want to build a balsa glider..

Started by abhay, August 31, 2012, 07:16:15 PM

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abhay

Hello dear modellers,
i am a bit fed up of using other materials and scratch building. :banghead:

Now i wanna build a glider made up of balsa.Yes glider, because i am fed up of crashes these days.

I need suggestions for plans.Especially from seniors.I will start building from tomorrow. :)

I want it to be as small as possibe. >:D

I have electrical setup weighing 70gms, providing a thrust of 120 gms.

I guess wingspan will be under 1000 mm.
I will update the name of the thread on the plan i decide to build.
I can take off and fly well. Its landing which sucks :banghead::banghead:

saikat

are you planning all sheet structure or open frame
covered with tissue/film ?

google "Hangar Rat plan" for a model which is almost guaranteed to fly
it is a rubber power about 22" span so you will need to enlarge about
1.5 times and adapt a little for rc



saikat

http://www.aeromodelling.gr/ForumS/index.php?page=153


also check out the above link - this is simple and
surely a good flyer - more importantly it is quite easy to build.

give me details of your power system

abhay

#3
thanks saikat..

planning for frame structure covered with film like monocoat/auracover etc.
Since its a glider, it can even exceed the weight to thrust ratio.

I want it to be tractor, but dont want motor to collide directly on crashes.


regarding electronics:
18-11 2000kv Micro Brushless Outrunner
turnigy 6 A esc
5gm servos(6.5gm exactly) * 3
rhino 360mah
Rx
+accessories like pushrods,props,horns etc
these all count for around 70 gms.
i even wanna carry a payload of turnigy camera 20 gm.

thanks
abhay
I can take off and fly well. Its landing which sucks :banghead::banghead:

buzz_rc

Try building this http://www.gryffinaero.com/models/ffpages/plans/pushe/pushe.html
You will need to modify it for rc use but trust me, I have built and flown it, she is extremely stable in flight and very easy to fly.

abhay

#5
saw many pictures of gliders.
Not following any plans, but decided to build something to have 1000mm wingspan.chord 110mm.Flat bottom airfoil.
Want to have something with polyhedral wing for stablity.
The progress so far:
I can take off and fly well. Its landing which sucks :banghead::banghead:

abhay

more
I can take off and fly well. Its landing which sucks :banghead::banghead:

AEROVISHWA

i see there is no central spar on the wing..... u missed it...or any reason for not putting it...!
Aerodynamics are for people who can't build engines.
-Enzo Ferrari

https://sites.google.com/site/vishveshkakkeri93/
HAPPY LANDINGS

abhay

you pointed out the right thing vishvesh..
actually i forgot to do so. :banghead: :banghead: I was building it in a hurry.Later on even i noticed that i missed it. >:( It may sound stupid thing but it is so far my first completely-balsa build wing, so dont have too much experience.
But since it has to take a small weight, say maximum 150 gms, so i dont find any further use for it..
If you find it necessary for this build, just tell me some measure to put it.
one more thing, as i am going to give it a polyhedral, so do i need to add any ailerons? or would it be functional?
I can take off and fly well. Its landing which sucks :banghead::banghead:

VC

Good going Abhay!

You can add the central spar even now. It will add strength to your wing. Cut small notches at the bottom of all the spacers and line up a balsa spar. Contact Saikat for further details.
Growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional!

AEROVISHWA

a spar is very important to the structural strength...  under load there will be a twist in the wing....

using polyhedral will increase stability but will harm  rolling....
alirons will work but very little... rather refer a larger rudder for turning.... but be careful when u give input.. too much rudder and the glider will get into a spin....

for the spar.... cut a 6mm square at the end of the LE sheet and put in a 6mm spar....
Aerodynamics are for people who can't build engines.
-Enzo Ferrari

https://sites.google.com/site/vishveshkakkeri93/
HAPPY LANDINGS

abhay

thanks VC sir and vishvesh,
1: for spars, can just a flat rib of balsa say 10mm wide be stuck at bottom joining all spars? I know that cutting notches will be a great deal at this level.
2: regarding rudder, vishvesh, ill go with your idea. Initially i will reduce the expo to say 40%. Later on i will go on with trimming it.

