Unique Tandem Wing Glider flights.

This is the second flight of this 98" twin wing glider, now with a stiffened up fuselage, flying in lighter winds than the maiden flight. Im now really happy with how she performs.
Control is achieved using a rudder and an all-flying rear wing for pitch.

[@SlopeRCGliders]

This is the second flight of this 98" twin wing glider, now with a stiffened up fuselage, flying in lighter winds than the maiden flight. Im now really happy with how she performs. Control is achieved using a rudder and an all-flying rear wing for pitch.

[@tomcoryell]

John Woodfield RC Gliders Wow, Yeah, a lot less flex!

[@norwayrider]

I’m curious about the center of gravity on this one, is it very critical? Enjoy your channel very much 😎

[@SlopeRCGliders]

Norwayrider thank you. It doesn’t appear to be very critical. It flew really well straight away so I haven’t played around with the CG yet. I will try moving it back a little on the next flight.

[@TheRCPilotsLog]

Wow that’s cool! Do you still balance it on the front wing, or somewhere between that and the tail wing?

[@michaelwhinnery164]

John, It would be sweet if you would do some close ups on some of the unique designs and functions of your aircraft. Love your channel and posts. Also seems like there was a prehistoric insect like this...🤔

[@HermitagePrepper]

Vert graceful air craft....it appears very bouyant and can turn on a dime.

[@tomthompson7400]

Its like a Chinook as a glider , very smooth.

[@EnglishTurbines]

Enjoyed the soundtrack too.... There's a lot of people on those beaches now...🤔😳😎

[@soliv27]

Yes ! Beautiful. I'd like to know the music references.

[@RCRitterFPV]

just watching it trying to figure out how and why it's working so well. enjoy the soundtrack too.

[@AddictedRC]

Sometimes I think get as much enjoyment from watching you fly, as I do from actually flying. Thank you, Woodfields!

[@SlopeRCGliders]

Thank you for watching!

[@joewoodchuck3824]

Each airplane is fantasticer and more greatified than the previous.

[@alannorthdevonuk763]

Must ask Santa for a new dictionary. But agree.

[@paulhope3401]

@@alannorthdevonuk763 'Fantasticer' is an ancient Gaelic word that means even more fantastic.. dont you know? Its a bit like 'Bestest' :)

[@joewoodchuck3824]

@@alannorthdevonuk763 Bekuz you want me to talk more gooder? :-)

[@jacobdavidcunningham1440]

So jealous of the flying spot ha Where I live is just flat and corn

[@tomcoryell]

Jacob David Cunningham Nebraska?

[@jacobdavidcunningham1440]

@@tomcoryell Kansas

[@Been.Here.Since.2007]

I've always wanted to build something like this, looks just as I saw it in my mind.

[@jo2lovid]

Intriguing. It boggles the mind trying to figure out where the CG will be on this model. Oh, and nice flying too!

[@BrightBlueJim]

As with all planes, CG needs to be a little forward of the Cp, or the center of lift. If the wings are identical, Cp will be at the midpoint between the Cp for each wing, separately. Except that it will be a little forward of that because the rear wing isn't getting clean air like the front, so the front wing will produce a little more lift than the rear, and Cp will be a little forward because of that.

[@eriklapparent4662]

Smooth flying ,good handling,even a loop,super as usual!

[@bobmillerick300]

Very cool John. Looks like she trimmed up nice. As always, thanks for the share.

[@danielz171]

Congratulations for these great planer. Tanks

[@RcAircraft]

another nice flight. I do like the odd ones.

[@paulayala4816]

That is a nice flying sailplane, very smooth. That is a long walk to the waves on that beach.

[@voornaam3191]

At that cliff, the air is going up almost everywhere! Wow!

[@bobclarie]

Mesmerizing . . . You are truly "one" with the elements and your craft . . .

[@SlopeRCGliders]

Thank you.

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Mesmerising John, she looks like a giant dragonfly over a pond 🙂

[@239giant2]

Wow John next to your carnard, this one my 2 fave of yours, incredible flight performance, thank you so much ,cant put in to words just how much joy it brings me to wach you fly!

