Flying a Free Flight Rubber Powered Piper Clipper

[@alexisscott9573]

Lovely build and clip

[@Watchingthevideos99]

Thank you Alexis!

[@scotdobberfuhl4209]

Love that design--maxes for days!

[@Watchingthevideos99]

Scot you need to build another! It took a kanone a couple weeks ago in Simplified Scale. Love it!

[@scotdobberfuhl4209]

@@Watchingthevideos99 I have the wing and fuse sides for another framed up, but got distracted by a couple other Modern Civilian entries!

[@Watchingthevideos99]

@@scotdobberfuhl4209 oh I understand. HA HA.

[@waterfordrs22]

Keep the videos coming John. Thank you for the time and effort.

[@Watchingthevideos99]

Thank you Robert. I figure this is a nice way to tie my project together.

[@waterfordrs22]

No doubt about it.

[@jeffwalther3935]

This Piper aircraft, the venerable "Cub" at its finest is #1 in general aviation history, flies like a champ, fun throughout - even to look at standing still, much less the entire freeflight phenomena of many. It has grabbed my attention like few things, perhaps the combination of art and aircraft, . . . but that's not new. There's more here but I don't know what it is. Since discovering this peculiar aviation/art/craftsmen aficionado art form, I've pursued it abstractly, trying to expand it further in its logical, reasonable way, with other aircraft, greater efficiency and duration of flight, bigger AND maybe something NEW altogether. This may sound far-fetched, but is do-able in every way. The rubber-banding power must use the maximum length possible of the fuselage to deliver and store the power to the propeller, limiting the designs to single engine with additional limits due to it being rubber-powered itself. In trying to devise a suitable freeflight Boeing B-52, I soon realized that the freeflight re-engining of 4 propeller on a featherlight model B-52 could do it, but the engine pods lacked the length required for suitable rubber-banding power. The solution could be to use 4 solar-powered electric engines with all the horizontal surface of the model being used to layout a series of solar cells, all of which are suitably light and small, that when appropriately all engineered, hidden within the design, could deliver a freeflight flying model of a Boeing B-52, all freeflight design-guidance considerations things remains the same in design, construction, features, materials EXCEPT using 4 high performance, miniature, featherlight, solar-powered electric motors with hi-performance propellers and remote/variable RC on/off or speed control switch. Thus multi-engine aircraft can be free-flight powered too. The Soviet's counterpart that used counter-rotating turboprops could be similarly used AND both could be, for fun, have straight (instead of swept wing) wing attack in the designs to improve soaring and still maintain precise aesthetics and appearance too, either way or both. From a distance, B-52's look like soaring predators, eagles or albatross, built to effortlessly soar, not roar.

[@Watchingthevideos99]

Sound like an interesting project. I have many friends that are flying twins, tri-motors and 4 motor rubber powered airplanes. The performance with the new Super Sport rubber is quite remarkable. We no longer rely on long motors, but braid motors to fit in shorter nacelles with a "floater" rear peg that prevents clumping. Many videos here on KZbin showing their amazing flights.

[@jeffwalther3935]

@@Watchingthevideos99 I understand the rubber-banding engine is ALREADY the essential freeflight form of propulsion, BUT wouldn't passive solar cell propulsion fit the criteria too? With a remote on/off switch too, launch is easy-peasy, everything else remains the same. However, if you DONT have a remote on/off switch on the ground, the Buf will fly until stopped by other means. I knew if your multi-engine modelers were just using the short lengths to accommodate small outboard engine pylons, the rubber bands would have to be special-made and involve some special handling and hardware to rig right and launch, part of the fun, I know, but different fun in not pursuing the potential of energy preloading with these rubber bands all the same and pursuing doing it WITH solar power as the power source.

[@Watchingthevideos99]

@@jeffwalther3935 Sounds interesting. I enjoy experimenting with my models and that sounds like an interesting project. At the moment, much of my building revolves around FAC competition so most of my models are currently built to comply with the contest rules of the organization. I do take a break on occasion to digress to experimental projects. But with the U.S. FAC Nationals coming up next year I have a focus on preparing for that event.

[@jeffwalther3935]

@@Watchingthevideos99 ABSOLUTELY understood, big guy. Im just doin' theoretical freeflight. Yur doin' state of the art and science freeflight. Yur stuff is marvelous on all levels. Happy landings always. Cheers.

[@Watchingthevideos99]

@@jeffwalther3935 Still fun to think about and chat about. That's where great ideas come from. Thank you for all the discussion.

[@georgehiotis]

Awesome build. Is the prop from Volare ?

[@Watchingthevideos99]

Yes George. A Gizmo Geezer prop. A great product. The free wheeler works great! Flawless transition.

[@justfun-hg4cy]

How to joint between wing and fuselage

[@Watchingthevideos99]

Jajat the wing panels are simply glued to the cabin. The wing struts are important to provide strength.

[@jimrhee4327]

Sweet!

[@Watchingthevideos99]

Thanks Jim. It's a great flyer and continues to serve me well. Thanks for watching!