Times Chage

Don’t you feel, there are times, things are going too slow? Well…. This is one of those for me. Last time my interpretation of controlled flight was not successful and cause for concern. Will this ever take off the ground?..... It took me several days to gain courage to re-examine the problem. I started with a scaled down version to determine a proper body to wing configuration. It turn out that the body profile trailing edge was to low in relationship to the wings. The new profile proves to be stable with this scaled down version. I am able to launch a steady glide path. The light at the end of the tunnel is beginning to spark up. I am also working on a frame structure using bamboo B.Q. skews with a glue gun assembly method. This is a good process to determine structural integrity. This keeps me busy, toward the goals of succeeding, in keeping an optimistic perspective. The flight must go on….

I am still avoiding the test flight of the last VeeBee modification. I am having trouble identifying with the reluctance. May be I’m getting lazy, things are not convenient enough. This is not inspiring…...
Speaking of inspiration… I received an eMail asking, if the Ductling could be built with foam, this was inspiring... A newbie in the hobby, he mentioned how he enjoyed my site and how well of a job I did with my presentation. Well…. I decided I will be working on a new splinter site dedicated to the Ductlings some time soon. First,….I want to enjoy my summer,…. of course…

Until next time….. Betterfly……~v~

New wings

Today I went to my chosen test grounds. On the way there my brother was working on his present project, so I visited him. We went to the park together, since it was lunch time. Some people where there walking their dogs. I had to wait for them to get out of the way. While waiting my brother and I talked about thing. I guess I could have picked a better time other than noon a busy time for public parks. Well it was not so bad, I manage to get four launches.
The first launch I thought I may put some left aileron and see if there would be some response. Sure enough it worked a bit too well. It veered into the ground and survived the fall. The flight seemed to be low once more. I made another attempt, this time the flight was better but short, not gaining altitude like it should. I decided the next flight I would introduce up elevator. The flight went straight but little up was acquired. It seemed as when the speed dropped so did the plane. Some damage occurred, the aileron control horns detached. It is time to stop. When I got home I began the repair, and reviewed in my mind what had happened. I forgot trough the excitement the weight shift done by the battery placement.

I need to take note,
• The 5 paces for the bungee is working fine.
• The enlarged ailerons with a 3 degree up on each on the new wing configuration are doing the job, but a bit sensitive.
• The CG needs to be established and this was ignored.

Today, I invited Cathy and Anthony to see “Batman the beginning”. The show was well done a good story well executed the effect where also equally well executed. I am looking forward to seeing a sequel. At the previews an upcoming show “Stealth” about fighter planes, my kind of show, displayed preview of the battles. The planes caught my imagination. They looked something familiar to a stealth design done some time ago, but these had a canard configuration that might fit for the Ductling. I will incorporate this in one of my designs next. Wait and see.

Trying something different

Last Monday I made the attempt once more.

The changes made to the model seemed to have promising results. The ailerons are made from balsa and the leading and trailing edge where from bamboo. The controls operated smoothly. The total weight was slightly heavier 22oz. with a ten cell battery pack.

This exercise was to determine launch procedures. I decided to begin by measuring the distance of stretching the bungee cord by 3 yards. My first launch took a beating. The launch was not enough of a pull. The left wing took some damage. The attempt of stiffening the wings was good enough because I also carved holes on the wings in the attempt to lighten them. This proved to weekend the wings also.

As in the past I decided not to stop there and made some repairs to continue my endeavors. I increased the distance to 5 yards. The sub sequential launch went better, but did not hold altitude long enough. The next I decided to add some up on the controls to see it would gain altitude. The attempt seem to be working, however the damaged wing had some influence in veering to the left where it collide with a tree near by. I tried once more, this time the plane went up and begun to turn into the damage wing’s direction once more. I tried to correct this, but the flight momentum decreased and the plane started to drop, not a glide, this gave me the impression that there was no stability or it was stalling. A design flaw….

I spent the last week rebuilding the wings, this time with a 5 degree forward sweep. Like the original concept from the SEAHAWK. Except the Seahawk had a grater angle of attack and it is a Canard design. This is still a possible retreat if these modifications do not work.

Well this weekend I will make another attempt.

Determination

This morning I had planned to launch the rebuilt VeeBee. For the last two weeks new improved structural details where made. The wing tips where weak, because the foam was too thin, so a leading and trailing edge made of bamboo where added. Both the strength and stiffness needed at the tips was achieved. Also wing spars where added to improve the connection to the main body and correcting the angle of attack for the wing. I hope the improvement is going to do what it needed.

All in all, my attempt to get myself to the test field was not successful this morning. I did not feel motivated. Maybe, the feeling is, that all the work done is in vein. IÂ’m feeling a little depressed. Some days the energy is there and others, no quiet right. Maybe it has to do with the heat. It is hot today, and so was last night. I did not have a good rest.

I decided, tomorrow early in the morning I will make the next attempt in obtaining a controlled flight. Tomorrow I have taken the day off from work. And so Ishalll put it to good use.

Surviving my fall

The launch did not go as planed. It turns out that the design is working but the material used is not. The wing need to be stiffer and yet resilient to damage. Being a test model I have achieved flight but the flights where to short to register a controlled flight. All but one. After several launches and ajustment to the CG (center gravity) by shifting the battery weight I identified what I think it to be the CG. This particular launch the plane flew straight and was demonstrating a need to drop... So full up on the elevators and the control seemed to adjust the altitude before touching ground. This was my first sign or controlled flight. After patching and field repair where made I would make an other attempt to fly the plane. This design is presenting some difficulties in identifying the problems due to the unusual configuration of the tail and body. I am certain this will fly once I rebuild the wings by using more rigid materials to prevent bending the wing tips. The ailerons need to be made of a more rigid material other than DEPRON. I'm thinking of balsa as the replacement, Maybe .... If I insert a solid leading edge to the wings this may correct the bending problem on the wing tips.

VeeBee maiden launch

Today a dream has a hiccup. I got up at 6:30 am and gathered all necessary items for the maiden launch. I found a near by a park with a long and gradual decent. In the winter it is used for tobogganing. I though this would be a good place to launce the plane. (VeeBee)