3: A question: do we have to follow the same rule of thrust i.e. 2 degree down and 2 degree right, in gliders as well?
I can take off and fly well. Its landing which sucks :banghead::banghead:

AEROVISHWA

for gliders u need more down thrust...!!! i have seen planes  with 8-10 degrees of down thrust....

my glider ( ZZIP soarer) has around 5-6 degrees of it... still needs 2-3 more....
start by 2... if u feel necessary add more... ( just add washers to the top 2 mounting screws)

also remember thrust and CG interact... make sure ur CG is precise and then check the thrust angle....

and when u have down thrust dont check the thrust holding the plane in hand... rather fly it for testing..
Aerodynamics are for people who can't build engines.
-Enzo Ferrari

https://sites.google.com/site/vishveshkakkeri93/
HAPPY LANDINGS

abhay

i have a CF tube 2mm*1mm. can they be used as central spar?
means, i want to stick it to bottom by cutting knotches, will that help?
I can take off and fly well. Its landing which sucks :banghead::banghead:

AEROVISHWA

Aerodynamics are for people who can't build engines.
-Enzo Ferrari

https://sites.google.com/site/vishveshkakkeri93/
HAPPY LANDINGS

abhay

hi.. the overall progress yet:

vishvesh, i have reinforced the first dihedral of wing using the CF(unaware about nomenclature). Hunting some CF for reinforcing the edging parts.

The overall weight of setup is 62 gm.

Please suggest some covering material.

I can take off and fly well. Its landing which sucks :banghead::banghead:

abhay

more:
showing dihedral and proportion of wing:fuse.

fuse length is 590mm.
I can take off and fly well. Its landing which sucks :banghead::banghead:

VC

Looking good! Doesn't look scratch built, rather it is good enough to pass off as a model built from an established plan. You've done a very good job here. Congrats! :thumbsup:
Growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional!

saikat

Nic one Abhay - going to fly well.

One comment though - I notice you have
cut lightening holes in the fuselage pod and the
tail.

If you still have the cut out pieces - weigh them
and see how much weight you have saved - my bet is
less than 2 grams - not worth it.


abhay

#19
yes saikat sir.. i just wanted to reduce weight, but these things are not helping..
i think i can further save weight in covering. so need suggesstions.

i have covering sheet from RCD, and other option is common stationary-acralic sheet, which is the other option.
acralic sheet will be lighter no doubt, but is very weak and stands nowhere as compared to conventional covering.

edited.
searching for light and hard wire for pushrods. Bicycle spokes would be too heavier. I read somewhere at Kalyanprodhan sir's post of using heater wire, but cant get the specification.
I can take off and fly well. Its landing which sucks :banghead::banghead:

abhay

more images of completion
I can take off and fly well. Its landing which sucks :banghead::banghead:

abhay

adding electronics..

covering has increased the weight. i am wondering whether my micro motor will take it up or not.. :-\

max thrust of motor(as per specifications) =130 grams.i am considering it to be 120.
i am guessing that the AUW may go upto 180 grams.

what should be the power to weight ratio for this glider  ??? .I have read people going as below as 0.3:1.
Need suggessions. :help:
I can take off and fly well. Its landing which sucks :banghead::banghead:

KALYANPRODHAN

For you, I have just posted my incomplete plane.
Have a look at it here .

Thanks
We have to unite and to prove ourself to make indigenous products as well as marketing / Canvasing them. I'm sure we must achieve success if we try unitedly.

abhay

One more thing..
actually wanna thank you kalyan da.. regarding pushrods. :salute: :salute:
actually i read in some post of yours(now i got the post  >:D  ;D ) that heater wires could be used as pushrods.. i didnt used it as complete pushrod, but was very useful in joining the CF rods, to control linkages.Through heater wire,i got options from 1000,1500 and 2000 watts for softer, harder and too-hard wires.
here i have used 2000 watts wire.
I can take off and fly well. Its landing which sucks :banghead::banghead:

abhay

the scratch build chuck glider as well. i may becoe the payload to be dropped from sky, when my glider soars..

it was build as an experiment just to see my workability on balsa..
I can take off and fly well. Its landing which sucks :banghead::banghead: