GWS-? Powered Glider

[pease1]

So I'm looking at the www.nyblimp.com (http://www.nyblimp.com) site and see Gabe has these folding props for GWS drives that are a bit oversized for the A motor, and I'm thinking, GWS-C or maybe D should drive then nicely. Then I think......SAILPLANE! Maybe a slightly oversized mosquito class HLG modified to work? Maybe 35"-40" span? Anyone else think this would make a great project? Not your typical parkflyer!

Pull yourself up a couple hundred feet and cut the motor, watch the prop fold and hunt for thermals? With a little (5-7mph) wind you could 'slope' soar off of buildings, treelines or the smallest of hills!

So there's the seed of an idea for you creative types (Jason?) I'm finalizing the Electric Mite so can't start a new design right now, but I'd gladly be in on some testing once someone roughed out the idea and a prototype!

[mike nill]

ive been thinking about converting my art hobby colibri with a 1717 so i can power up to the thermals then cut the power and soar with the hawks.id probably use a NMH 120ma. 7-8 cell pack for the motor.

[ 07-31-2001: Message edited by: mike nill ]

[jimwalker]

I bought a Joe Bridi kit on Ebay a couple of weeks ago. Got it for $20 including shipping. It has a 50" wingspan and says it should weigh 11oz ready to fly. I'm sure that weight was based on the standard equipment of several years ago. The logo under the gliders name says "grenade launch glider". I imagine with todays micro gear, a GWS motor, folding prop, and some of my 120 mah Nimh batteries(I bought 50 of them to get the good price)I could hit that 11oz mark including radio AND motor with battery.

Now you got me thinking......

[jimwalker]

Just got back from the NYBlimp site. That folder does look nice. It looks like they also did the mod on the GWS motor discussed in RCMicroflight a month or two ago. The article talked about cutting the prop on the folder, but I assume you're saying to just get use the prop as is and go to a higher geared GWS system to swing it.

Let's see....$12 plus shipping for the folder and $18 plus shipping for the motor.

Ouch, that's getting a little pricey.

[pease1]

yeah, I agree, but just gang up the shipping on the GWS-C/D with some other order you'll make in the next few weeks - that's what I do.

AL

[check yer 6]

This may be cheesy, but what about those $5 dollar gliders from Wal Mart? With some fiberglass packaging tape, and some strait wing mods, it might fly well. It would only cost about 6 or 7 bucks.

[pease1]

An interesting idea, but I really want to make a tuned sailplane, just with the GWS/Folder for pull. I'm thinking with some effort you could have something REALLY nice.
By nature you might also be able to fly it in larger indoor venues too.

The foamy idea is also a good one and worth a try. Cheap is also good. Most people who do the $4.00 foamy thing strap a speed 400 or 280 onto them though.

Al

[oside_james]

i know someone who did that - convert a little foam cheapy into micro rc. he said it flew pretty well. so, it's been done, but not perfected....


james

[Ralph B]

Allan:
I like your idea for a small sailplane. I designed my own 36 inch span sailplane about 3 or 4 years ago (pre GWS). I had to make my own folding prop which was not too bad. I used the VL HY50B for power. The model was a great flyer at about 5.5 or 6 ounces but the problem I ran into was that none of the micro speed controls have a brake function. I could get the model to climb OK but when I cut the power, the drag from the windmilling prop would cause the plane to dive at a fairly steep angle. I tried to develop a mechanical brake with limited sucess, and finaly ended up with a Jeti 10 that I lightened up to about 10 or 12 grams. That worked fairly well but I didn't like the weight. The Jeti was a speed 400 rated ESC and was overkill, but still the lightest I could find. As you persue your sailplane project keep in mind that you will need a prop brake to get the prop to fold. The Gws drive may have enough drag to stop the prop but I don't have enough experience with them to know. An easy test would be to have someone drive you at the aproximate flying speed of the model and hold the GWS drive out the window. Run the motor up to speed, cut the throttle and see if it windmills or folds. Good luck with it and keep us posted on how it works out.
Ralph B

[flyingbuddy]

Darn good point, Ralph.
DJ Aerotek (http://www.djaerotech.com/) makes some of the lightest and most competetive hand launch gliders around. Yes they are pricey, but that's what it takes to be competetive. Right, were not competing. $18 +$12 plus shipping is WAY cheap for a motor/gearbox/folding prop combination. My other concern is that it may not be fast enough for the average glider. I'd try it on the cheap foam glider from Wal Mart. Sand the the leading and trailing edges so they are not so blunt. I used an electric palm sander to make quick work of it, 15 minutes or so. Jef Raskin did an article on this a few years ago in Model Airplane News, I think.

[pease1]

Hey, has anyone built the mini-kestral? I was thinking if I scaled it up 33% it might just do the trick. That would give me room for the pico servos, GWS receiver and litestik motor and battery. I guess I'd want to go for a 6-cell linear nicad pack (lite-stik style) to make it fit.

What do you all think? Has anyone built the Kestral?

Al

[Jason Nowell]

Allan:

That is exactly what I thought when reading this thread. I think i still have an old House of Balsa 2x4 (48" span glider) that says it comes in at about 12oz. I bet I could better that WITH a motor and todays electronics.

Too many things on my building table right now though. Can't wait to hear the results of someones test though, I hope it works.

[pease1]

Well this is on my 'to-do' list, but with NEAT coming up I need to build a final prototype of the Electric Mite, Finish my Fokker D-VIII Speed 400 plane, Build the Flitter-B I just got and the Yard Bee before I start the glider project. Estimated time for me to start on the glider - October....

Ouch...

And I still have that DH-2 stik on the bench.....

[pease1]

OK, check the Flitter-B off the list! Next is a SERIOUS effort to get the Fokker done for NEAT!

Unfortunately I have a commitment for the Saturday of NEAT so I'll only be there on
Friday - going to sneak out of work for the day....