Building techniques

[smartkid222]

As to whether "TAN Indoor Contest Rubber" is the same as "Tan Supper Sport Rubber" you'd have to ask the company. I THINK it is, but better to check.

Has anyone checked this?

[smartkid222]

i got an email back from them:

You are correct that our indoor contest rubber is Tan Super Sport stripped
to size.

Thanks,

Tim
A2Z Corp

so its the same.

[jcollier]

I was reading the posts about whether the bonus was worth it or not, and Jeff Anderson expressed my thoughts exactly. If you want to try the bonus wing, you really should build a separate plane and test to see if it is worth it. I know that is more testing when some have trouble getting gym time, but it is the only reliable way. Last year, our bonus wing plane, which seemed to be flying very nicely for what it was, needed almost a 50% bonus to be worth flying. There are lots of variables, since we had 3-13cm cord wings, and they all worked, but all flew very differently. I know Jeff and others have said it before, but the build is only where this event starts.

[planemaker]

It says in my instruction manual that fishing weights should be used to hold light Balsa peices in place while gluing???? What does this do???

[smartkid222]

i think it's just to act as a weight. think of it as a clamp used to keep the two pieces of wood clamped together to ensure a properly glued joint.

[planemaker]

Jeff Said:

"Hey, I'm not god or anything, nor do I actually know everything, not even close, answer away!"

Dude you are GOD!!!! For inexperienced fliers like me you are awesome.

[calgoddard]

Jeff:

Cezar Banks showed our team a neat trick for making a detachable tail boom. Mount a pair of tissue tubes on the rear end of the motor stick, one on the top and one on the bottom, so that the tubes are clear of the rear motor hook and extend parallel with the longitudinal axis of the motor stick. Then mount small posts on the top and the bottom of the forward end of the tail boom, the correct distance apart so that they mate with the tissue tubes. The end of the tail boom is then pushed against the end of the motor stick. If the post/tube connections are snug, as they should be, you don't have problems like you do with those single tissue tube tail boom tube connection schemes. This technique worked great for our team. The main advantage is that you can break down the plane to carry it in the overhead storage of a commercial air liner. But you can also swap out tail booms to change stabs, CG etc. Cezar carried one of his Wright Stuff planes around in a small cardboard box, the maximum dimension of which was slightly larger the main wing span. So you could fit this year's plane in a box measuring 45 cm x 30 cm x 10 cm. When Cezar flew his plane we could see, once again, why he is a world class indoor flyer.

[jander14indoor]

I built one that way a few years back. It does resolve the issues using one round tube connection, but I found it to be at the limit of most beginning flyers building skills, so I don't recommend it much.

I actually don't recommend my mortise and tennon joint either. I continue to use it because I like that hollow motor stick so much and don't have time to build new ones every year. I keep the hollow motor stick as a an example to explain stiffness when coaching.

For beginning to intermediate flyers I stick with solid motor stick to tail boom construction for simplicity. Trim by cracking tail boom and regluing to new position. Removable wing and tail for adjustment and compact storage. Not as small as Cezar's package, but close.

For advanced flyers, whatever technique works for them, go for it.

As to Cezar's skill, I don't believe I've met him, but his record speaks for itself, he's clearly one of the great indoor flyers. Listen when he speaks.

Jeff Anderson
Livonia, MI

[calgoddard]

Cezar is a true gentleman and very generous with his time and expertise. I heard he finished 2nd seven times in the world F1D championships.

Our team built a torque meter according to his plan. It required a machine shop and many hours of work. It was well worth it though. Many Wright Stuff gold medals have been won using that torque meter. It has a release latch that allows you to easily remove the rubber band even though there is no O - ring. It also has a universal joint so that the torque meter can swing in azimuth and elevation during winding so you can read the meter more easily.

I agree with your advice that most students should keep it simple in terms of Wright Stuff airplane construction. Any of the Wright Stuff kits, well built and trimmed, could win most regional and state competitions, and Nationals.

I am always surprised that students think there is some secret Wright Stuff airplane design that will beat all comers. In this sport there do not seem to be any real secrets, just know - how, skill and experience acquired over time by reading, trial and error and advice of others willing to share, like Cezar Banks and another of our local friendly expert mentors, John Hutchison.

I like to tell people that these guys could make a shoe box fly well. I seem to recall seeing Cezar do nearly four minutes with his 2008 Wright Stuff plane in a flying site with about a 25 feet ceiling. It was a humbling experience.

You seem quite knowledgeable regarding indoor flying and students would do well to heed the advice in your posts. Thanks for all your efforts. I got hooked on this hobby after my first exposure through SciOly in 2005. I am very sorry that Wright Stuff is apparently gone as a SciOly event after this year and is not expected to return until 2013, at the earliest.

[jcollier]

It is indeed sad that a great event like Wright Stuff can get phased in and out, while the stuff like "Can't Judge a Powder" and others go on year, after year, after year.....

Sorry, that's all the ranting I will do.

We opted to try the Cezar Banks Leading Edge kit, after a few years of building from scratch. My son and our other WS competitor are in the process of building, and it is an impressive kit. Still have to set the plane up to fly its best, which is certainly a process. I appreciate all the generously shared info from JAnder, calgoddard, Git it Wright, and others. If the students listen to what they are saying, it really helps.