Have you seen the video's Chris has put up on his latest project, the Drak?
it looks cool, like a klingon bird of prey. also looks pretty fast with a great flight envelope.
Link to you tube channel.
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheRitewing1/videos (http://www.youtube.com/user/TheRitewing1/videos)
eagerly awaiting more...
/Steve
Initially it looked little more than proof you shouldn't build a Z3 while you've been drinking!
I see now though it's a lot more, but not sure exactly what benefits it has over a regular Z3.
Neil.
Bit of a copy of Stone Blue Airlines swept forward wing configuration ??
http://www.stoneblueairlines.com/hangar/airplanes/vas-aircraft/vas-specter-v3-airplane.html (http://www.stoneblueairlines.com/hangar/airplanes/vas-aircraft/vas-specter-v3-airplane.html)
Yes, looks great and flies great going by the videos I've seen, so I'm keeping an eye on it.
Don't think it is much like the vas spectre as that has a full tail and is a pretty conventional design. Even the forward sweep isn't that pronounced the Drak looks like something from a marvel comic. I am definitely interested but if you have to do the double hand into the face suicide launch I'll not be getting one, I can think of nicer ways of losing my good looks!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Pretty sure I read Chris say this was just something he was messing about with and was not going to be for sale.
I could be wrong though.
Would be interesting to see its pros and cons over the z3
This kickstarter is up on this now
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1598250936/ritewing-drak-the-next-generation-rc-aircraft-dron (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1598250936/ritewing-drak-the-next-generation-rc-aircraft-dron)
He's got quite a way to go in a month to make this happen though. Anyone getting one ?
I'm in two minds about this.......
The Z3, which was supposed to be the best plane in the world. Ever. And was very heavily marketed as such, turned out to be be over rated in the eyes of some who bought it. By all accounts it's a reasonable all rounder, but doesn't excel in any area. It builds quite heavy, isn't as robust as a z2 thanks to its long nose, builds quite nose heavy with even a reasonable sized motor. Perhaps it's only real advantage is it comes apart for easy transport. For those who want something tthat can be put in a suitcase it's perfect. But for most others, there are other options out there.
The Drak looks fantastic. This alone is enough to sell it and good for Chris for being inventive and moving things forward. He has a big reputation and shoes to fill based on his Z1 & Z2 rep.
He's also building it from the material the original Zephyr was made from, which again is great as to many this was a major disadvantage of the Z2. Slower build but a much more robust plane as a result.
The swept wing seems to offer improved stall characteristics. Chris, despite all his good qualities, is completely unable to admit any of his products have any disadvantages at all- which makes him a great salesman but a bit irrational at times........
from the little research I have read, in general a forward swept wing indeed improves low speed stall characteristics, but it ultimately makes a less efficient flyer. I'm sure someone with more knowledge will be able to add some other general/historical pros and cons of the swept wing design.
On the one hand, we may end up with the most robust plane ritewing have made since the original Zephyr, with great flying characteristics, a robust body, easy transport and a big wingspan to carry a decent payload a decent distance. It may offer a more hardcore builders alternative to the z2 and, even if it's a little less efficient in flight, the extra carry capacity of the draks extra 4" may make up for this.
If we are unlucky, the nose will still be a weak point and a nose down crash (which wouldn't normally have bothered an epp wing) will badly damage the Drak. It will be a little less efficient than a normal wing, will fly very heavy, and the long build time will put beginners off.
I hope it's the former. I already have a 60" wing. But I will really look forward to seeing how it's received. I won't get caught up in the hype and dillusion like I did with the Z3 however.
PS i hope he pulls it off. At least he's inventing and moving things on, instead of copying and following like HK and most other manufacturers. He's just got damn big shoes fill.
QuoteHe's just got damn big shoes fill.
Yea, his own :laugh:
Quote from: Steve W on March 12, 2015, 04:09:15 PM
QuoteHe's just got damn big shoes fill.
Yea, his own :laugh:
That's true! :D
Mind you, if I had designed and built arguably the most famous plane in fpv history my ego would be pretty big too. Even if it was someone else who, almost single handedly, made it famous.
It looks amazing in the air, but it is pretty expensive. Will be interesting to see if they make the goal. It struck me as a bit odd that an established company is doing it as a kickstarter though.