[@SlopeRCGliders]

Thank you! So glad you like it. I really wasn’t sure how well it was going to fly.

[@Abderrahmane_Aitouche]

Un brave type Un ingenieur par excès-lance

[@robedmunds7163]

That flies beautifully

[@daveeckblad]

I had a fun time figuring out which beach this was in cornwall :) Man... I can't believe that glider flies. And, very well at that! It just seems to anti-stable! Great job yet again!

[@SlopeRCGliders]

Thank you!

[@chrisshingler5253]

Looks like two dragon flies!!!! Well done great video.

[@MikeNugget]

Cool experimental plane!

[@bobconnor1210]

Stunning! It flies so beautifully that we forget that the tandem was abandoned early in the evolution of aircraft design because a tendency to fatal stalling that killed both builder and noted woman pilot.

[@voornaam3191]

Did you see it stall?

[@bobconnor1210]

Voor Naam No, not at all.

[@dugbucky3298]

Dude, you could make a ROCK fly!!

[@SlopeRCGliders]

Haha thank you!

[@hydrojet7x70]

Love it! You must be a building monster! Love your videos! Hey... you should make one to look like a giant dragon fly! You could use this one as a prototype.

[@SlopeRCGliders]

Thank you! A Dragonfly would be pretty cool..

[@travelbugse2829]

Booootiful!

[@shrevewaxter4876]

That thing is coo-coo crazy. (in the best possible way). Is it coming or going?! 👍👍👍

[@K3Flyguy]

It appears to fly more solid than it did before the fuse stiffing. How would describe the difference. Thanks John, nice video, music and flying!

[@SlopeRCGliders]

It doesn’t feel too different to fly but now I’m not worrying that it will fall apart in the air. I think it probably looks like it’s flying better because of the smoother conditions

[@user-xd2eu8qg5o]

Прекрасно!!!

[@AeroCraftAviation]

How do you build so many so quickly?! You’re amazing! Great work. 👍

[@SlopeRCGliders]

I do enjoy the building side!

[@adamchambers5599]

Congrats on your super star status in rcme magazine. I bet your more famous than elvis in Cornwall now

[@SlopeRCGliders]

Haha thanks Adam. Hope you enjoy the article.

[@soliv27]

Two wings ... but leaves me speechless. Just beautiful. Not a bird but still gracious. I would have tried to ask about relation to Mignet configuration, not far, plans you may have to experiment a Glider 'flying flea'... Maybe the proa of aviation ?

[@barkebaat]

0:33 - let me just point you in the right direction ... there you go !

[@timgarrett203]

Dragonflies do it! Extreme stagger tailless biplane! Beautiful!

[@timgarrett203]

I forgot to ask - are you controlling it as a canard or conventional or blended in pitch?

[@timgarrett203]

Sorry, your comment answering my question wasn’t up when I posted. Thank you!

[@samnelson3526]

That's a neat way of viewing it

[@paulhope3401]

@@timgarrett203 The rear wing is all moving acting as an elevator, the CG is around a third back on the fuse... and obviously Polyhedral and rudder for yaw/roll.

[@harveydecker6381]

Joy. On a cushion of air.

[@geordienufc3132]

That's a pretty strenuous workout, you must have burned almost a calorie !

[@alldaye2]

Always a joy to watch your work, John. How did you determine the CG?

[@SlopeRCGliders]

It was a bit of a guess but I seemed to get it about right first go. I thought of it as one wing and picked a spot 1/3 way between the two. I also put the dimensions through a CG calculator but it showed a spot a few inches further back. I think it could still come back a little.

[@timgarrett203]

Assuming the wings are equal area, CG would want to be 1/2 way between the 25% chord line for the two wings.

[@SlopeRCGliders]

Tim Garrett don’t forget the rear wing is in dirty air and not very efficient.

