Wright Stuff C

[paschw30]

Do I need to make any modifications to the bernie hunt design spreadsheet in order for it to apply to science olympiad planes and/or biplanes? If so, what modifications?

Thanks

[bjt4888]

Do I need to make any modifications to the bernie hunt design spreadsheet in order for it to apply to science olympiad planes and/or biplanes? If so, what modifications?

Thanks

Pasch,

Yes, since SO airplanes are significantly heavier than those that the spreadsheet was designed for, you'll find that the predicted and a actual location of ballast will differ.

Also, we're finding this year that pretty SSM is needed; like 35% plus.

Good luck,

Brian T

[madhavaniyengar]

Has anyone tried the laser cut planes kit? If so, how has it been for you? I've heard good things about it but I'm not sure exactly how it will perform.
Thanks

[lechassin]

We had a good day today!

We've come to terms with the fact that we have one design good for 25'+ ceilings (wings centered so the plane banks, which controls the climb), and another design for ceilings above 50' (wings offset either way so no banking, more efficient climb). The second design would only be good for State (if we make it), where the ceiling is 98'.

Here's our experience from today:

Luke flew our best yet, 1'58" with his banking plane, miraculously avoiding HVAC vents throughout the flight, except for the one time that it was about to hit the 25' banner but it went under a vent and got blown down 5 feet. It landed with very few knots, so we'll say the plane can fly 1'58" under a 30-35' ceiling, using 2.8 grams of 0.0625" rubber wound to 0.6 in.oz/4700 turns, unwound to 0.28 in.oz/4410 turns (290 turns unwound is more than we want). Otherwise, with HVAC disrupting the flight throughout, it flies 1'30" to 1'40" consistently. Since this doesn't reflect badly on the plane, we'll accept sub-optimal altitude/flight time under HVAC because adding extra launch torque just risks loss in the rafters if we happen to miss all the vents. Regionals are under a 35' ceiling so hopefully we can launch at higher torque and keep more of our initial knots.

The other plane with offset wings that flies flat is showing its potential, but can only be used for high venues: we used a 1/2 motor made of 1.4 grams of 0.060" rubber and a 1.4 gram/9" stick to make up for the missing rubber. Initial 0.6 in.oz/3000 turns launched at 0.45"/2970 turns, climbs just under the 25' banner with HVAC, and landed with very few knots, flight time 1'10". That's on a 1/2 motor so we're cautiously optimistic that a 50'+ ceiling will get us flights in the 2'20" range carrying around 6000 knots. But if we don't make it to State, we'll never know (all our venues are 25'-30").

To improve our chances of making it to State we took on Boomilever. The team usually just skips that and takes last place so we figured there's plenty of room for improvement... It's hard! We saw someone scored 2700, which means their boomilever is only 7.4 grams and holds the entire 15 kg (to get the 5 kg bonus). We can only hold the entire 15 kg with a 13.9 gram boomilever, score 1439 Neither of us is interested in that event, so that's where we're leaving it.

[CrayolaCrayon]

We had a good day today!

. Otherwise, with HVAC disrupting the flight throughout, it flies 1'30" to 1'40" consistently. Since this doesn't reflect badly on the plane, we'll accept sub-optimal altitude/flight time under HVAC because adding extra launch torque just risks loss in the rafters if we happen to miss all the vents. Regionals are under a 35' ceiling so hopefully we can launch at higher torque and keep more of our initial knots.


To improve our chances of making it to State we took on Boomilever. The team usually just skips that and takes last place so we figured there's plenty of room for improvement... It's hard! We saw someone scored 2700, which means their boomilever is only 7.4 grams and holds the entire 15 kg (to get the 5 kg bonus). We can only hold the entire 15 kg with a 13.9 gram boomilever, score 1439 Neither of us is interested in that event, so that's where we're leaving it.

How does your plane react to banner and ceiling hits?

[lechassin]

How does your plane react to banner and ceiling hits?

What I'm calling a banner is actually a raised dividing curtain the bottom of which sits at 25'. About a foot of material hangs down, and since it's in the middle of the gym, a hit is usually head-on. The plane bounces back a little, drops about 5 feet, and resumes flight in the same direction. If we're lucky, the plane will climb back to just under the banner, but usually the height is just lost.

We really can't risk true ceiling hits because the rafters will usually snag the plane (often by the bottom-mounted rudder) in which case it's lost. We still have one up there so we don't like strategic hits (if there is such a thing) to get repeated climbs.

[bjt4888]

We had a good day today!

