Guha Ekambaram's incredible Science Olympiad 2023 Biplane!

[@JacobAforu]

What’s the secret to get places to fly slow and long??? I am anxious to know

[@joshuawfinn]

You tell me an we'll both know. I struggle to get access to good sites. My best advice is to approach the owners of old warehouses and dormant factories, offer to pay them something for their time in accommodating you, and show proof of AMA membership insurance.

[@jeffreybrandes881]

Beautiful plane. Great job, by the young man.

[@pandiiz7666]

As a member of the 7lakes Scioly team, I have been mesmerized by Guha's amazing Biplane! However, it is quite a shame that he couldn't participate at the national level. I'm sure he would've done amazing!

[@joshuawfinn]

Guha will be back again for the 2024 season. He also just qualified for a second cycle on the USA F1D team with an incredible level of performance at the Nationals/Finals.

[@RishaanC]

Were you at the Dulles invitational?

[@klaustrumputin-trudeau4142]

Once I was thrilled to see the 1st gen flights of these ultralights when they actually used a liquid soap like substance for the flight surfaces. This was at Lakehurst Naval Air Station (Hindenburg) within the giant blimp hangers. Glad to see they have a solid wing material now. The guests were told to move super slowly as to not break the airplanes in mid flight. Fantastic video!

[@wwjoesr]

Absolutely amazing flights!

[@sski]

That's an amazing airplane. That young gentleman is really on to something and very bright. Very cool to see. Cheers!

[@TrailcamsRCPhotoFlying2000]

Very well-done young man ! And thanks for sharing Joshua !

[@williamrobinson7435]

Congratulations to Mr Ekambaram on a great plane! You can see it taking advantage of the mini thermal there, those mini fins really keeping a lateral presentation in despite of the necessarily tight turn. The contretemps with the architecture really don't matter at all, this young guy is a worthy USA representative here. Thanks Josh and 'hi!' to everyone. Nice flyer! 🌟🌟👍

[@joshuawfinn]

Yeah he's an incredible kid who really knows how to tune airplanes. Since this meet, he's gotten a pretty good contest record with this plane.

[@benjaminkroes9785]

Those front wing tips look familiar ;) did he build a self design using (some) parts from a Stinger kit?

[@joshuawfinn]

Used some Stinger parts as the basis for it. Just an easy way to get to the final goal.

[@official_planespottingbros_yt]

This was an amazing flight! 👏

[@roberthiggins1100]

Impressive, Guha Ekambaram! Fun to watch!

[@rsuriyop]

Please tell me how these guys are able to make their propellers continually spin like that off of a wound up rubber band. Whenever I wind mine’s up, it will only reverse spin for like 5 seconds. Is there a special trick to it?

[@joshuawfinn]

Sounds like you need to buy some properly sized propellers (electric and gas props won't work), and use quality rubber (Tan Supersport), lubricated with silicone oil, and stretched out fully during the winding process with a mechanical (not electric) winder. I know that's a lot of stuff but that's what you have to do to be successful with rubber power. There are no shortcuts.

[@rsuriyop]

@@joshuawfinn Fully appreciate the input, thanks! Your channel is awesome by the way.

[@xiaoganliang6461]

Great plane! Is this for Division B and C?

[@joshuawfinn]

Div C. For Div B I'd make it longer and extend the wings to the B limit.

[@johnmajane3731]

Where did that digital winder come from? He has an great set up. Very professional.

[@joshuawfinn]

That's an Orwi winder from IFFS. It's a sweet rig (yes I have one too).

[@johnmajane3731]

@@joshuawfinn $300! That’s dedication

[@joshuawfinn]

When you consider that's about 1/3 of what you spend getting to a typical contest, it looks pretty cheap.

[@johnmajane3731]

@@joshuawfinn You got a point there. Are there winders for bigger models with counters on them?

[@joshuawfinn]

Volare sells a counter retrofit for the Scalewinder that is probably able to be installed on other outdoor winders. If you can find a used Sidewinder, those had a counter option as well. The Andriukov winders come with the counter and torque meter integral to the winder. You can imagine what those cost.

[@pankajwaghela83]

Very nice 👍🏾👍🏾

[@offtopicjes]

so josh, are you on the flight test forums?

[@joshuawfinn]

Sorta. I have an account on there, FAI-F1D, but I haven't been active there for quite some time. Used to post a ton of stuff but just don't have time anymore, and now that people are afraid to do speed challenges because of the FAA crap, I have no one to push me to develop foamboard hot rods. Tried to get the guys in FT on board with that and was told point blank that they have no interest in fast airplanes.

[@dooleyfussle8634]

As they say: planes want to fly, it's getting them down that's the trick!

[@RedstonePyroMan]

What's his launch torque? I can't see the meter

[@joshuawfinn]

All of it. ;)

[@RedstonePyroMan]

@@joshuawfinn from what I understand (courtesy of the rubber restriction) wood props don't offer good performance this year. They load the rubber down too much and by the time you get the torque right you can't hold the turns to carry the whole time. That must be why he's running out

[@joshuawfinn]

@@RedstonePyroMan it's more an issue of trimming the plane to handle the torque and motor length required for larger balsa props. This video was from the plane's first flying session, so it took a bit to get it set up. The HVAC also made things very difficult.

[@DanielTheManiel05]

Did he make this from scratch or use a kit

[@kayeninetwo3585]

An amazing plane and builder! Very sorry about the final impact. I'll bet it's repairable.

[@joshuawfinn]

It's been repaired and has quite a contest record now.

[@alexanderg-p3z]

Wooooow! That is amazing man!

[@baptistapereira7210]

Excelent!

[@DoyleBlevins]

OH NO is this to be continued, what was the outcome of the retrieval. Don't forget your Viewer, we now have a cliffhanger or rim hanger lol.

[@joshuawfinn]

That was the end of his flying for the day. The wing posts sheared off. He has since repaired the plane and is doing extremely well with it.

[@DoyleBlevins]

@@joshuawfinn Thank you

[@chrisgosling5408]

I dId once see someone with biplane chuck glider so I had to make on of those, hours of fun right there with a flick launch by hand

[@joshuawfinn]

Biplanes are just cool.

[@BigJimMartinGuy]

Very nice!

[@sablatnic8030]

He was right, it flew beautifulle! Too bad you couldn't have the ventilation turned off!! :'-(

[@hpapline]

sensational👍👍👍

[@RedstonePyroMan]

Impressive...2 1/2 min with AC

[@uscustoms05]

Impressive

[@joshuawfinn]

He's a pretty amazing kid.

[@dolphin971]

Whoever the doubting person was...💀💀💀

[@Random_guy49]

they got cooked. Im guessing you also do science Olympiad

[@aries_2111]

liked !

[@Cytogreg]

Demon AC!😣

[@DSAK55]

can you make it so it drops grenades on ruzzians?

[@dronsokolov3945]

Як він літає 😮😮😮😮