Setting up proper moulds costs a lot of money I suppose Chris is just ensuring he can get his investment back
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Thnx for the support guys, my shoes are only a size 10 ;D
Here shows some of its characteristics, A good quality EPP mold with the correct company is crazy expensive, having everyone help will allow me to give the supporters a very nice price for such a pricey project.
I am just trying to spread the love.
See if these work.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6viOq7Xlwg#ws (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6viOq7Xlwg#ws)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOPyUCUygxc#ws (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOPyUCUygxc#ws)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYuLId6LBKU#ws (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYuLId6LBKU#ws)
Edited post with the new links . Working now
Now with Variable AoA canard, this thing is getting insane!!!
But ... I highly doubt, it will be released by August..
(http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/06/11/b2c22432ef771978b27a1e78969354c4.jpg)
After buying both a Z2 and a Z3, I'm impressed with the progress made from the Z2 to the Z3, Chris seems to look at any issues with his airframes and reacts.
I still enjoy the Z2 and am having a right giggle with the Z3, so the Drak should be a step forward again, my only concerns are the canards, will this make the Drak a little more fragile???
Keep landing those canards in long grass and they wont last IMo, the original pictures of the Drak airframe looks more what I would want from a Ritewing airframe, keep it simple and strong. :P
Quote from: mutley2 on June 12, 2015, 05:23:42 PM
After buying both a Z2 and a Z3, I'm impressed with the progress made from the Z2 to the Z3, Chris seems to look at any issues with his airframes and reacts.
I still enjoy the Z2 and am having a right giggle with the Z3, so the Drak should be a step forward again, my only concerns are the canards, will this make the Drak a little more fragile???
Keep landing those canards in long grass and they wont last IMo, the original pictures of the Drak airframe looks more what I would want from a Ritewing airframe, keep it simple and strong. :P
what are the benefits of canards anyway?
If there was any doubt Ritewing got their inspiration for the Drak from Star Trek the canards only makes me more certain IMO :D Anyway, If you don't like them I'm sure it's easy to remove them, or replace if it's broken.
I'm interested in your opinion on the benefits of the Z3 over the Z2. From what I have read it's a similar weight to the Z2 but with less wing area so has as many disadvantages as advantages?
Canards can allow you to have a much lower stall speed thus allowing the airframe to fly well fast as well as slowly.
Interesting! Are they shaped to provide lift then?
I do like the look of the drak I must admit.
Actually, canards when properly designed will totally prevent a stall from occurring. The reason is that the canard is at a higher angle of attack than the main wing so it stalls first. The nose then drops and the speed is maintained so the main wing never stalls. Of course, due to the fact that the canard has a higher angle of attack than the main wing, the main wing can never operate at optimum angle of attack. It's for this reason that canard platforms can never be as efficient as a conventional planform.
And if you want to get your sandals and kagool on the canard is more efficient in slower flight because it is actually providing lift. The tail pushes down as the airframe naturally wants to rotate nose down when flying with canards up front they dot the opposite and lift the nose.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Quote from: Billy_boy_2010 on June 12, 2015, 06:24:40 PM
I'm interested in your opinion on the benefits of the Z3 over the Z2. From what I have read it's a similar weight to the Z2 but with less wing area so has as many disadvantages as advantages?
The real big advantage the Z3 has over the Z2 is the build, the Z3 has buckets of space and is very well thought out and a bit of a Swiss army knife for FPV installation, you can put just about anything where you want, the Z2 was a little trickier on CG IMo.
As far as flying goes, well they are both great fliers but again the Z3 has it IMo because of the lack of "wag", people have said the Z3 wags in flight but I've not seen it yet on mine and I stopped flight logging after 50 flights.
The Z3 is a step forward in my opinion over the Z2 and the Drak I'm sure will be another step forward if Chris has any thing to do with it.
Not to be confused with the French word for Duck "Canard" or the other French word "Connard". When driving in France I was overtaken by a native who shouted out of his window "Connard" and I wondered why he thought I was a duck? I subsequently found out that it wasn't duck but something else.
Don't use Connards on your plane!!!!!
LOL, I think Canard and the duck are close, it will land like a duck with its nose up high and wings pushing wind.
The Canards will be made of EPP like the plane and will be an option, its flys great either way, with or w out the Canard.
The gain is if you have a super tight LZ then this can allow a steep angle on approach and a power on no stall high AOA landing.
