Another Venturi build

[Big_Tone]

Having got fed up with my Bixler 2 getting chucked around in the wind and ending up in more pieces than I started with I've decided to graduate to a flying wing. I don't have much free time, so if there's a day I can fly it generally has to happen, wind or no wind. I'm planning on building a Venturi, as bigger wings seem to fly well, it's popular on this forum (which seems very untroll-y and has a British sense of humour), ships from UK and it's not to much £££.

My plan is to go for a 3s power system, as I reckon it will fly slower (good for starting out) and I could use existing batteries. I'm not sure if it will also launch easier. The FlyingWings 3s power system recommends a 35-36 1400 kv motor, 8x6 prop and 60A ESC (http://www.flyingwings.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&filter_name=3s+power+system&product_id=412). I'm thinking of a 35-36 1000 kv motor and a 9x4.7 or a 10x4.7 prop for slower speed and longer flight time. What do people think of this?

Using current LiPos I'll have to decide whether to go for 2 x 2200 mah turnigys or 1 x 4000 mah zippy compact. Will 4000 mah be enough?

Will also be putting in an APM autopilot with GPS, minimOSD, small UBEC for APM, possibly a separate UBEC for servos (or I might just use the ESC UBEC), some MG servos of sorts, FRSKY 2.4 RX, sony 700tvl with small wide angle lens, 5.8 vtx - low power foxtech one i think. I already have most of this. One day I might upgrade VTX and flash a HK Orange openLRS UHF RX to 459 mhz - but will try flying close first. I'm guessing to upgrade would be a re-lam though? I'll probs crash it before then anyway.

I'll post some pics of the build here and hopefully one day a maiden. I'll be following the other Venturi builds too.

[hase2]

Hmm...
I personally would use a faster motor/prop combo with a lot more grunt.
You said you wanted to have a wing, that handles wind better than a Bix. To achive that you need to have power and weight to give the wing momentum.

As comparison - On my Z2 I use a 1200kV motor, a 9x6 prop and 4S batteries. That gives me enough grunt, to fly in almost all conditions.

[Big_Tone]

Thanks Hase, I was a little worried it would lack oomph. I'll go with a 1200 kv and get some 6 pitch props.

[Brucey]

I had mine on 3s for about a year. It was great then. Now I've gone 4s and it's incredible!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqtr0z7SIxo&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[Big_Tone]

Perhaps after a year of 3s ill be ready for some 100 mph 4s cruising. Looks awesome. I like the tree dodge vid too. There was one I thought wouldn't be a dodge.

[Brucey]

It's a great plane. If it's your first wing then 3s will keep you happy for a while. If you get used to the speed then just fly lower, then you get the speed rush again. That's what I did but then I was starting to hit my 11" prop on the ground as I was too low! Time for 4s! :-D

[Brucey]

The other thing I'll say is really plan your layout. The venturi always ends up tail heavy and I needed lead in the nose to balance. Don't worry about the extra weight as it flies and launches fine. On 3s mine was 2.4kg. When I went 4s I could remove some lead as the batteries were heavier so now it weighs 2.5kg.
Where abouts are you located, if your close I'll happily show you mine

[Big_Tone]

Yea, everyone is saying its tail heavy and I don't have a go pro. I see 3 possible solutions:
1. Buy a go pro
2. Add dead weight
3. Add lights!
I've had a load of led strips I was hoping to put on the bixler before I found it to be too heavy without the lights. Perhaps this will be the time. Thinking of putting them under the lam on the leading edge. Would help cog. Will probably end up putting everything as close to front as poss still. I'm in London, is that close?

[rob.thomson]

You may have luck with one of these?

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=281234376726

I intend to use one on my venturi.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

[Delta Tango]

Yea, everyone is saying its tail heavy and I don't have a go pro. I see 3 possible solutions:
1. Buy a go pro
2. Add dead weight
3. Add lights!
I've had a load of led strips I was hoping to put on the bixler before I found it to be too heavy without the lights. Perhaps this will be the time. Thinking of putting them under the lam on the leading edge. Would help cog. Will probably end up putting everything as close to front as poss still. I'm in London, is that close?

Check out my build thread. I've gone with the sport version of the venturi so I could fit a mobius rather than a gopro. If you get yourself a 5000mah Gens Ace 3s and build it around this you will have the option to step up to a 3300mah 4s at a later date as they are only a tiny bit smaller than a 5000mah 3s. Right at the moment my venturi is balanced about right though I suspect it may be slightly tail heavy after I cover it.

[Brucey]

Yeah the covering will push the weight back a bit.
I'm only 30 miles up the m1, so doable.

[skyscraper]

Having got fed up with my Bixler 2 getting chucked around in the wind and ending up in more pieces than I started with I've decided to graduate to a flying wing. I don't have much free time, so if there's a day I can fly it generally has to happen, wind or no wind. I'm planning on building a Venturi, as bigger wings seem to fly well, it's popular on this forum (which seems very untroll-y and has a British sense of humour), ships from UK and it's not to much £££.

My plan is to go for a 3s power system, as I reckon it will fly slower (good for starting out) and I could use existing batteries. I'm not sure if it will also launch easier. The FlyingWings 3s power system recommends a 35-36 1400 kv motor, 8x6 prop and 60A ESC (http://www.flyingwings.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&filter_name=3s+power+system&product_id=412). I'm thinking of a 35-36 1000 kv motor and a 9x4.7 or a 10x4.7 prop for slower speed and longer flight time. What do people think of this?

Using current LiPos I'll have to decide whether to go for 2 x 2200 mah turnigys or 1 x 4000 mah zippy compact. Will 4000 mah be enough?

Will also be putting in an APM autopilot with GPS, minimOSD, small UBEC for APM, possibly a separate UBEC for servos (or I might just use the ESC UBEC), some MG servos of sorts, FRSKY 2.4 RX, sony 700tvl with small wide angle lens, 5.8 vtx - low power foxtech one i think. I already have most of this. One day I might upgrade VTX and flash a HK Orange openLRS UHF RX to 459 mhz - but will try flying close first. I'm guessing to upgrade would be a re-lam though? I'll probs crash it before then anyway.

I'll post some pics of the build here and hopefully one day a maiden. I'll be following the other Venturi builds too.

I got a feeling the Flyingwings power recommendations are based to an extent on trying to cover a lot of models with a few combinations they stock.. so not optimal..

regards
Andy

[Big_Tone]

Thanks for all the responses. Brucey... perhaps you could help maiden. Looking like it'll be a couple of weeks before I can really get into the build.

Rob, it definitely wins on price, let me know how it works out.

Delta, I'm following your thread. I thought i would need the fpv version to fit all the electronics, but it seems the fpv design might be mainly more to allow for more go pro space. Looking forward to the wing arriving and getting a better sense of the space. I have a couple of 5000 3s packs I normally use for the ground station. I'll have a think, but quite keen to use existing lipos. If experience is anything to go by, I'll spend ages on this build, learn how to fly it, crash it and start again with a new piece of foam and 4s.

Andy, I agree. I emailed them asking about the power system. The response I got didn't really address the fact I wanted to fly slow and extend flight times, it directed me to their 3s power system. I hadn't seen that they sell one, so i guess I was asking for help on what would have been a hobbyking purchase.

[Brucey]

I can help you on the lead up to your maiden, and I can throw it for you, but you'll be on the sticks when the time comes. I was nervous enough with mine after all the time I'd put in building it.

[Big_Tone]

I'll get back on the simulator!