From Great Planes. Looks nice!

http://www.towerhobbies.com/products...pma1815-pr.pdf

Great Planes Kunai 1.4M Brushless Gliders (1 min 54 sec)

Link to High Power Mods Page!

https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...2#post31582306

Very nice, indeed. Thread subscribed!

I don't have the time to post about every project I work on here in R&D, but can’t resist chiming in on the Kunai because I love it so much! I’ve recently gotten into electric pylon racing and other fast, composite stuff -- my favorites of all time are the Rifle and Rifle 1M, but this Kunai is an absolute blast. I also have a slightly “breathed on” (hopped up) Great Planes Siren, so this little Kunai is right up my alley. I’ve flown the prototypes during the course of development, but cannot wait to get a Kunai of my very own once production arrives.

The included motor goes about 180W, 17A, 10,000rpm (static) on a 8 x 6 folder with a 1000mAh 3S battery. I call it a mini warmliner – you can fly it like a hot rod doing aerobatics or flying around an imaginary pylon course, or take it up high, cut the throttle and extend the spoilerons for thermal seeking. A longer, narrower battery like a 1200mAh fits best, but for the lightest weight something like an 850mAh is better if you lean closer toward the glider end of the spectrum.

We’ll be flying a Kunai down at SEFF (Southeast Electric Fun Fly) in a couple of weeks. We haven’t even filmed the official, in-house video yet, but I imagine footage will be popping up from SEFF.

Tim

can't wait to see it! Wonder what the ball park price will be?

Originally Posted by Bariboy

can't wait to see it! Wonder what the ball park price will be?

Tower Hobby has it listed @ 129.99 ARF 199.99 RXR

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...unai&search=Go

I am certainly looking forward to it. Thanks for the info Tim!

What do you think would be a good servo for the arf version?

In the Futaba range anything with that 3117 size case such as the 3117 if you want to go economy or 3157 if you want to go digital for a little more precision. Or anything in the 15 - 25 oz-in torque range that's 11mm (or less) in width to fit best under the aileron hatch covers. I can't see why S3154s wouldn't work either - they're 21 oz-in torque (though their servo arms are a little flexy for a plane this size).

You'll probably need a receiver with the connectors that plug into the front like the 6106.

The instruction manual should appear on the Kunai page on the Tower Hobbies site maybe in a week or so. Maybe I can post a few internal pics from my files when I get to work later today.

Tim

Thanks for the pic's Tim!
Seems like space is going to be an issue inside this bad boy.
Do you think a Tactic TR624 receiver will fit?
Sure would like to use my Tactic radio gear so I can utilize flaps/spoilers...

Awesome pics Tim. Is that the rx ready version? If so how are the electronics? Stormdad I think it would be awful tough to fit a 624 in this one. Hopefully Tactic steps up the rx offering soon.

Yes, everything is a tight fit on this streamlined airframe.

An "end-plug" receiver as best as it fits between the pushrods aft of the servo tray as shown in the images in my previous post. However, I did a little fiddling in AutoCAD and speculate - with a little skill and ingenuity - one could get a Tactic in there as shown in the attached illustration. My idea is to relocate the front (elevator) servo aft and glue it into position or alternate mounting method. That should leave room for an Rx.

I'll give it a try sometime when possible.

Tim

For record keeping and reference while down at SEFF:

WOT current draw: 14A (230mAh/minute, 4 – 4.5 min. motor run time with 1300mAh battery)

Mixed throttle: 9A (150mAh/minute, 7 min. motor run time with 1300mAh battery)

Originally Posted by KRProton

For record keeping and reference while down at SEFF:

WOT current draw: 14A (230mAh/minute, 4 – 4.5 min. motor run time with 1300mAh battery)

Mixed throttle: 9A (150mAh/minute, 7 min. motor run time with 1300mAh battery)

A little sun and a few puffy clouds will make for a soar neck!

Got the corporate video of the Kunai up-and-running.

Only thing; it doesn't really portray the top speed potential well - it's pretty fast if you want it to.

Great Planes Kunai 1.4M Brushless Gliders (1 min 54 sec)

The manual has also been downloaded on the Tower Hobbies site:

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXEAVL&P=ML


Tim

Thanks Tim. I hope they can keep the latest target date. Otherwise this will be a next year bird. By any coincidence is this the same folks that build the Rifle?

Jay

Edit:

What a fun looking little bird!

Hi Jay.

Thanks for your interest!

It probably wouldn't be prudent for me to acknowledge any details about our manufacturers. I hope you understand.

In any case, I don't have any contact with them directly, but our product managers do (and others up the chain).

I don't predict any production delays with the Kunai as it's a simple, somewhat conventional model with traditional wood wings and tail and a simple fiberglass pod -- pretty straight-forward for our manufacturer.

I believe they are in production presently. I'll be certain to monitor our computer system and post when they hit the water (I'm dying to get one myself!).

Tim