Free Flight Jet models.

[WIDDOG]

http://youtu.be/ip1ih6ZT7jA

Hi Wildpig,

Sorry I can't answer your question. I did order a couple of books about model rocketry and will try to learn up.

Check out this history video. very good about rocket power.

http://youtu.be/_8mx-0XNB-A

[WIDDOG]

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Even though micro 27 mm EDF's are very common and easy to obtain these days my work with model rocket motors continues. In the past, I have tried and failed miserably with Electric Free Flight. Hopefully someone skilled in electric FF will post weather or not this is a viable option. It seems to me that it would be too expensive to make an electrical FF model. I mean if one was going to go to all that trouble why not make it a RC plane?

[goose]

Hip Pocket Aeronautics has a whole section of the forum devoted to Electric Free Flight.
http://www.hippocketaeronautics.com/hpa ... board=20.0

There is even a thread on EDF Free Flight
http://www.hippocketaeronautics.com/hpa ... ic=15013.0

[dlazarus6660]

Gentlemen,

I hate to give up my secrets but I have been working on this problem for the last 3 years. I started larger but scaled it down to the Guillow's scale. I'm using an Estes BT-55 Body tube to hold the formers in position in place of the keel. This will fly with Estes rocket motors as a rocket and NOT as a jet. The tail will be solid balsa and built up wings. I have already experimented with this in rocket design, now I''ll try freeflight design hybrid.

[Wildpig]

Gentlemen,

I hate to give up my secrets but I have been working on this problem for the last 3 years. I started larger but scaled it down to the Guillow's scale. I'm using an Estes BT-55 Body tube to hold the formers in position in place of the keel. This will fly with Estes rocket motors as a rocket and NOT as a jet. The tail will be solid balsa and built up wings. I have already experimented with this in rocket design, now I''ll try freeflight design hybrid.

The cat is rrrrreeeeoooowwww out of the bag.

Which Guillow model will you be using?
Which Estes rocket motor will you use?
Hey, if you are going to give up secrets,might as well give details.

[WIDDOG]

This catapult system seems to really work nicely. http://youtu.be/iLsdtxO06lg

[WIDDOG]

I don't know if fuel experiments really belong on this forum. I did post them here if anyone is interested. https://www.facebook.com/RapierMadness

[WIDDOG]

Long way to go but I will get it to work. Since I am using a Guillow's Foam Sky Raider I decided to post a video. True it's not the longest flight but it did fly some. http://youtu.be/m9if6Jf7y7I

[Wildpig]

I would call that a success. Hey, the Wright Brothers first flight was only 12 seconds.


P.S. I noticed the robust glove you are wearing. Smart move.

[WIDDOG]

Thanks for the comments Wildpig.

I still have a long way to go but here is a slightly better video http://youtu.be/_aEnPyUSs0U

[WIDDOG]

The weather got too cold and shut down my testing. After reviewing my notes and thinking it over I decided to drop the Rapier project. In my opinion a 24 mm electric duct fan motor and a timer would probably work better. I'm editing the topic title to reflect this change.

[WIDDOG]

I have been having a hard time finding a timer for electrical Free Flight. They are a bit expensive to have get stuck up in a tree or whatever. It just does not seem like it should cost about 40 usds for a timer. Anyway I found a small Ostar clock at Wally World for 5 usds. It's starting weight is 42.5 grams. I'm going to attempt to lighten it enough to work as a timer.



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I removed two screws and removed the cover down to 11.5 grams

[WIDDOG]

Ok I do know about the timer from Eflite is for under $15 it is a great timer. However, The problem with the EFlite timer is it needs more than 5 volts min to operate. This mean two cell Lipo battery coming in around 31 grams. The motor in the picture is a 48 mm EDF. I am interested in the 27 mm EDF and using a 3.7 one cell Lipo. So I'm thinking I will have to come up with some other kind of timer. I did get the Ostar clock down to 8 grams. If I remember correctly a Tommy wind up motor timer comes in at about 5 grams.



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[davidchoate]

can u use a bottle rockrt motor?

[WIDDOG]

I have to give credit to Dr. Zimmermann. His Rapier motors where excellent. The government stopped production and I don't think they will ever come back. There are a couple of things about the bottle rocket propellant. I guess the main problem is the model would be propelled way too fast. The Rapier motors gave the model a very realistic scale speed.

I think electric duct fan motors would be the best substitute for flying propellerless model aircraft. Not only am I not very good with electric work I down right out suck at it. So I doubt I will be able to figure it out.