[@timgarrett203]

John, can you do a slope soarer of this? kzbin.info/www/bejne/l4GZpWOder6NrbM

[@BrightBlueJim]

@@SlopeRCGliders Actually John, no, it WILL be at that midpoint. Why? Because when flying level (and I don't mean fuselage level, but neither ascending nor descending), you will have the angle of attack of the rear wing slightly higher to equalize the lift between the wings. So the rear wing does produce more drag, but NOT less lift. But wait! It's not that simple. The Cp changes. As you increase AoA for the rear wing, this shifts Cp back, while simultaneously raising the rear and thereby pitching the whole AC nose down, which then reduces the AoA, making it self-stabilizing. I think Burt Rutan said something about this making tandem wing planes un-stallable for a similar reason. So it may not be so much that you accidentally got it right on the first try, but that it compensated for whatever error you had put in it. Still, there should be some optimum Cg that minimizes drag. Incidentally, Rutan's tandem wing planes have the rear wing higher than the front, to reduce the turbulence on the rear wing resulting from the front wing's flow. On this plane, you could accomplish this just by increasing the AoA of the front wing to a little more than is required for level flight, so that the rear always has to rise higher than the front to get to that stable configuration. Oh, man, now I'm insprired.

[@milfordjohnson2289]

i was just debating in my mind whether to build a tandem wing or biplane. i might go with the biplane so i can have an insanely long wingspan, stiff and light hehehe. ill race you :) love it by the way. first to tandem biplane wins... the thing should lift off in a vaccuum 🤣 (for the pranksters with the fokker tri wing in mind... good luck)

[@ferb7452]

I have no words 😊🤫

[@AngusRollingWithJesus]

Cool ! And they said it couldn’t fly LOL 😀

[@haljohnson6947]

if you give each wing +5 degrees incidence, then the plane will fly nose down and both wings will fly in clean air.

[@hydrojet7x70]

Look at all those people on the beach. They could be having fun flying! yucky sand!

[@doc-nobody-glider]

Wonderfull, she flies extremely smoth! May I wrong, it seems that the fuselage shows slight torsion effects due to rudder commands?

[@SlopeRCGliders]

Doc-Nobody yes, it still flexes a little, but I’ve stiffened it up since the first flight when it looked like it was about to snap!

[@777swampie]

I would love to see your stability analysis.

[@capistranogardener6100]

As usual, a very nice video indeed. Did you bend the elevator joystick when you were pulling that loop? ;-)

[@SlopeRCGliders]

Almost! I don’t think it really wants to loop..

[@johnnyllooddte3415]

wowwwwwwww thanks

[@johnnyllooddte3415]

now shorten the wings and make it a biwing tandem..please

[@aeredhaelredfalen6194]

Now, imagine showing these to Leonardo Da Vinci. Or giving him one, for that matter.

[@BrianRamseysg01]

Errr I see that now I have ideas on a smaller version!!

[@clayhollingsworth5423]

Where is this site? Another cool plane and beautiful video!

[@SlopeRCGliders]

Thank you. I’m in Perranporth Cornwall

[@mac760]

Beautiful , but I suspect a fair weather flyer only ... Touch of Gentle Lady in that wing design too 😉

[@SlopeRCGliders]

Yes, it’s only one for gentle days. The wing is a big g bigger than a Gentle Lady.

[@mac760]

@@SlopeRCGliders Looks sweet ... I don't suppose you would reveal where you fly , it's a beautiful looking site .

[@SlopeRCGliders]

I’m in Perranporth Cornwall

[@mac760]

@@SlopeRCGliders I had an inkling it was Devon or Cornwall . I spent many happy summers on the North coast around Camborne , Hayley and St Ives . .... Of only I had known how to fly back then . Subscribed and look forward to many more flights 👍

[@SlopeRCGliders]

Thank you!

[@CheshireTomcat68]

Hoped for that loop, quite the spectacle. Have you considered/built a scale bird glider like a sea eagle?

[@SlopeRCGliders]

The tandem glider doesn’t pick up enough speed in a dive to do a nice crisp loop but it was worth a try! I have tried a couple of bird designs, but never with a great deal of success...

[@marekcermak3843]

I am working on something similar, but I have an important question, did you use the forward wing with ailerons and the rear wing with elevators, or the other way around? Thanks. Mark.

[@SlopeRCGliders]

Hi Mark, I made it with an all moving rear wing for the elevator, and a rudder for steering. It doesn’t have any ailerons.

