Wright Stuff B

[carneyf1d]

yea ornithopters are a bit difficult if you are brand new to them. the device seems complicated, but after you know what it looks like, it isnt that bad. there are models you can buy at a store for 8 bucks. They fly for 20 seconds...and if you remake them with lighter balsa wood then times increase greatly.

[blue cobra]

At States it semmed nearly everybody had the same tail; a stab with vertical peices on both sides for rudders, moved by changing the angle of the tail boom. I always caused a turn by rubber banding a single rudder to the boom, then angling it inside the band. Is there any advantage to having the movable boom set up?

[GitItWright]

At States it semmed nearly everybody had the same tail; a stab with vertical peices on both sides for rudders, moved by changing the angle of the tail boom. I always caused a turn by rubber banding a single rudder to the boom, then angling it inside the band. Is there any advantage to having the movable boom set up?

The quick answer is that neither as an oerwhelming advantage

The longer answer follows........
Both systems function, that's true, but having position reliability would be a concern. The first system, I suspect, is the malleable wire system used by Freedom Flight. It is susceptible to being "bumped" out of position. As for your system, rubber bands never seem to be something to rely on as their memory ("stretchability")changes with tension, heat and humidity (read the threads on rubber motor performances).

There is no specific answer other than to suggest that it is (1) important to minimize the variables that involve movement of any of the flying surfaces AND (2) Be able to make a minor attitude adjustments, whatever the surface is, yet stay in that adjustment.

The last surface to adjust is usually the fin as it can have differing affect depending on the speed of airflow. Since WS airplanes fly at different speeds, this should not be the first choice. I suggest setting the plane up with built-in, permanent adjustments to dial-in the trim leaving only a few minor adjustments for trim at a contest site.

Those twin fin arrangements benefit by inducing less drag over the stabilizer. Chances are they are mounted on a slight angle to induce a natural left turn or orbit. And, at the front, the thrust or prop bearing is angled a couple of degrees pointing left to induce a left turn also. This leaves a very minor stab tilt adustment to dial-in the contest site orbit. The Freedom Flight system allows this as does a post and socket system for the tailboom attachment to the motorstick.

As for single fins, using a post and socket on the leading edge of the fin could work as long as there is a tight fit. At the trailing edge, you need a system that either locks it in position or one you can see visually, that the fin's vertical angle does or does not change. You can use your imagination to have a solution. Ideas such as temporary position adhesion using Ambroid or Duco cement and re-loosing the bond with acetone will certainly work but may have some in-school limitations. A small plate with a row of very tiny holes set in a radius could be used to insert the rear fin's into. Then any adjustments may be changes by moving the "pin" into a another hole to change the fins incidence.

Finally, the fin can be reshaped to increase or decrease the vertical attitude. Thin balsa can not only bend but stay reshaped by either compressing the balsa between your fingertips or by using warm moist air (say AHHHH!). If the airplane is trimmed well already this technique can be used reliably. Then you can "bend-in" an adjustment to the fin with little problem.

Good Luck

[QTpie]

There are new pictures from nationals of this year and last year of the planes flown by the Valparaiso teams in the images in Wright Stuff. Since I'm finally graduating from high school, I decided to post the pics to try and help the rest of you guys. Enjoy!

[smartkid222]

thanks i'll take a look soon

[jacdad]

Nice planes. Thanks for the pics and congrats on the flying.

[calgoddard]

QTPie:

Thanks for posting the pictures of the 2008 and 2009 planes and congratulations on your success.

These are pretty sophisticated planes.

My only question concerns the 2008 plane. The stabilizer span looks too large to meet the 2008 WS rules. Clearly the 2008 plane flown at Nationals passed inspection, so that picture is either of a non-conforming stabilizer, or there is some optical illusion when I view the picture you posted.

Thanks again. I hope you continue with indoor free flight even if you have graduated from high school.

[49ers]

[

that would be hard though a helicopter out of balsa
imagine what the plans for that would look like

I agree. That would look kinda funny...

Like a WS plane looks much like a Boeing 747? Folks, part of being a scientest is opening your mind and looking beyond what you are used to seeing.
For examples, see:
http://www.gryffinaero.com/models/ffpag ... penni.html
http://www.wright-brothers.org/Adventur ... %20Bat.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/aerohydro/mfm/ ... ayley1.htm
http://www.centennialofflight.gov/wbh/w ... Bstory.htm
http://www.americanjuniorclassics.com/c ... walker.htm
http://home.att.net/%7Edannysoar/ceilingWalker.htm

Keep in mind, those devices were made for play, not serious duration. But the concepts works. Lighten it, maybe add blades (wing area), etc...

And if this does become an event, you'll see many more examples hitting the web.

Hope that gives some hints.

Jeff Anderson
Livonia, MI

I didn't mean that in a bad way, I know and all of us know that experimenting is what scientists do best. And I do know that creating something that is based off of a real-life object doesn't always come out as you want it to.

[carneyf1d]

Here's a great example of a helicopter http://picasaweb.google.com/jeffrey.hoo ... 7835332994
i think it would be an awesome event. although there would be fewer people who could help the students overcome the learning curve.

[49ers]

I don't disagree that the helicopter would be fun to build, but the building would probably kill me because I can't handle small, fragile things well as yoyosciencekid23 can tell you...(more likely yoyosciencekid23 would strangle me for breaking a piece or cutting something wrong because I now can't go within 10 feet of him when he's building his Wright Stuff Planes, no offense yoyosciencekid23).