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Post by Bruce on Oct 9, 2010 21:33:10 GMT 12
Despite still having some issues with CKE, I have somewhat recklessly grabbed another project to keep me off the streets once the Adventurer is flying. I have found on TradeMe a very interesting little ultralite fuselage, and Bruce Mac (Eieio) and I went up to Whangarei today to collect it. It is a small single seat pusher own-design started some years ago by a chap who now flies for PacBlue. Its made out of Kevlar and is extremely light, however there are no plans as to how it was intended to be finished, but it shouldnt be too hard to design a set of wings, tailfeathers etc. It will have a shaft - driven prop in the extreme tail, so I guess it'll need a cruciform tail to protect against prop strike. I would like to put folding wings and retractable gear on it, but we'll have to see how everything is going to fit! For the time being, it will find a home stored in the rafters of my workshop, so I can continue focussing on CKE.    |
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Post by stu on Oct 9, 2010 22:01:32 GMT 12
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shane
Squadron Leader
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Post by shane on Oct 10, 2010 5:56:36 GMT 12
wow what an awesome project.
I think the idea of building and owning 2 NZ designed homebuilts is pretty cool.
If you squint it looks a little bit like a BD-5. Are you planning to make it have a high wing or low wing ?
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Post by Bruce on Oct 10, 2010 8:39:34 GMT 12
Mid wing I think - the big rectangular hole in the side is for the main spar. This is a very different project from the Adventurer in so many ways - it is composite (Which at one stage I swore I was never working with again!) and very small which will be quite a challenge to fit the various systems in to. I'm sure I'm going crazy!  |
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Post by Bruce on Oct 10, 2010 8:42:04 GMT 12
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Post by philip on Oct 10, 2010 10:19:08 GMT 12
When I was a young boy (40 years ago) one of my favorite books was "operation doomsday, space eagle) about a hero that takes on the baddies with a one man teardrop shaped air/space craft powered by antimatter. Your project looks exactly like it. I've gone onto eBay and bought a copy for my boy to read. You can borrow it if it helps you with propulsion/weapons ideas. He saves the world by orbiting the planet faster than the speed of light. It was named talon |
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Post by lesterpk on Oct 10, 2010 15:42:34 GMT 12
Maybe it would be better suited to one of the up-n-go glider style systems? Looks to be plenty of room to fit one in.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Oct 10, 2010 16:26:27 GMT 12
How about a Somers-Kendall SK1?  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 10, 2010 17:30:52 GMT 12
Bruce, nice drop tank in the photo, where is the rest of the aeroplane?  |
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Post by shorty on Oct 10, 2010 18:00:18 GMT 12
How about an Allenburgh Grey Ghost?  |
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sprogs
Leading Aircraftman
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Post by sprogs on Oct 21, 2010 6:57:42 GMT 12
That's a very pretty little model, did you make the plans yourself or were they bought? The fuselage in the original post looks like just what I need for my velomobile project.
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Post by corsair67 on Oct 21, 2010 23:05:35 GMT 12
Bruce, think outside the square:  ;D |
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Post by lumpy on Oct 22, 2010 6:16:59 GMT 12
Brilliant ! That would be cool ! |
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Post by Bruce on Oct 22, 2010 8:21:09 GMT 12
very cool idea - the problem is you sit so low in the bubble that you wouldnt be able to see over the engine!
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Post by corsair67 on Oct 22, 2010 12:54:21 GMT 12
Periscope? ;D
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Post by Bruce on Oct 22, 2010 13:22:45 GMT 12
Its tight enough in the bubble as it is! I tried it for size the other day and found that the space available for instruments is tiny - about 100 x 100 mm (Or a bit more) looks like the only instrument option will be an EFIS panel - MGL avionics makes one that will fit that does 3 axis flight display with Airspeed, altitude etc, plus engine displays all on one screen. very nice, but not cheap! Will have to save my pocket money....... More of a concern is where to put useful things such as the control column etc!
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Post by Bruce on Nov 21, 2010 22:19:49 GMT 12
I had an interesting discussion today at the Matamata Aero Club Mini Fly - In about this project. The chap I was talking to has a lot of experience designing and building composite homebuilts so was a fount of useful advice. He has also worked on BD5s with similar shaft drive powerplants and he was telling me of the resonance and vibration issues that come with that type of installation. What he did suggest though (and I had considered it earlier) was to look at Electric powerplants. A little "bubble" aircraft of this size would actually be an ideal electric machine, and it wouldn't have the shaft vibration and cooling issues internal combustion engines have. There are even "off the shelf" powerplants on the market: www.yuneec.co.uk/PowerMotor.htmlBattery weight is a big issue still but without needing fuel tanks things are looking plausible. An interesting option to consider! Must avoid this project distracting me from getting CKE going though (The "Bubble" is suspended in my workshop ceiling to stop me hangar flying!) |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 21, 2010 22:36:00 GMT 12
I never knew that full sized aircraft could be powered by electric engines, that is an interesting option. I guess charging it up before a flight might be cheaper than filling the tanks with avgas too. Could you actually build solar panels into the wings so it charges as you're flying or is that getting into the rhealms of fantasy?
I still cannot get my head around what the aircraft will look like with wings and a tail. Can you please do a sketch of how it is meant to look when complete Bruce?
I reckon with titchy little missile stile stabiliser wings, some little wheels and a tow rope you could turn it into a great flying luggage trailer to tow behind CKE on long trips away.
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Post by Bruce on Nov 21, 2010 23:00:51 GMT 12
OK, just a quick, rough idea of the concept I am looking at:  (not to scale!) There are a couple of light Sport aircraft kits available now with electric power option. Battery life is currently around about 1-2 hours with about 3hr recharge time. That wouldnt be too much of an issue for this thing as it will be for shorter flights anyway - The cockpit is too snug to be comfortable on long cross countries. I want to put folding wings on it so it is trailerable, and the trailer could include a generator and the charging stuff. with a 57hp "Yuneec" powerplant and a nice clean airframe, it should still go like a rocketship and be a good, fun aeroplane. |
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Post by Bruce on Nov 21, 2010 23:05:46 GMT 12
Oh, and conformal solar panels on the wing are a possibility, but with the aircraft size they would probably only just extend battery life rather than a full charge. Lithium Polymer batteries also need a bit of care while charging, as they can explode quite nastily if you do it wrong - would probably pay to stick with the smart charger!
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