Well not sure where this will end up. I have decided to try and build a winged mini.
Reason: Class3 would have been my option but I am to far from a site that I could use it regularly.
It would not be suitable as a class5.
So the mini option is it , something that I can try and build (it is for fun and I know it does not fit the mini rules.) Its something that I have wanted to build for some time.
So I thought I would start with a flapped wing, then build the body to suit.
The wing that I will try to build will be 3sq meters
Cheers
aus230
you say" I will try", I say "doing it".
I had quite a scare with a 3m wing on a five, so this is gonna be great fun
Paul was it a solid or flapped wing, from what I can find out a wing with a flap is more controllable
Good on you for trying a wing. Be interesting to see how it goes and how well it competes with the current generation of minis.
One thing I've never understood is why the wing+flap has the two seperate airfoils, one behind the other. My brain says it is defeating the whole purpose of going for an airfoil in the first place, or am I missing something?
mine had no flaps,circa1991,
the solid surface ,as opposed to a skin lifts the efficiency of it
even changing to something like smooth monofilm feels different
This will be an interesting experiment
Hope we all get some learning out of it and how it compares with soft sails
The only wings I have seen have had a soft sail at the rear
That slot idea I always thought was a slow speed device but apparently not
I imagine running something like that on a mini will be a challenge
Good for you for trying this
Vic,
Stuff the Rules, you do not have to compete in official comp's but you can always "Throw down the Gauntlet" to any and all challengers. The Moto is "Build it and they will come. This sport is only limited by ones imagination and the $$$ I would like to do similar myself but don't have the $$$ to throw at it.
Ron
Ian
This may help you
Ron.
I think it going to cost a lot less than a sail rigged mini. No mast, no sail, no blocks or ropes. Just a couple of sheets of ply and timber the rest is laying around
Cheers
Vic
Just a couple of things about wing masts (I sailed only a few) bigger land & water yachts with wing / sail setups. Wings can be VERY violent when tacking in med-strong winds,........ and I do mean WTF violent.
Wings also generate HUGE down force, make sure the chassis is strong.
Kiwi307 mentioned this on a previous posting...I put the mast base 35% back along the wing. If you put the step too far forward it will just rotate too much, too far back and it will oscilate when you tack, and this is NOT fun, it can lift the front of a class 3 over 2 metres in the air if sufficiently violent.
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Land-Yacht-Sailing/Construction/How-I-build-wing-masts/
Thanks Tim I am a member of that group.
Brian
I am building the wing 1/2 scale to wd49. And the wing attachment point will be to the same scale. But I will accept advice from anyone who has had experience in building/sailing these things, Which is the idea behind posting on here.
Cheers
aus230
I have often looked at "coreflute" sheets, stuff that advertising signs are made from and thought how would these go as a wing rig, the sheets 1.2m x 2.4m cost about $12 each which would give you about 2.8sqm of area. Shaped around some 75mm plumbing pipe with liquid nails and duct tape, it would slip over a standard mast on a Mini.
I am really liking where this thread is going and Gizmo's reference to using coreflute jogged my memory on a couple of angles.
First one is in reference to a fairly new product on the market which is described as "beyond super glue" that I saw in our local engineering supplies shop where they had on the counter a product tray with a continuous loop DVD player on top.
The video was very impressive and is on their web site in Quicktime format.
The product called RapidFix could be very useful attaching and joining coreflute panels on a wing structure. Get all info here:- www.rapid-fix.com/Rapid-Fix.com/HOME.html
Also on the subject of coreflute; landyacht used it as mould material in the formation of the nacelle for "Nappy Rush".
Price quoted for the two 50 ml?? containers was $27. Not cheap but it depends on how and on what you use it.
I still don't have a mast or sail for this beastie yet.
Weighed up all the material for wing and flap today it came to a total weight of 4.5kg.
Only have to sand the wing frame now and then attach plywood skin.
I will have to build a new mini as the wing is located in a different position plus the body needs to be enclosed to take the wing control, should be fun.
Cheers
aus230
I think the downforce can be explained by the wire stays -- the horizontal component of the stay force prevents the wing from tipping over, but the vertical component just pulls the wing down into the chassis.
A very similar effect happens when windsurfing.
You guys are starting to scare me a bit
Skinned the wing frame, have to clean it up now and fit the nose sections to the wings
Stood the wings on aus 230 to have some idea what it would look like.
I have noticed some wings have used a tail or secondary surface for angle of attack control. I think it would help to dampen the violent ocilation that has been mentioned. Look at Greenbird the landsailing speed record holder.The thing is you never know what you have until you try it out.
I am not sure if I have got this right or not, Going by scaling I recon I should not be overpowered
st49 has a 49sq ft wing
13 ft back axle
aus230 (new mini)
14sq ft wing.
5ft back axle (outside of wheel contact point)
what do you guys think.
cheers
aus230
Yeah AUS as long as your CofG is really low Spin Out should be a real option. I was glad of it when the Razor got uncontrollable. Sure it busted the Mast but that was better than accelerating into Rocks. Wouldn't you say?? Hmmmm?
Ron
What you need is a Test Pilot
You gotta love this forum. Most forums talk the talk and then...talk a load more. Everyone on here seems to just get on and do it. Fantastic.
Cheers Col
your gonna need an OTT mini chassis to sit this wicked baby on, where did you put those measurements
its all looking proper to me
THE BERMINATOR