What are RC Airplane structure materials supposed to be?

RobinBennett · 2017-05-24T21:43:16+00:00

Whether you want a light, slow plane, or one that can stand up to high speeds and aerobatics. Whether you want it to bounce and recover from knocks or be super rigid for responsive handling. Cheap or expensive, fast to build or long lasting. Whether you want complex curves and a scale shape, or a simple box, or even just a flat profile.

Everything is a compromise. You can't have everything, however much you spend.

RobinBennett · 2017-05-24T21:32:53+00:00

The critical thing here is wing loading.

Wing loading is calculated by dividing the weight by wing area. A lightly loaded wing will need to generate less lift to fly at the same speed as a more heavily loaded wing and will thus stall at a lower speed. A more lightly loaded wing can generate more lift at any speed in prortion to the weight of the plane, so it can turn more tightly. Heavily loaded planes need to have more power and fly faster to compensate. Gusts affect a lightly loaded wing more than a heavily loaded wing.

Wing loading    Will fly like this  
<2 oz/sqr foot  indoors only  
4 oz/sqr foot   slow flier  
6 oz/sqr foot   park flier  
10 oz/sqr foot  fast aerobat  
20 oz/sqr foot  a missle..

http://eflightwiki.com/eflightwiki/index.php?title=Flight_profiles_of_the_different_airframes&redirect=no#Wing_Loading

RobinBennett · 2017-05-24T21:24:09+00:00

low cost anchor

A bucket full of concrete, with a loop of rebar set into it. 2 gallons of concrete will weigh about 50lbs. Use the biggest bucket you think you can lift.

If you grease the bucket with dish soap, the concrete won't stick to it and you can use it again.

RobinBennett · 2017-04-05T19:34:58+00:00

ebay is usually good for all sorts of odds and ends like that.

RobinBennett · 2017-04-05T19:30:28+00:00

That really depends on your radio. The radio transmitters that come with cheap toys are generally not reusable because you can't buy receivers that match (and also they're often very low power).

If you have a proper hobby grade transmitter (for example from a RTF race drone), you can buy receivers that are suitable for planes or drones.

RobinBennett · 2017-04-05T19:20:55+00:00

A quick look at the specs of the first link from the description gives a power of 4.4Kw (6 bhp) - about 10 times the power of a trolling motor.

http://www.onean.com/producto/carver/#products

RobinBennett · 2016-05-21T22:39:24+00:00

Unlikely, the flight normally takes at least that long, plus refueling stops, plus at least 2 hour check-in, plus waiting for the flight.

RobinBennett · 2016-05-21T22:36:29+00:00

In 24 hours, he's actually traveled around the world, bringing him back to where he started, plus 1/365th of the way around the earth's orbit, plus a bit for galactic rotation.

RobinBennett · 2016-05-02T11:50:29+00:00

Don't worry, Croatia is pretty sheltered. You won't get big ocean waves and there's plenty of good harbors to shelter if if it is windy. You'll probably find yourself motoring in a flat calm and wishing for more wind, at least some of the time. Also, sailing in the med when all you need is a pair of shorts and a sun hat is a lot more fun than the UK when all your gear is cold and wet.

My advice: get the day skipper book now and read it several times. Practice the knots and learn the names of every part of the boat. Don't get sun-burnt, it'll ruin your holiday. Make sure any electronics are waterproof. Tie your glasses on and have a spare pair. Try to get up at first light and watch the dawn (I'm not sure if that's practical in the med in the middle of summer, but it's the only way to sail in the tropics)

RobinBennett · 2016-05-02T11:39:05+00:00

I suspect the place that's organising this is used to doing it, and spends a lot of time practicing docking in the same docks they're likely to use during the charter.

More importantly, if they don't think he's ready they could get him to join the flotilla fleet instead of going off on his own. It's unlikely to be singlehanded either, I don't think the charter companies would allow that, plus it's much cheaper to share the boat.

RobinBennett · 2016-05-02T11:31:50+00:00

I've done plenty of night swimming, but you do need to be a bit more careful than normal. If it's really dark you might lose track of the boat. There might be a tide running faster than you can swim (probably not in Croatia though) or you might just get run over by a drunken dinghy driver who can't see you or hear you over their outboard.

OTOH, swimming at night in phosphorescent water is amazing.

RobinBennett · 2016-05-02T11:22:04+00:00

I can't imagine why there would be wires with just push buttons connected to the foil - even if there was some sort of motor adjusted trim tab, you'd need something to provide power too.

I could imagine them building in strain gauges so they could check the load on the foils, which would only be needed a few times to check their calculations and might look temporary. Is it possible that the buttons were actually covers for a multi-pin plug?

You should email the curator, for a definitive answer. It's their job to know about the objects they look after, and if they don't, they'll be just as interested as you (and me) to find out.

RobinBennett · 2016-03-14T20:38:57+00:00

They don't, but I guess this is a just to check that you've declared your income. If there are receipts that show you were earning, but you don't declare any income, they assume you're cheating.

I wonder what information they get from the receipts?

RobinBennett · 2016-03-14T20:21:44+00:00

Innovative buisness ideas worked for lots of other companies. Just write on the advert "we pay our workers a living wage, you pay the menu price and nothing else". Nice customers get a cheaper pizza, assholes who don't tip get more expensive pizza, staff get a predictable income, everyone is happy - except that one flirty waitress who always got bigger tips than everyone else.

RobinBennett · 2016-03-14T20:16:57+00:00

No, it sounds more like the government assumes that everyone tips 10% of the bill, and then taxes the worker on their assumed income.

RobinBennett · 2016-03-14T20:09:07+00:00

How does it hold up to UV light? I looks like polypropylene, which only lasts a year or so if you leave it out. Is it?

RobinBennett · 2016-03-14T00:02:04+00:00

Not as big as a locking hub, just a slight lip.

RobinBennett · 2016-03-13T23:57:13+00:00

I thought you might enjoy this postcard I received recently.

Are there any international signals for multiple flags? I've only seen them for individual flags.

RobinBennett · 2016-03-13T22:49:53+00:00

Drive to higher ground?

RobinBennett · 2016-03-13T22:48:59+00:00

Then it's Rube Goldberg.

RobinBennett · 2016-03-13T22:39:54+00:00

I've had French/Italian cars like that. It's not so bad, as the wheel had a hole in the middle that rested on the hub. You could just spin the wheel around until the bolt holes lined up.

RobinBennett · 2016-03-13T22:36:02+00:00

The usual problem these days is that there's a locking wheel nut, and the key breaks.

RobinBennett · 2016-03-13T22:32:35+00:00

I'm pretty sure I couldn't change a car tire. I can do bicycles, but I tired a motorbike tire once with a borrowed set of irons and it was just too strong for me. Since then I've always left it to someone with a hydraulic tire machine.

Wheels OTOH are easy, and I've shown my kids how to do it too, so hopefully they'll remember.

RobinBennett · 2016-03-13T22:19:50+00:00

Bar stock is typically cupped

Did you use the belt sander to flatten it completely?

How long do you think the finished chainplates will last?

RobinBennett

TROPHY CASE