Jump to content

Gforce

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    202

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    1

 Content Type 

Posts posted by Gforce

    Our new ( very old 1942 ) L4 Cub

    in Warbirds, Vintage and Classic Aircraft

    Posted

    We recently bought a 1942 L4 Cub ( Grasshopper ) that is restored to a very high standard. We have just fitted a C90 to replace the C65 and have discreetly added electric starter and wing tanks to give it a bit of range ( as much as you can do at 60Kts )

     

    Its a fantastic plane to fly with the doors wide open and its actually got some pretty amazing history and has been in active service in WW2 ! Now registered with the RAA its a keeper.

     

    Really keen to take it to some flyins in NSW

     

    Cheers

     

    Garth

     

    L4Cub.jpg.817594e64e7014d8a1da7589369cf0a4.jpg

     

    L4cubinside.jpg.b9f05756701e9e12e2a011d4a2cf6d08.jpg

     

     

    • Like 16
    • Agree 2
    • Winner 2

    Some interesting designs

    in AUS/NZ General Discussion

    Posted

    How's this for a peek under the cowling -[ATTACH]23267[/ATTACH]

    that would be the sonex - i heard they are making one for the Onex aswell... Personally, I strongly feel that the future of electric sports aircraft in in single seat designs first. A conversion I have been thinking about for some years is Mark Browns amazing Starlite. Given it fly`s great on a Rotax 447 ( 42hp ) it would be an outstanding candidate for the Joby 30KW motor.

     

    starlite.jpg.a0ca5de3de3ee0dd64a8e167de1fdfaf.jpg

     

     

    • Agree 1

    Greenwing Electric Ultralight On Sale - US$40K

    in Aircraft General Discussion

    Posted

    Electric cars would have that problem too I'd assume - still have to cool the motor, but wet roads / downpours / water kicked up from trucks would have to put some moisture into the engine wouldn't it? Obviously it's not hanging up the front with a prop right in front of it in a car though, so I guess the amount of liquid getting to it would be much less.

     

    But that's a different installation surely... This is in effect, a part 103 ultralight that just became to heavy to offer as such and thats why its a kit S-Lsa. Asked Quicksilver ( when they offered an ultralight ) what there policy would be flying into rain and Im sure they would say " Dont !! "... My point here is that this is a very " good weather flying machine " so if rain is about.. in most cases it would not be suitable to fly so thats the solution...

     

    With electric cars like the Teslar.. its been ( and PRICED ) to drive in all conditions. I guess you gotta read whats on the tin !

     

     

    Model Aircraft and liability issues.

    in AUS/NZ General Discussion

    Posted

    Frank, Its really one of theses sports that has multiple categories and risk categories to match. 90% of RC club flying with just be sports flying and most clubs require pilots to have a check flight then work on their " wings " Starting with bronze to Gold standard. Very easy stuff but a Gold wing pilot will be a competent pilot and will be able to perform basic aerobatics. All of this would be deemed low risk. Pylon racing would be deemed a higher risk... Jets are again a higher risk... ALOT of RC clubs might restrict flying to " sports only " so you may want to do that. It will still keep 90% ( possible all ) the guys happy.

     

     

    • Agree 1

    Greenwing Electric Ultralight On Sale - US$40K

    in Aircraft General Discussion

    Posted

    I'm guessing you found out the hard way ;) , electric RC?

    My own fault but.... I was cloud surfing at about 2000 feet and flew though the clouds and killed the motor. It was flying a 2.4 meter motor glider ( FPV flight ) so was able to easily fly back and land a few Ks away. But it showed me that moisture and electric motors don't play well together. Also, when I picked the glider up water poured out the cowl ! Not alot, but enough to make me avoid flying into clouds as fun as it is !

     

     

    Greenwing Electric Ultralight On Sale - US$40K

    in Aircraft General Discussion

    Posted

    Silly question probably, but what happens if you fly into rain, with the electric motor hanging out in the breeze? I assume it is sealed somehow but it will need some sort of airflow for cooling.

    Not a silly question ! I would think than in the POH they would clearly state to avoid rain and moisture and most probably cover some guild lines as to washing the aircraft etc. In short.. you do not fly an exposed electric engine in rain. As me how I know 025_blush.gif.9304aaf8465a2b6ab5171f41c5565775.gif

     

     

    Some interesting designs

    in AUS/NZ General Discussion

    Posted

    Mmmm - the high spinner is part of what makes it look just so, in line with the tailboom etc, and gives excellent clearance to avoid prop damage. A lot of prop FOD on tri-gear planes is actually caused by small stones thrown forward by the nosewheel during taxiing, have a listen next time you fly off a dirt strip with a tri-gear that doesn't have a nosewheel pant - you can hear the stones hitting the prop.Even so, an IC engined version could get that high thrust-line easily enough with a gearbox mounted in the 'up' position, but an electric motor would necessarily bring it lower by half the motor diameter and if you imagine the spinner there it changes the look of the little beasty quite significantly.

     

    There's probably room in the cowling for the batteries and the ESC, then you could use the waste heat from the motor and ESC to heat the batteries - I understand they do need heating, not cooling, they work best at about 70-80*C apparently. Keeping the heat up to them is the biggest inefficiency problem the Stemme has, I'm told it actually uses electric heaters ...

     

    One of these would probably still retail at around the $35-40K mark because of lack of production volume, there's just not a big market for single seaters.

     

    After you mentioned it I had a look for the Joby 30kW offering but can't find anything, do you have a link to it? I think that'd be the largest suitable motor at present? Turnigy's are only about half that I think.

     

    Actually......Lipo temps are best kepy cool.. Heat them up and they loose efficiency very quickly and can puff ! I have over 1000 hours flying them ( in UAVs and RC planes ) so can attest to their best practice. This " concept " we have just come up with would be great in your suggested $35-40k mark but would never happen. Look at the Espyder, thats $40,000 for a 300 hour build kit and this would be made of carbon fibre so expect that number to be more like 50++

     

    Turnigy motors are pretty average RC model copies of mostly great RC motors but are never meant for man carrying aircraft. I would not trust my high end RC planes to one ! and they do not have a 15KW one... not even 10KW... check out the forums to see how terrible they have been.

     

    Joby have a few 30KW motors out for testing only at this point. Not in full production yet.

     

     

    Some interesting designs

    in AUS/NZ General Discussion

    Posted

    Same.. Had I not gone into FX I would of done design I think..

     

    That Big cowling would actually lend itself very well to a nice 30kw Joby brushless and then I would place the ESC under that to provide excellent cooling. The Batteries would be great in the lower aft fuse section ( However CG may not allow this ) and the top could be used for a self contained BRS... Or storage depending on your preference. However, the spinner looks WAY to high to me.

     

     

    • Caution 1

    Greenwing Electric Ultralight On Sale - US$40K

    in Aircraft General Discussion

    Posted

    Europe`s doors have been open for almost 20 years now ! Whats amazing is that one common rule could be agreed on. I lived in Amsterdam for 7 years when I was 19 and flew these cool little microlights called a Fox. They are very similar to the Xair, ( might be the same family ? ) but I was never allowed to take passengers back then. No one could ! All Microlight pilots were limited to single seat ops !

     

     

×
×
  • Create New...