from a
plan by Frank MoellerSorry its a tall picture, but its even worse side-ways, it looks like I've fallen over.
Ok so you have already accepted i'm mad, so why did I build it. Well it looked nice in the magazine and there was a plan available, what more do you want?.
The original was a slope soarer and was also converted to electric power. Just to be awkward, (who me?), I wanted a removable power pod, so I designed a module that contained the motor unit, 7 cell pack, and speed controller. That meant there was just one connection and one screw to fix it.
Initially I would launch it with the motor running, but trying to control it whilst wrapping a handkerchief around the back of your hand to stop the blood going everywhere was became annoying. Yes hand launching a 14 inch pusher is a little delicate. So now I run like hell, throw the damn thing as hard as I can, and try and get the throttle open before it hits the ground. I win most of them. And it means you can hardly see the scars now.
How does it fly?. Majestic. Fantastic. And lots of other 'ics.
It can be stood on a wing tip and rotated, pirroeted?, on the proverbial sixpence, (or 5 new pence, dime etc.). There's a big garage door of an air brake/spoiler that pops up from the nose and brings it down at a handleable speed and angle, the only danger is catching a wing tip on touch down and slewing it round.
And all this is being pushed up there by 7 cells at just over 20 amps, that's what wing area will do for you. On a good thermal day it can be frightening just how fast it disappears upwards.
The power bit, that's a folding 14x7 through a 2.3:1 belt
driven by a Magnetic Mayhem. Alignment dowels and one
screw retain it in place.
Span - 132"
Motor - Magnetic Mayhem
Gear - 2.3:1 belt drive
Prop - 14x7 folder
Cells - 7 2400mA nicad
Weight - 6lb 6oz flying under power.