nicely.

Be careful using foam safe CA. Paul's foam is pretty good but blue foam is not very resilient. I can recommend this for blue tails: http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXM366&P=ML

The UFO thin is OK but still use with caution!

I test fit the spring, then pull it half way out... A drop of glue on the exposed section and shove it home again... Done The glue just keeps it from working out and tearing up the hinge gap area.

If you try using a bunch of CA to harden a tunnel the heat of the glue curing will melt the foam. I hate that method, seems like the glue plugs the hole, or you oy get the spring half way in before the glue grabs it.

For all our anal retention in DLG some things are best done quick and dirty

I found some very thin aluminum tubing that I glue into the stab or rudder and then slip the spring into the tube. The springs are removable. It stays well but I have not flow this system yet. The pic shows the two tubes prior to gluing them into place