700 mm DLG under 25 Grams! - Detailed Build Video

Hey guys! In this video, we take an in-depth look at my newest build, a ~700 mm DLG that weighs less than 25 grams! I provide the weight of each part, as well as details as to the construction process, tools, materials, and how long it took. The light weight comes as a consequence of a hollow balsa wing, with 1/32” Balsa skin, and carbon fiber strengthening in the middle for structural rigidity. I got the idea to try building this style of wing from this video here :
• micro dlg new way to b...
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[@JoinTheTechnicians]

This build is simply amazing! I've never seen a design quite like this. It's elegant simplicity yet sturdy construction makes it a truly unique piece of engineering.

[@AeroCraftAviation]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed. Let's not drop the ball on a collaboration. Set up that Zoom meeting. 👍🏼

[@microgliders]

bravo, fantastic, cant wait to see her soar, well done

[@AeroCraftAviation]

Thank you! I think the flight video will have to wait until April, as there’s still 4’ of snow on the ground here.

[@timothystone4998]

Another Great Plane and Video

[@newskyflyersbhopal916]

Very nice

[@rapharigoti]

Cool!

[@idkbro1429]

thats realy nice

[@AeroCraftAviation]

Thanks!

[@GrandadsOtherChannel]

Another good looker and excellent weight 🙂👍

[@AeroCraftAviation]

Thank you! Yes, lightweightness was the goal with this one. Light but still strong, and throw-able.

[@Jukipuringchannel]

Good jobs..

[@AeroCraftAviation]

Thanks!

[@allenmoore9848]

You are getting very good at this. Where do you get the receiver brick from, and does it bind up to a particular brand of transmitter. In other words could I get one to work with my turnigy i6. What voltage does it run on. In Australia we may soon face changes to the rules about flying and I am looking for different ideas. Thanks Allen

[@AeroCraftAviation]

The receiver brick comes out of a Mini Vapor. It is a micro indoor flyer from Horizonhobby which was very popular over here in the US a couple years ago. It binds to anything with DSM2 or DSMX frequency. So pretty much any E-Flite, JR, or Spektrum transmitter, or a Futaba or Tactic radio with the AnyLink module. I don’t know if it would work with your turnigy as I have never owned a turnigy radio, but I believe it wouldn’t. As for building lightweight, I’m always happy to help provide ideas or tips. Every aircraft I have ever built has been under 250 grams, so if you’re trying to beat the 250 gram limit, I’m your guy! :)

[@dsmclaughlin12]

did this eve fly? Would love to see the video of a DLG launch with this!

[@AeroCraftAviation]

Yes it flew well, albeit with rather low launch heights on account of the comparably low strength of the joint between wing center section and dihedral wingtip. Scroll through my catalogue of videos and you'll find the flying video.

[@robedmunds7163]

Bit more info on the radio gear would be nice

[@zimbobweyz6977]

Bro that’s lighter than a paper towel , very impressive sir

[@AeroCraftAviation]

Thank you!

[@EricRobb]

How did you bend the balsa for the wing. Thanks. Great video

[@AeroCraftAviation]

Good quality 1/32” Balsa will just bend like paper. With thicker wood, i usually heat it up and pour water on it, and then after it’s soaked through, i can bend it. But as i say, the 1/32” Balsa like what I used for this glider just bends like a sheet of paper, no problems.

[@EricRobb]

Thanks so much. Keep up the awesome work

[@AeroCraftAviation]

Yup. You bet! Hey by the way, I’ve been watching your videos, and I really like what you’re doing! You’ve got some good content, and sone nice camerawork too! Keep up the great work! :)

[@EricRobb]

Thanks sooo much. That means a lot. I have been loving your videos too. You are so talented. Thanks for the input

[@AeroCraftAviation]

Yeah, no problem! I can’t wait to see your channel grow and your follower base get bigger and bigger. You are helping bring model aviation to the world and it’s AWESOME! 😀

[@laoderajentoinda1182]

what are the electronics components?

[@AeroCraftAviation]

It uses the all-in-one receiver/servo board from a Parkzone Mini Vapor.

[@peterjohnalmodovariii4065]

I see a possible issue if this is truly to be a dlg and that is gonna be a structural problem in the tip of the wing on launch. Balsa alone would need to be reinforced on the outside with some bagging to keep it strong enough to withstand a full on dlg style launch.

