Skip to main content

My RC glider concept - Flight Test session #1 - Tail heavy glider

I had my first attempt, after months of anticipation, at flight testing my 2-meters wingspan glider. The electronics worked fine. The vertical surface (for rudder control) attachment looked a bit suspect but I couldn't wait anymore  I mean It had rained out for the past two weeks! There's only so much patience a guy can have!

Well setting up the glider on the field I realised something crucial that I had overlooked (I think I blatantly ignored this one)... The weight balance of the glider made it tail heavy. To all my non-technical guys it means all the weight of glider didn't sit under the correct part of the wing but further away towards the tail. Simply put... the glider WILL NOT GLIDE... not properly anyway (and most probably break something on it's way down).

But I decided to press on... I mean, YOU CAN still fly with a tail-heavy airplane... YEAH RIGHT!

After assembling the glider and doing an electronics check, to check if the proof WAS REALLY in the pudding (there's no pudding --- I'm just saying). I swallowed every instincts of me to not hand-launched the glider and set to give it a shot (Kids -- don't be like me -- always listen to your instincts). Lord and behold, the glider flew.... For like 2 SECONDS! It pitched up in the air and came crashing (hard landing to be more precise) down TAIL first.

In the back of my  mind I knew I pushed the flight test through eventhough the glider was not properly balanced. But to my surprise, the strengthening of the wing-to-fuselage and fuselage-to-tail interface held their end of the deal by keeping the glider intact... MAN! Was I GLAD!

So didn't need anymore confirmation (I know --- I should have known better right!) that I needed to correct the weight balancing the glider before the next launch. In my pride, I agree and so I'm in the process of making some changes to fuselage to correct the weight balance. I'll keep you guys posted the latest development.

Below are some pictures of the what the glider looked like on the day. Enjoy!








Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Spiritual Intelligence and Leadership

Spiritual Intelligence  is one of the latest buzzwords in the leadership field. It is increasingly recognised that leaders not only need emotional intelligence but also spiritual intelligence. Depending on how we define spiritual leadership, it can be seen as a crucial component of authentic leadership necessary to cope with a dramatically changing world constantly threatened by toxic behaviour. In essence, spiritual intelligence is the quest for better understanding of two key foundation principles of authentic leadership: The inner self : The quest for self-knowledge is a crucial component of inner peace and confidence. Such inner peace is the foundation of authentic behaviour that is not corrupted by compliance with fears, doubts and the corrupted opinion of others. The inner self is a world of self-discovery where the age old question is asked: Who am I? It is the world of seeking after the divine heritage that beats in our souls. The inner self is where we find the c...
Post a Comment
Read more

Proverbs 1 - The dangers of Foolishness

I was reading this scripture this morning and i couldn't help feeling that I often act like this person. Thinking that I don't have to study my bible and put it into practice is compared to someone laughing at you when trouble comes to your life. It sounds cruel but God's standard was never meant to make us 'feel' good. 26 I also jwill laugh at your calamity; I will mock when kterror strikes you, 27 when terror strikes you like la storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. 28 mThen they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. 29 Because they chated knowledge and ndid not choose the fear of the Lord,
Post a Comment
Read more

Earnestly seek Him - Call to change

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and mthat he rewards those who seek him. I've read this passage a thousand times and it never fails to ring sound doctrine in my heart. Too often I take it for granted that God is not pleased by mere "Lord, Lord" words coming out of my mouth. Too many times I lack effort in putting structures and plans that will drive me towards Him and His grace. I don't often ask myself "How can I grow in drawing near to God?" or "Does my life truly reflects his existence?". It's so easy to get caught up in the "pattern of this world", so easy to be "polluted by this world" David's charge to Solomon (1Chr 28) 9 “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, zfor the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be f...
Post a Comment
Read more