by g_kandylakis » Sun May 21, 2017 7:22 am
Here is something from the old SFA, some of you might remember...
Since I never got to finish it, it is still an open project, so I thought about posting a little more on it.
The model was roughly finished (no dummy engine and no details) and I was able to do some test flying, which proved promising. Duration was short, but that was never my aim, with such a funny looking airplane...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdgX3PGppno
The model was put aside as I worked on my Bellanca research. The test flights were good, but revealed a major weekness. I chose to make the landing skids ot of laminated basswood. While strong enough for normal flying and landing, the could not stand up to a sudden landing shock and broke just before the front lg strut. Once broken they needed replacement. I tried repairing and reenforcing with wire inside, but they were too sensitive. So the model was put aside.
Then, recently, I was thinking about the coming Intescale event and how I have no new peanut to fly. My Vendome has done its part, so is due for competition retirement. The Lizzie would be a good replacement, especially since it only needed finishing and of course a solution to the landing skid problem. After some experimenting I managed to do the skinds out of carbon fiber, planked with very thin basswood. Although not tested, they seem much stronger than the previous version and I am optimistic the will stand the stress.
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Here is something from the old SFA, some of you might remember...
Since I never got to finish it, it is still an open project, so I thought about posting a little more on it.
The model was roughly finished (no dummy engine and no details) and I was able to do some test flying, which proved promising. Duration was short, but that was never my aim, with such a funny looking airplane...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdgX3PGppno
The model was put aside as I worked on my Bellanca research. The test flights were good, but revealed a major weekness. I chose to make the landing skids ot of laminated basswood. While strong enough for normal flying and landing, the could not stand up to a sudden landing shock and broke just before the front lg strut. Once broken they needed replacement. I tried repairing and reenforcing with wire inside, but they were too sensitive. So the model was put aside.
Then, recently, I was thinking about the coming Intescale event and how I have no new peanut to fly. My Vendome has done its part, so is due for competition retirement. The Lizzie would be a good replacement, especially since it only needed finishing and of course a solution to the landing skid problem. After some experimenting I managed to do the skinds out of carbon fiber, planked with very thin basswood. Although not tested, they seem much stronger than the previous version and I am optimistic the will stand the stress.