Volantex Ranger 1600 CoG testing

[@ColinMill1]

Thanks - an interesting test. As you say, it has a long tail moment. I took some measurements off a plan view photo and from that I got that the tail moment arm was about 3 x the mean wing chord and the tailplane area is about 16% of the wing area. Ignoring the downwash of the wing reducing the efficiency of the TP neutral stability would be for a CG at about 70%! (48% behind the 25% point). Even allowing the TP efficiency drops to 50% it suggests about 50% behind the LE should still be reasonably stable. Good to see theory fitting the experiment reasonably well.

[@AndrewNewton]

Thanks for doing the sums Colin, very interesting.

[@ColinMill1]

@@AndrewNewton Hi Andrew - I now have one on order as the basis of a quadplane so I was interested to know what the CG range might be. With it rigged as a quadplane it should be safe to investigate the outer reaches of the range.

[@helomike7000]

Great review as usual! I'm expecting my 1600 next week and am really looking forward to it.

[@J2onton]

Great video. Case proven. Will order one in the morning. No if's no buts. Been sitting on the fence for the last week.

[@GroundControlRC]

Nice CG testing and great flying! Love the onboard camera and the close to ground loop was exciting ;-) Happy Flying!

[@amarti344]

Many thanks, Andrew

[@JoshWeaverRC]

Great test! I have had a test in mind, and now I think I know what I'll do. A weight on the arm of a servo. Starting at 90 degrees I can swing forward or back or a linear servo with a weight. Good stuff as always Andrew.

[@AndrewNewton]

Very scientifical. CG shift in the air!

[@Graybear78]

Hi Andrew. Just purchased a Ranger 1600. I noticed the fuselage has two spar holes, while the wing only has one spar. Is the same fuse used for both the 1600 and the 2000? Thanks. Love your videos.

[@AndrewNewton]

Thanks, yes same fuselage. Phoenix V2 2m wings also are the same as the Ranger 2000.

[@Graybear78]

Hi Andrew, Thank you for the quick reply. I always enjoy your videos. Before asking, I should have checked further in your other videos on Volantex. You stated they are the same, and I missed it. Again, thank you.

[@rusack7174]

Excellent video explaining CoG and its effects on flight. I think a good companion to this video would be one using a less forgiving plane. Thanks again!

[@AndrewNewton]

Thanks, I have done many videos on cg test where I pushed it too far.

[@rusack7174]

@@AndrewNewton Oops, I should have taken a look first! 😁

[@dlm5536]

Many thanks Andrew for your very useful information which has given me clarity and even more confidence in this great little plane. Much appreciated .👍👍 Darren

[@AndrewNewton]

No problem Darren

[@didactylos4diddy474]

That is truly amazing. And a proof of good design (imo) . The latitude it should give you for fitting gear in different positions or exchanging say, cameras of different weights, gives a fair sized comfort zone,

[@AndrewNewton]

That's right, hard to fault it.

[@EnglishTurbines]

Yes, it's a great FPV ship for sure, I wish it wasn't so pricey though....lol...Your weather looks great, ours has dropped off some as we head into Autumn....Im relying on you Andrew for my Sunshine as our Winter shuts us down...:)

[@AndrewNewton]

I'll do my best ET. I need some XM+ RSSI advice. RSSI is on ch16 from the XM+. Select ch16 for RSSI in iNav and activate it on the OSD, then do you need to scale it somehow? Seems to read 49% max

[@AndrewNewton]

It's OK, needed to flash the latest firmware to the XM+

[@blackbirdboy1]

Me too. ET has been getting on at me for ages about flashing my XM+ Rx's. lol

[@EnglishTurbines]

Lol....You can have RSSI on Ch#8 or Ch#16 depending on which Firmware you load....Both of you are in Detention for not paying attention....lol

[@EnglishTurbines]

Lol....You can have RSSI on Ch#8 or Ch#16 depending on which Firmware you load....Both of you are in Detention for not paying attention....lol

[@toineleuverink9905]

Yes...how far back can you push it and what will happen? It is a good video and a safe approach to balancing CG, but it would be even nicer to really push it too far so we all can see what happens and learn from it. Sorry for the crash... We didn't see that in this video. Because you kept it safe now, we didn't really learn anything, except that the Volantex Ranger is really forgiving on the CG. Just some thoughts on a really nice video. Btw: so good to see how you guys get spring, whilst we get autumn coming up, haha. Keep up the good work!

[@AndrewNewton]

You just want to see me lose control. OK I will try it soon.

[@toineleuverink9905]

Andrew Newton to be honest: yes. But it's all for science.

[@adrianryan1975]

I just found out the hard way that foam is magnetically attracted to trees. And the higher the branch, the stronger the attraction. I've had less then 10 successful flights with 3 tree adventures

[@AndrewNewton]

Ah yes, a little understood law of physics. Goal and light posts are the strange attractors in out area.

[@RobB_VK6ES]

I suspect the tail down attitude and climb under power might be down to decalage angle. Too much negative incidence on the H stab.

[@xbanania]

Maiden today ! My ranger 1600 go up when i decrease the troothle. My CG are on manufacturer point. Do you have one idea? Thanks you! ( France )

[@AndrewNewton]

That happens to a small amount with most pusher style planes, but it's not problem with mine.

