I've built a couple R/C rocket gliders over the years, both fixed wing and the Switchblade XP swing wing I was selling for a while, but decided a boost glider was in order. I've seen a couple videos of the Northhawk flying but honestly wasn't impressed by its launch pattern. It suffers from all the problems of my Switchblade XP--underpowered, and weathercocks like crazy. Like the XP, it glides very nicely. The use of the UMX bricks for control has really advanced small gliders.
Well I have a preliminary design I've been working on. The first iteration is a diminuitive 12" span, based off my Carbonette 12 kits. Before I even launched it, test throws revealed that it had potential as a discus launch model similar to the Whipit, only better. But the wing needed to be bigger. We launched it anyway. Height on a B6-4 was unbelievable. An average R/C pilot would have orientation problems it was so high. It's too sensitive to turbulence though, and having so little wing area, wing penetration is an issue. It's awesome on calm days, but if there's wind, you need something that doesn't work at stupid low reynolds numbers.
The next version has been built and is a 19" span with the same fuselage and a top fin added for discus launches. It'll need an offset pod to keep from burning said fin off.
Still needs some work. The battery is too far forward for the short connector cables on the UMX bricks. I'm going to widen the fuselage core to 1/4" (currently 1/8"), run the wire through the fuselage, and have the battery opening on top instead of the bottom. Also, the plywood cladding will run all the way to the nose. This will actually make it significantly stronger than the UMX whipit without adding more than a gram of weight. Since the model is too light anyway, this can only help.
It flies great, by the way. Hopefully I'll have a launch video available on Monday.
Well I have a preliminary design I've been working on. The first iteration is a diminuitive 12" span, based off my Carbonette 12 kits. Before I even launched it, test throws revealed that it had potential as a discus launch model similar to the Whipit, only better. But the wing needed to be bigger. We launched it anyway. Height on a B6-4 was unbelievable. An average R/C pilot would have orientation problems it was so high. It's too sensitive to turbulence though, and having so little wing area, wing penetration is an issue. It's awesome on calm days, but if there's wind, you need something that doesn't work at stupid low reynolds numbers.
The next version has been built and is a 19" span with the same fuselage and a top fin added for discus launches. It'll need an offset pod to keep from burning said fin off.
Still needs some work. The battery is too far forward for the short connector cables on the UMX bricks. I'm going to widen the fuselage core to 1/4" (currently 1/8"), run the wire through the fuselage, and have the battery opening on top instead of the bottom. Also, the plywood cladding will run all the way to the nose. This will actually make it significantly stronger than the UMX whipit without adding more than a gram of weight. Since the model is too light anyway, this can only help.
It flies great, by the way. Hopefully I'll have a launch video available on Monday.