We've come to terms with the fact that we have one design good for 25'+ ceilings (wings centered so the plane banks, which controls the climb), and another design for ceilings above 50' (wings offset either way so no banking, more efficient climb). The second design would only be good for State (if we make it), where the ceiling is 98'.

Here's our experience from today:

Luke flew our best yet, 1'58" with his banking plane, miraculously avoiding HVAC vents throughout the flight, except for the one time that it was about to hit the 25' banner but it went under a vent and got blown down 5 feet. It landed with very few knots, so we'll say the plane can fly 1'58" under a 30-35' ceiling, using 2.8 grams of 0.0625" rubber wound to 0.6 in.oz/4700 turns, unwound to 0.28 in.oz/4410 turns (290 turns unwound is more than we want). Otherwise, with HVAC disrupting the flight throughout, it flies 1'30" to 1'40" consistently. Since this doesn't reflect badly on the plane, we'll accept sub-optimal altitude/flight time under HVAC because adding extra launch torque just risks loss in the rafters if we happen to miss all the vents. Regionals are under a 35' ceiling so hopefully we can launch at higher torque and keep more of our initial knots.

The other plane with offset wings that flies flat is showing its potential, but can only be used for high venues: we used a 1/2 motor made of 1.4 grams of 0.060" rubber and a 1.4 gram/9" stick to make up for the missing rubber. Initial 0.6 in.oz/3000 turns launched at 0.45"/2970 turns, climbs just under the 25' banner with HVAC, and landed with very few knots, flight time 1'10". That's on a 1/2 motor so we're cautiously optimistic that a 50'+ ceiling will get us flights in the 2'20" range carrying around 6000 knots. But if we don't make it to State, we'll never know (all our venues are 25'-30").

To improve our chances of making it to State we took on Boomilever. The team usually just skips that and takes last place so we figured there's plenty of room for improvement... It's hard! We saw someone scored 2700, which means their boomilever is only 7.4 grams and holds the entire 15 kg (to get the 5 kg bonus). We can only hold the entire 15 kg with a 13.9 gram boomilever, score 1439 Neither of us is interested in that event, so that's where we're leaving it.

Eric and Luke,

Great job! Keep working it.

We dislodge stuck airplanes from the ceiling with a 35 ft. extendable fiberglass pole. Never lost an airplane. Sometimes get some small damage dislodging, but always repairable.

Brian T

Brian

[xiangyu]

We had a good day today!

Hey Mr. Chassin,

Congrats on the progress! At this rate, you should be breaking 2 minutes very soon!

I do boomilever also. 1439 is certainly not a bad score! There are certainly those boomilever demigods who build insane boomilever, but 1439 is a very good score to start. Almost certain it's top 3 at regionals but idk how good people in your region are.

Xiangyu

[NewFlyer20002]

We had a good day today!

Eric,

Good job on your WS work and thanks for sharing. I am lurking more out of interest in the WS. My daughter is more focused on Div C Biology events, while my son is in the middle school flight event. Regarding Boomilever, don't give up. There is a site on the Sci oly wiki called Aia's Boomilever guide and she gives a lot of tips (I guess you probably checked it out). Additionally, you do not need to come in first. As long as your school places higher than last place, you are gaining (or shaving off) points to get into States. Our Coach last year was looking for two "volunteer" warm bodies to attend an event because the original pair were running late, and he was playing the points to qualify for States. If you have access to last year's events, you can figure out where you would place with your score. An award is an award, even if it is not first......not mention having fun with the Science!

Best of luck to your son! ......and thanks "Dad" for supporting "Son".

Cheers,
NewFlyer20002

[Airco2020]

To improve our chances of making it to State we took on Boomilever. The team usually just skips that and takes last place so we figured there's plenty of room for improvement... It's hard! We saw someone scored 2700, which means their boomilever is only 7.4 grams and holds the entire 15 kg (to get the 5 kg bonus). We can only hold the entire 15 kg with a 13.9 gram boomilever, score 1439 Neither of us is interested in that event, so that's where we're leaving it.

It's a team sport! As good as you guys are you should be in 3-4 events. I'm in WS, Ping pong, Gravity car, and detector. Main builder on 3 of those and helper on the 4th. There are 23 events and only 15 members - 7 seniors - so everyone needs to do multiple events to have a chance at state. Us builders are unique - lots of people can take a test but not many can put stuff together! You are first in Regionals at Wright stuff without doing anything until March. Put the plane away, help all the other build events get to top 5 at regionals and you'll have your chance to fly at 90 feet.