[@walterdennisclark]

Excellent. Can you say a few word on behalf of tandems other than they are just different.

[@SlopeRCGliders]

I think that’s about it. It certainly looks different but doesn’t really feel any different to fly.

[@jimsmalleimb7709]

Gosh! That is fascinating! I must try and make a quick-and-dirty foam chuck glider like that and see how it works. Never thought of that before! Essentially this says that a tail surface needs not be smaller than the wing... but is this detrimental or positive? I'd like to hear what aeronoautical engineers think of this.....

[@jimsmalleimb7709]

And how do you figurte CG? Halfway between the two wings? As the rear wing is no longer just a stabilizer, but maybe the front wing is a canard? You've got me confused and thinking now....

[@SlopeRCGliders]

I don’t think it’s a particularly efficient design, as the airflow off the front wing is disturbing the flow to the rear wing. Also, the twisting forces on the thin fuselage are big enough to see it moving. But it was just a fun thing to try as I already had the two sets of wings. The CG was a bit of an educated guess but luckily it flew first time with no issues. I worked it out to be about 10% ahead of the half way point.

[@peterhancox5268]

Ah ha, now turn both wings around and have the vertical wiggly bit up the front, then you will fly back in time?

[@SlopeRCGliders]

Ah I’ll give it a go!

[@hadleymanmusic]

Would you ponder the practicality of a very long fuselage with many more shorter wings?

[@SlopeRCGliders]

I don’t think my tandem design is particularly efficient as air going over the rear wing has been already disturbed by the leading wing. But lots of short wing would certainly fly and be a fun experimental build. Maybe I’ll give it a try someday…..

[@MarceloLP67]

John... It's amazing... How I get the prints of these glider? In my country I don't located in my search

[@SlopeRCGliders]

This one is my own design. I don’t really have any plans for it as I made it up as I went along.

[@MarceloLP67]

@@SlopeRCGliders man incredible... I really appreciate you work but these time you are in the top of the creation... Really my congratulations and a will know you next creation... Thanks my friend

[@Abderrahmane_Aitouche]

Bravo woodfield Bravo water-filed

[@danielz171]

Waooo, iťs perfect. Were are the elevon? In front? Please, Were are the plans please?

[@SlopeRCGliders]

The rear wing moves for pitch control.

[@danielz171]

@@SlopeRCGliders thanks master, i apreciate.

[@MartyLJ57]

Which wing do you use a stabilizer . That is a massive rudder

[@SlopeRCGliders]

The rear wing is all moving for pitch. The rudder needs to be fairly big as it’s not that far behind the CG.

[@jarek12061960]

gdzie ster wysokości ? czy sterowanie wysokością realizował unoszeniem tylnego skrzydła? where is the elevator? did he control the height by lifting the rear wing?

[@tomcoryell]

JareK Pawlowski Are you from the land of the Wilga?

[@SlopeRCGliders]

That’s correct. The rear wing moves for pitch control.

[@bokusimondesu]

Look out, it's a tandem...duck 😁

[@BrightBlueJim]

You say the rear wing controls pitch, but I see it rubberbanded to the fuselage. How are you changing the angle of attack for the rear wing?

[@SlopeRCGliders]

It’s mounted on a hinged moving platform above the fuselage

[@BrightBlueJim]

@@SlopeRCGliders I see it now in one of the shots. Thanks!

[@robinbeckford]

What's the decalage (incidence difference) on a setup like that, John?

[@SlopeRCGliders]

The neutral position seems to be about a couple of degrees, but as the pitch is controlled by pivoting the whole wing, the angle is infinitely variable.

[@ryandewar5771]

Hi john I am local to the Newquay area and am a member of st mawgan model flying club. I have occasionally flown at st Agnes beacon and found it to be very over crowded, it seem you have found an excellent slope away from the crowds.is this accessible from the top of droskyn? Many thanks

[@SlopeRCGliders]

Hi there Ryan, it is possible to walk up from Droskyn but it’s probably easier to get to from the end of Gwythian Way, or the next turning up which goes to the small industrial estate off St George’s Hill. I do go to St Agnes very occasionally, but like you say, it can get busy. I can walk up to the Perranporth site from home. I guess not many people fly there because you can’t park right by it and the landing area is tiny compared to StAgnes.

