Scioly.org

Planes don't have efficiency...

And I think it goes without saying that you're going to test the plane, many times...

true do a wide variety of tests also

carneyf1d wrote:

does anyone else have any advice for my team??? I appreciate your help in advance!!!

what sort of advice would you like? Indoor flight is a very very large topic. What areas do you need help with?

Basically any area would help a lot for me and my team!!

jacdad wrote:

49ers wrote:does anyone else have any advice for my team??? I appreciate your help in advance!!!

Build another plane just like the one that dude sat on (without the damage of course), and you should be just fine.

Those planes are kinda hard to make though and cost about $20, but they do fly for about 3 and a half mins

One plane costs 20 bucks? Did you buy single pieces of balsa wood or sheets? If you buy sheets you can make like 5 planes for 20 bucks.

Kyle:

It looked like it was a Freedom Flights kit, if I remember correctly.

49ers, you could google FAI modelsupply and get their phone #. Call and see what they have in terms of kits or information. If you are not comfortable building a kit, I think you would find it kind of tough to build from scratch with just plans. If you just want to build a plane to get experience, there are less costly ones available. If you want to have a good shot to win at States, you need to practice building the best planes you can, IMHO. Pitsco has some options, but most are tissue covered, and are about $20 also, so you may as well get something really good for the same money.

If you want, I can teach you to build from scratch. Much more creative and fun in my opinion. Plus a little bit cheaper. However, it takes a couple planes until you get the hang of it. Let me know if you're interested.

I actually started from scratch and did quite well the first time around. I used these plans the first time around - obviously they are quite a bit dated and definitely can be improved upon - but they will allow you to make a plane that flies easily a minute to a minute and a half.

http://webs.wichita.edu/scienceolympiad/ws/ws.html

I learned from there and started adapting to my own designs, eventually going to mylar covering (although I switched back to tissue) and eliminating the wing saddle (although it was great for a first time flier). But it gives you the technique and advice to start.

You'd probably fare a little better time-wise by starting with a kit, but in my opinion that takes the fun away from it, and you learn a lot less. Building from scratch will result in lower times initially, but if you're patient enough, you can do just as well. Eventually, you'll be able to trim your planes better than a kit one, and you'll probably be able to fly longer.

Sure, you can go out and buy a Dave Zeigler kit. From what I've seen, they do fly very well. But don't expect to get 3 and a half minutes the day you build it. It takes a lot of practice to trim the plane. You can get the same results from scratch, but it's more difficult to begin with, even working with a set of plans.

WS is not an expensive event. I think the most expensive thing was the rubber - and if you buy enough it'll last you many, many airplanes.

Thanks for the advice on how to build airplanes, it will probably come in handy some day.

carneyf1d wrote:One plane costs 20 bucks? Did you buy single pieces of balsa wood or sheets? If you buy sheets you can make like 5 planes for 20 bucks.

We actually bought a kit.. that's why it cost so much...