For UAV Mapping and FPV use this can be a good thing in questionable area's where you do not have a long approach to loose alt and bleed speed.
This is just another step in my ongoing progression ,AKA obsession to make the perfect planes, I appreciate the support guys.
I have been doing a lot of mapping planes lately and this is inspired by that and all that is fpv!
This plane is nice size, it breaks down small, it launches and lands easily.
Last week I flew it at a 35 knot cruise for 55 mins on 7200 mah of 5s lipo.
I had 8.4 in it and it could have gone over an hr.
At this point It is far from hotwiring a few wing panels and flying. ;D
Question is, will it be better than the Z3? I'm hoping so :)
In price, no, in mapping capabilities yes, in durability yes, ease of build yes.
They both fly great, kinda not a fair comparison in all other aspects.
Get both, they are both great planes. It would not be good for me to go backwards :-*
Quote from: Ritewing on June 13, 2015, 10:35:19 PM
In price, no, in mapping capabilities yes, in durability yes, ease of build yes.
They both fly great, kinda not a fair comparison in all other aspects.
Get both, they are both great planes. It would not be good for me to go backwards :-*
What would you say the main differences are flying wise? One thing I've noticed with the Z3 is that it seems to be a bit of a "hot ship" - quite high wing loading and probably not the most efficient thing ever, which isn't really my cup of tea. When I first saw the Drak I was quite impressed at how smooth it flies, so if the end product is something like that then I'd be happy. Was any inspiration taken from the Flying Foam Nurf?
The Drak is not landing like a hockey puck like the Z3 usually is.
It is much more well rounded.
Drak Lineage .
No on the nerf question, there has been many many renditions of this beast in tons of sizes.
I have been at it for quite some time, the Nerf maybe inspired by these here.
Look how far this thread dates back to, LOL
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=756354 (http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=756354)
Oh and here is more.
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=599806 (http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=599806)
The Drak design did not just start this year.
Gotcha. This has evidently been around for quire a while haha. Perhaps I had it all wronf and the Nurf was in fact based off your design...
Well there have been many versions of these forward swept wings over the years, I have always loved them, I was inspired by them, not the nerf.
I think the nerf is closer to some of the older designs you saw way back when. Its pretty different than mine.
I am sure people will start looking at how to make designs similar to the drak, they did it with the Zeph, look at all the thick stubby blunted noses on wings now.
I was doing this eons ago, way before the ZEPH series.
One issue that I found was the sloppy handling at low speed, it was something that for fpv would not work that well with the yaw.
This is due to the single stab in the center at the rear, being placed here it never received good non turbulent flow at low speed, it seemed to be shadowed in the center where its the worst conditions for a stabilizing vertical stab.
At a high AOA this would make it yaw back and forth.
Once you get a bit more speed and get it on step it would go away.
The last few years I went back and revisited the design and made a few tweaks after learning more.
I was able to get these issues cleaned up with the new Drak design.
You can see some more forward swept planes here
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=840687 (http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=840687)
Just watched the Joe Nall vid of the drack
Doesn't look as if it can take a pan and tilt because the correx cover goes all the way to the nose, I just spotted a camera built into the nose
Bit of a deal breaker for me, gutted :(
What's the price of the Drak, Mr Ritewing?
Would you consider a group buy?
Quote from: bignose13 on June 19, 2015, 08:52:37 PM
Just watched the Joe Nall vid of the drack
Doesn't look as if it can take a pan and tilt because the correx cover goes all the way to the nose, I just spotted a camera built into the nose
Bit of a deal breaker for me, gutted :(
If the bays on the Drak are anything like the Z3 it'd be pretty easy to add some additional foam to the front of the bay and make the correx hatch start a little farther back without affecting the strength. The hatch just comes as a long strip you glue on to the front of the bay and you have to cut it to the correct length anyway.
Went down well at Joe Nall:
http://youtu.be/vqOv2Aoi9uM (http://youtu.be/vqOv2Aoi9uM)
Email me Billy
[email protected] Quote from: Billy_boy_2010 on June 20, 2015, 01:02:33 AM
What's the price of the Drak, Mr Ritewing?
Would you consider a group buy?
Sure it can, you can do just about anything on this if you balance it, it also comes with a full EPP plug for the battery bay so you can use that to secure batteries or make mods with it for other equipment.
The bat bay lid can be as long or as short as you want to make it.