[@ryandewar5771]

Hi John Thanks for the info, it looks like a cracking site, I may have a little look one day. What’s it like for lift compared to st Agnes ?

[@SlopeRCGliders]

Ryan Dewar it’s probably on par with Aggy and will take a Westerly round to a Northerly. Let us know if you plan to have a fly and I can meet you there.

[@ryandewar5771]

Thanks John I will be in touch. All the best

[@soarrich]

Kind of a Flying Flea. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZqmpnumgqqCecU This arrangement was banded in USA for man carrying planes at one time due to crashes, I don't know if it still is. If you decide to move the CG back it will be interesting to hear the results. On thermal sailplanes I dive test them, if it pulls up quickly it's too nose heavy, if it tucks the nose into a steeper dive it's tail heavy, (That sound backway until you think about it.). I always try for a very slow pull out of the dive on thermal sailplane, I'm not sure how you set up a slopeship.

[@hanspraschniker7909]

where did you set Center of Gravity?

[@SlopeRCGliders]

It’s about 1/3 between the two wings.

[@777swampie]

Plans available? Thanks!

[@BrightBlueJim]

Is that the same fuselage as your "Flying Matchstick"?

[@SlopeRCGliders]

It’s a similar construction but a different fuselage. But it uses the same wing.

[@dimitripavlakos1070]

How does pitch control work on this model aircraft?

[@SlopeRCGliders]

The whole rear wing is mounted on a pivot which is moved be a strong servo.

[@Hermod_Hermit]

...where is the CG on this amazing bird?

[@kevinrdunnphs]

He said in another comment it was 1/3 of the way between them, presumably 1/3 back from the front wing towards the back wing

[@SlopeRCGliders]

It’s about 1/3 between the two wings.

[@Hermod_Hermit]

@@SlopeRCGliders Thank you for answering!

[@nerome619]

I wonder how it'd thermal?

[@SlopeRCGliders]

It would probably thermal quite nicely..

[@arnavkumar8388]

what airfoil did you use?

[@SlopeRCGliders]

It’s got a Eppler 205 section.

[@arnavkumar8388]

@@SlopeRCGliders thanks, can you also tell me about the incidence angles of the front wing? I wonder how you managed to keep the longitudinal stability in check.

[@SlopeRCGliders]

The front wing is set at 0 degrees incidence to the fuselage but as the whole back wing moves it is effectively moving the incidence.

[@softdorothy]

Tandem seems like missed opportunity in full-size aircraft. I suppose they have reasons though.

[@SlopeRCGliders]

I guess the main reason is that the front wing disrupts the airflow to the rear wing, making it less efficient.

[@RcAircraft]

@Hard Facts Thats what i did with mt Tendem wing design and it works great, front wing pitch rear wing is fixed ruder controls left and right and it loops well too.

[@erikedlund8493]

Flies exceptionally stable. Is it due to the construction, your skills or the light winds?

[@SlopeRCGliders]

It’s mostly because of the smooth winds and great flying site!

[@TheSemelis]

More weighty fuselage to withstand the torsion is a reason, Miles Libellula had problems in this area too.

[@Learn_whis_me]

How to fly without a fan

[@SlopeRCGliders]

It’s a glider getting lift from the wind coming up the slope. Just like a seagull flying without flapping its wings.

[@paulhope3401]

Where is CG on something like this... Middle of the fuse?

[@SlopeRCGliders]

It’s about 1/3 way between the two wings.

[@paulhope3401]

@@SlopeRCGliders Thanks John. I'd have thought it would be more central, curious to see how it performs with a more aft CG. Does it feel nose heavy? Looks to fly really well. Why isnt this design more common? Excessive fuse twist loadings or an aerodynamic flaw?

[@SlopeRCGliders]

Paul Hope the CG feels about right. It doesn’t need excessive up elevator to fly. If you think of it as one big wing and ignore the gap, the CG would be about 1/3 way between the two.