[@sheabutter173]

cool video ... i am very impressed with the plane design ... Is that the PNP with stock electronics ? i ask because of the 4s battery ..... i would like to know if the stock ecs motor can take a 4s ???

[@AndrewNewton]

This shows my setup kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYGbo2aviqZjf80, don't know about the PNP gear sorry. Have a look on the RCGroups Ranger 1600 discussion.

[@tulliobonfiglio]

Andrew, you did mention only once, at the very first aft cg shifting, of more down trim needed. Didn't you also more and more while aft and aft cgeing ? This would mean lesser and lesser profile resistance as a very useful byproduct !

[@AndrewNewton]

Just little amounts of elevator trim, dont think it would make a lot of difference to drag but in theory you are right.

[@rchalmers3]

I had the same thought, especially when Andrew came in for subsequent landings and seemed surprised at the extended glide.

[@amarti344]

Can you advise about the FPV camera being used? Does it have WIFI transmitter or only SD recording capacity?

[@AndrewNewton]

Just HD recording on a Mobius C2

[@antoninoarrigo2331]

Going to buy one thanks mate

[@AndrewNewton]

It's a superior plane

[@The_Pub_]

Hi Andrew Great tests on a Fantastic model. You changed your motor from original build?? Did it fail or used elsewhere. What is the new one and is it as efficient and as much thrust as the 1100kV? Cheers

[@AndrewNewton]

Turnigy Propdrive 1200kv, covered in this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/aX-Qg5umo7Goerc The other motor had noisy bearings. This one is doing nicely, efficient and powerful

[@julianhumphrey4843]

@@AndrewNewton sunnysky x2212 1400kv is a great motor for this plane, got one in my 1600

[@darkoromcevic7553]

Hi Andrew nice flight. I have problem with my ranger 1600 . Wheh I throttle in flight my plane it leans right. When I glide without throttle go right. Do you have that problem and how fix it? Please help Thanks.

[@AndrewNewton]

Sound like it needs some left aileron or left rudder trim if it's going right all the time

[@darkoromcevic7553]

@@AndrewNewton My CG was 10-12 mm behind the line. I move it 5 mm Behind the line and now fly much better. I test right on CG line next time. Thank Andrew I'am beginer , love yours videos.

[@antoninoarrigo2331]

Really like watching your videos

[@AndrewNewton]

Excellent, I will continue

[@scotthendrix13]

Hello Andrew I have a Ranger1600 coming anyway ,looking for a very good motor for it,,besides stock,I’m looking for one with some umph and yet still battery life,,thanks

[@AndrewNewton]

I'm using HobbyKings NTM Propdrive 2836 1200kv. May not be available anymore? A similar sized Sunnysky would be good.

[@scotthendrix13]

Andrew Newton what other motor do you suggest,,,wanting a nice quality motor,I like the turnigy aerodrive motors but seems a lot out of stock ,I have several 8x6 atp props I will be using,,what you suggest,,,

[@lsearls1]

in your other video link you said the CG was more back? with the 4s 3000

[@AndrewNewton]

Which video link? CG is OK from 70 to 80 with 3000 4S

[@thedoble]

Andrew is there an advantage to having CG further back than recommended? More efficiency?

[@AndrewNewton]

Recommended CG is often too far forward, requiring the elevator to be constantly up for level flight.

[@thedoble]

@@AndrewNewton Thanks!

[@MrFravy]

Mobius Cam is placed inside the plane or not?

[@AndrewNewton]

I mount on top usually, too difficult to get the Mobius into the nose.

[@Maxxiux]

Hi, do you know if the 1600 amd the 2000 use the same fuselage?

[@AndrewNewton]

Yes, same fuselage. Can swap the wings with no alterations

[@Maxxiux]

@@AndrewNewton thank you sir

[@scalerc2842]

if your cg is too far forward for some reason my ranger its tail heavy

[@AndrewNewton]

What's going on there?

[@scalerc2842]

some wild since but I tried to do a hand launch and it just stalled snd hit the ground and I even have some led in the nose probably a faulty plane anyway at least yours flies good!

[@MikeDesertHunterHale]

You really don't like it, do you? lol..... Great Video..... order me one, I'm sold! Andrew, Fall weather is here for us, it's almost scary this year, we have horrible south winds and forest fires south of us, the smell of smoke in the air is acrid !!! My son's girlfriend has asthma and is using her inhaler every few minutes, horrible.

[@AndrewNewton]

Yes it's a rugged workhorse plane. Nasty forest fires. We have a bad fire season ahead of us too.

[@ethanmassey1216]

Would you still recommend getting one, or is their another similar plane I should buy?

[@AndrewNewton]

Definitely, still the best all rounder, and you can get spare part 2m wings that fit.

[@leemaples1806]

somehow i think you could mount the battery on the elevator, and still fly it. :-)

[@AndrewNewton]

Certainly can stick a camera on the tail without too much bother.

[@Kisbalta111]

....the BG Eu shiping method is a joke. Unusable... But the V R 1600 is a best plane...

[@AndrewNewton]

HobbyKing might be better

[@conradtaggart9959]

2 planes delivered today from Hobbyking - triple boxed if you include manufacturer's box !