My old 12 foot glider Icarus

skyscraper · February 24, 2015, 06:50:38 PM

Cos I'm feeling a bit fed up with not being able to get a plane built, cos I'm working on other things,

I thought I would put these pics up to cheers myself up.

This is a 12 foot glider I made in the late 70's. Its all my own design. Had a flat bottom wing of constant chord. All balsa and spruce spars. The fuse was strip planked balsa and the fuselage boom was rolled 1/64th ply. It started out with a V-Tail but there was loads of slop.. To turn you had to crank full one way then back the other way tocentre, but When I moved to the T-tail, it started getting pretty good.

I remember one sunny afternoon at Nomansland Herts, it was towed up and floated around for a long while. there were plenty of thermals that day. then someone said. You know it seems to be getting smaller. It was certianly tiny right overhead. and was prob in strong lift. I pulled full up elevator and rudder and put it in a spin, but even then we couldnt make out for a while if it was going up or coming down as it spun slowly round and round and I started to get worried!. Well eventually it was clearly getting bigger and made a nice landing. The flight lasted around 2 hours..

Now I would like to recreate that flight with a big glider, but this time FPV..

regards
Andy

Gundummy · February 24, 2015, 07:29:57 PM

reminded me of this thread http://www.fpvhub.com/index.php/topic,19306.0.html

Nice looking things those big gliders

Brucey · February 24, 2015, 08:23:38 PM

Nice bird, great storey!

Billy_boy_2010 · February 24, 2015, 09:07:10 PM

Awesome! FPV that would be wonderfully relaxing.

skyscraper · February 24, 2015, 09:11:31 PM

Quote from: Gundummy on February 24, 2015, 07:29:57 PM
reminded me of this thread http://www.fpvhub.com/index.php/topic,19306.0.html

Nice looking things those big gliders

I remeeber that. Didnt notice this last time though...

I had come to the conclusion that putting the fc etc,gear in the wing is the best way to go with something like this. Also prefer the pylon. (The alternative for me would be a twin boom, but think the pylon is cleaner)Think all I would have in the fuselage would be the battery , vtx osd and rudder and elevator servos. (Wouldnt bother with a GoPro though ) The rest laid out in the wing as looks like is goin on here..

Will have to get on with it ASAP !

Nice One !

regards
Andy

skyscraper · February 24, 2015, 09:13:36 PM

Quote from: Billy_boy_2010 on February 24, 2015, 09:07:10 PM
Awesome! FPV that would be wonderfully relaxing.

Yep. Thats what I want. Vario and all that stuff too! Mayve a camera pointing staright down as well that I can switch to. Just wondering what size motor and batteries I would need for a 12 footer!

regards
Andy

Lola · February 24, 2015, 09:26:38 PM

Looks awesome mate! Huge as well!

It is right 😀

Gundummy · February 24, 2015, 10:04:24 PM

They've gone to the commercial sector since that build blog. They also do a twin boom variant.

Dizzy · February 24, 2015, 10:58:03 PM

That looks sweet I bet she flies lovely too I had a similar experience caught up in a large thermal many years ago and was panicking as to how much longer my batteries in the transmitter would last. Its certainly no fun when your diving in a spiral as fast as you dare but she's not getting bigger :D

Fpv in her would be lovely, My 4 metre is the only plane i will be finishing this year too

here is mine not home designed like yours though ;)

http://postimg.org/image/41auklz1j/

dizzy :)

skyscraper · February 25, 2015, 08:01:52 AM

Quote from: Dizzy on February 24, 2015, 10:58:03 PM
That looks sweet I bet she flies lovely too I had a similar experience caught up in a large thermal many years ago and was panicking as to how much longer my batteries in the transmitter would last. Its certainly no fun when your diving in a spiral as fast as you dare but she's not getting bigger :D

Fpv in her would be lovely, My 4 metre is the only plane i will be finishing this year too

here is mine not home designed like yours though ;)

http://postimg.org/image/41auklz1j/

dizzy :)

Looks like it will be nice plane. Is it going to be FPV?

regards
Andy

Dizzy · February 25, 2015, 10:42:01 AM

Quote from: skyscraper on February 25, 2015, 08:01:52 AM
Quote from: Dizzy on February 24, 2015, 10:58:03 PM
That looks sweet I bet she flies lovely too I had a similar experience caught up in a large thermal many years ago and was panicking as to how much longer my batteries in the transmitter would last. Its certainly no fun when your diving in a spiral as fast as you dare but she's not getting bigger :D

Fpv in her would be lovely, My 4 metre is the only plane i will be finishing this year too

here is mine not home designed like yours though ;)

http://postimg.org/image/41auklz1j/

dizzy :)

Looks like it will be nice plane. Is it going to be FPV?

regards
Andy

Hi Andy I am planning on FPV for her with a camera in the belly But mine did have a motor fitted But I am unsure what to do for the best, Camera for fpv and basic set up no power and Launch from my Large bungie for thermal flying or fit a motor make her heavier with a larger flight pack or go for a smaller sustaining motor with a smaller pack and still use the bungie Or just make her up as a full on power glider :+ Big decisions as to how its going to perform and how and when i can use her :D

dizzy

skyscraper · April 02, 2015, 01:03:08 PM

Well lookey Here !

Very Tempting...

Ather 3700 Glider - HobbyKing Daily

regards
Andy

rob.thomson · April 02, 2015, 03:05:57 PM

Tempting enough that I have ordered :-)

But I dont think I would FPV this. It would be good for it - but for me it is a superb ALES compitition glier :-)

Brucey · April 02, 2015, 03:10:44 PM

Do it Andy! ;D

skyscraper · April 03, 2015, 09:16:24 AM

Quote from: Brucey on April 02, 2015, 03:10:44 PM
Do it Andy! ;D

Yeah well.. Might as well wait till Rob gets his going and have a look at it :laugh:

I do like it but its a bit big to chuck in my little car!

regards
Andy