Its nice because you can do many mods if you want to hack it, cut the nose shorter and add whatever you want, just hit CG.
Quote from: bignose13 on June 19, 2015, 08:52:37 PM
Just watched the Joe Nall vid of the drack
Doesn't look as if it can take a pan and tilt because the correx cover goes all the way to the nose, I just spotted a camera built into the nose
Bit of a deal breaker for me, gutted :(
Quote from: Ritewing on June 20, 2015, 07:26:05 PM
Sure it can, you can do just about anything on this if you balance it, it also comes with a full EPP plug for the battery bay so you can use that to secure batteries or make mods with it for other equipment.
The bat bay lid can be as long or as short as you want to make it.
Its nice because you can do many mods if you want to hack it, cut the nose shorter and add whatever you want, just hit CG.
Quote from: bignose13 on June 19, 2015, 08:52:37 PM
Just watched the Joe Nall vid of the drack
Doesn't look as if it can take a pan and tilt because the correx cover goes all the way to the nose, I just spotted a camera built into the nose
Bit of a deal breaker for me, gutted :(
Got yer
What motor, battery was in the wing in the vid ? looked good performance wise
Cheers
Hey guys here is a good vid of the Drak being chased.
The next vid will be from the Drak doing some canyon diving
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_ApGS157v8 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_ApGS157v8)
cool video.
what a location too.
what was going on a 2:13 ? small yaw movements each way was that a crosswind or a tiny aileron movement?
cheers
Steve
Ya a slight up draft side draft, it was only at 40 mph or so at 7000n ft altitude at 7 lbs.
You can see it was kinda high alpha already when the updraft hit it.
It has very nice manners, if it was moving faster with more down angle it will not do this.
The vid it a nice representation of it characteristics .
One more, enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2_yltucF5Y&feature=youtu.be (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2_yltucF5Y&feature=youtu.be)
That was an amazing video. Some super brave flying there too.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Wow there are some amazing pilots out there! It was inches above the water at one point!
It flies beautifully too.
It does look like it handles brilliantly.
Is there a conversion for the Z3 for it Chris ? So you could have it in the Z3 configuration or the Drak depending on what floats your boat that day.
What do I need to fly low like that at distance? I'm thinking I need to look at uhf and 1.3ghz for video?
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Quote from: dp106 on July 01, 2015, 02:09:41 PM
What do I need to fly low like that at distance? I'm thinking I need to look at uhf and 1.3ghz for video?
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Apart from the 1.3G video link, a couple of titanium balls is a must!
I fly low and through the trees in my skyfun but probably never father than 3-400 metres away from me
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
The Z3 fuse is very short in comparison , it has a short nose in front of Cg in comparison to the Drak, with Drak style wings it would not balance.
Quote from: Coyote on July 01, 2015, 12:50:06 PM
It does look like it handles brilliantly.
Is there a conversion for the Z3 for it Chris ? So you could have it in the Z3 configuration or the Drak depending on what floats your boat that day.
Ah I see, it looked almost identical, thanks :)
Seems to have all gone quiet on the Drak, would have liked to have this as my winter build/test ready for spring, web page still says "coming soon" and has done for a while.
I e-mailed Chris and he said he will be getting them towards the end of the month. So not long to go.
I've just been flying my Z3 and I love it but wish it had more range like my other bigger wings. (z60, skywalker) So the Drak looks like a perfect upgrade.
Have you ordered one Dog?
The quality of your videos could be a real advertisement for the Drak.
Yeah I'm definitely getting one as soon they are ready.
Quote from: dogzilla on September 18, 2015, 02:59:55 PM
my Z3 and I love it but wish it had more range like my other bigger wings.
Same hear, it's a straight choice between the Drak and the MY Twin Dream, both are great aircraft but I have had sooo much fun with the Z3 that puts me in the Drak camp at the mo. But when the dark nights come I will order my new project, so I'm hoping the Drak will be ready or...
For some the Z3 was a bit of a disappointment.
The Drak should offer many of the features of the Z3 and a few extra advantages too :)
Flight times and speed envelope will be crazy.
Hey guys, two weeks ago I was told the mold should be at the molding facility by yesterday Sept 18th.
I emailed them yesterday to confirm and get the latest info.
The plan is for them to run and tune the molding machine, once they are happy with the samples they will send me some fed ex to USA, if they look the way we want we will give them the go ahead on production.