[@AeroCraftAviation]

You’re right on that. It was one of my concerns too. Actually, I was surprised to find out that it stood up to launches to around 20 meters. But once I started pushing for higher altitudes, the wingtip was the first thing to break. Since then I have fixed it, but abandoned the project for lack of time. I may come back to the idea later and build a CF reinforced hollow balsa wing.

[@peterjohnalmodovariii4065]

@@AeroCraftAviation I would love to see it. I absolutely love dlg gliders.

[@AeroCraftAviation]

Me too. I will get to it as soon as I can. :) stay tuned.

[@somethingelse2740]

Very well done sir. Lovely work! The only thing I question is the placement of a single strip of carbon in the center of the spar. Isn't carbon best used in tension? I've only seen it used on top and bottom of spars, never in the center. Can you please explain your reasoning? It doesn't seem like it would be living up to its potential for strength to me.

[@AeroCraftAviation]

The thing is, the carbon itself is best under tension, the balsa is best under compression (balsa is pretty easy to pull apart, especially light stuff) and the super glue is best at ensuring sheer stress. So I figured that that configuration would be best, because the balsa and carbon fiber are on the same plane, and therefore give strength in both directions, and the super glue is good at keeping things from pulling apart when the wing tries to warp one way or another. Also, I wanted mostly to prevent wing-warping, which I figured the carbon fiber would be best at doing when nearer to the center of the wing.

[@somethingelse2740]

Have I ever mentioned that my wife travels around the world installing and troubleshooting massive long furnaces used to make carbon fiber? A very difficult and stressful job with often horrible working conditions. My wife is one tough cookie, most men where she works won't go to do installs because it sucks so bad. Worse in some countries than others.

[@AeroCraftAviation]

Wow, that’s amazing! I’ve always wondered if they used really long furnaces to make long pieces of CF, or how they did it at all. That’s really impressive. You said your wife has degrees in certain fields of engineering too, right? :)

[@somethingelse2740]

Bachelors in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Masters of Science, and her PhD. She did all that while working her way through school, no school loans and got quite high grades. Of course she went to school all through her early thirties. ;-) Takes time to do all that AND work full time jobs. The multi tiered furnaces systems for making carbon fiber are so long you would not believe it. The last install she did before Christmas had buildings about 1/4 mile long for each furnace. the ceiling is so high that they use two huge mobile cranes inside the building to place all the units of the machine together. The temps to make the fiber are around 3000C , very dangerous operation. And in some countries OSHA and safety regulations for the sites are non existent. Very dangerous on all fronts. The fiber is made in one continuous process with many strands side by side depending on how large the operation is they can run 100-200 strands through at one time. Very wide mouth on the furnaces. And when I say strand, I am not talking about a single thin filament, each strand is made up of 1000's of filaments. And each strand enters the furnace as whats called precursor, a nasty sticky rope of plastic gooey stuff that makes loads of very poisonous smoke which needs to be burned up in a giant incinerator above the furnaces. It is a pretty touchy balancing act to get the precursor to cook right. speed, time, tension and accurate temperature ramping throughout the length of the furnace. A small variation in any parameter can make the carbon good, great or ruin it. And also the precursor you put in has lots to do with quality. Most carbon made is the low grade stuff that we have access to. The high grade stuff is only made in a few places in the USA for use in aerospace and missile tech. They obviously need the best quality at the crazy speeds they commonly reach.

[@AeroCraftAviation]

Well that’s just mind-blowing! 1/4 mile buildings! WOW. So do they manufacture only long thin bits, or do they also do proprietary shaped parts like formed wheel pants and engine covers and stuff?

[@louselv606]

✈️✈️✈️

[@tobichessell132]

The 23g is without battery right?

[@AeroCraftAviation]

Right. Battery is a tiny 1S LiPo weighing 0.72 grams.

[@tobichessell132]

@@AeroCraftAviation 0.7g??? How much mAh does it have?😅

[@tobichessell132]

@@AeroCraftAviation do you think it would also work to build a similar one but cover the rips with tissiue paper?

[@AeroCraftAviation]

@@tobichessell132 It's from Plantraco micro-flight. I think like 15 mAh or something. Gives about 10 minutes of flight time.

[@AeroCraftAviation]

@@tobichessell132 Yeah that'll work. Might not be as strong though. You wouldn't be able to throw it as hard.

[@laoderajentoinda1182]

a

[@jimmyhaley727]

any plans ?,,, ole fart Jimmy

[@AeroCraftAviation]

Yep. Whole set of plans is right here in my head! I could build you another just like it. :) But no, no physical plans.

[@greenstripeypaint]

just speak words