So I am hoping to get samples very soon, maybe next week.
If they run the following week they will get them cured and packed and shipped.
So what ever it takes them to get here after that is what will dictate the schedule.
I am told it can be 3 to 7 weeks to get here from the molder depending on customs.
That is exactly where I am at, thnx for the support guys
Thanks for the update Chris.
Will there be any advance order opportunity for the 'faithful' or will you be getting plenty of kits together in the first run ?
Also will anyone UK/Europe be getting stock of the first ones or will orders be direct from you ?
PK :)
Hi PK, yes we will have EU Dealer at E store Rotterdam later, at this point I have the pre sale going, the price is lower here on the pre sale, it will go up once it gets here, I can also do 3 kits in one box for 65.00 shipping cost. That's much cheaper than me sending 3 kits across the USA.
As soon as I see samples I will post some pix and info here.
If you guys email me I will give you the pre sale info
...
Cheers
Name that part!
Just received this pic from Germany.
They are tuning the process, samples to head this way soon for our final approval.
Its no longer a myth!
Crossposting Chris's update from FPVLAB.
The moulded unit looks bad ass.
(http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/09/29/944bde48e32e4bcf37605bd255240908.jpg)
(http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/09/29/2bdda852284d42c5d0d3812f6ea6167b.jpg)
Its awfully quiet in these forums anymore!! Bens sight is also gone. Are you guys doing ok?
We are too busy flying Chris, weather for September has been great and the Z3 has been rackin up the air miles.
Time to pre-order I think, looks like my next craft :thumbsup:
Looks great to me
Stunning. Great job Chris.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
The Drak has landed ! First two samples just got here. IMG]http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/10/13/2fe0887972b07e3a120859b226255692.jpg[/IMG](http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/10/13/f0e837bbf5cff46d4e5d6d8f371d272f.jpg)(http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/10/13/8882aceb8a39cbebfb453567aeba50e5.jpg)(http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/10/13/fc9370d0d6ebb2ab23bf17a30736bc5d.jpg)
Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk
Thats looking pretty awesome! Love the grey foam, would look good just laminated! Are the elevons also made from foam? No balsa ones this time? Do they have carbon spars in them?
Here are a few more with its new freshly lasered winglets .(http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/10/13/def3b989edd92eb5e3e8a7dd4bba5b37.jpg)(http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/10/13/bd3a0e29238a1614f7e33bcfd933be84.jpg)
Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk
Looks fantastic!
The canards make it look so cool.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
That looks amazing!! Love the fact you can put huge lipos on. Over an hour flight amazing!!!
Get one!
Sent from my slab with Tapatalk
Quote from: JezUK1 on October 18, 2015, 12:09:04 PM
That looks amazing!! Love the fact you can put huge lipos on. Over an hour flight amazing!!!
Looks like you found a winner :)
Just not in stock anywhere.
The one pictured above in grey is the first prototype that Chris has received from his mould so not long to wait.... I hope.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sounds good. Will keep a close eye on this one.
if past ritewing wings are anything to go by, this is bound to be very expensive.... but don't worry, I'm sure hobbyking will do a quick job of cloning it and selling it for much less whilst still being a half decent fpv plane.
Are we going to do a multibuy then? get cheaper shipping etc?
QuoteAre we going to do a multibuy then? get cheaper shipping etc?
I wish people would do this more on here .. save a fortune!!
Vid.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAQWU-WmNms (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAQWU-WmNms)
It looks great in the video.
My only reservation is the lack of thought to camera and video options. For such an advanced design in all other areas I cant help but think there hasn't been much thought to it.
Also a major drawback to a wing is the lack of pan and tilt. Particularly one like this that offers very long flight times, long range, possible land surveying etc where pan and tilt is useful. Can understand why it's pointless on a small expendable bashing wing- but this isn't expendable.....
Perhaps the whole idea is to leave the front a blank slate- to allow complete freedom when it comes to mounting options. I can see the advantage of this- especially now there are so many HD cam options. But I just cant help but think that a hole cut in the top and a gopro shoved in the gap looks a bit crude and bodged. Its just a bit 2013. Even HobbyKing have got some pretty nice mounting ideas.
The Z3 came with a couple of mounting options and GoPro houses- perhaps this wasn't sucessful or just broke pretty quick?