ESPA3D performance report

[millhouse_5]

Ive just recently added an ESPAD3D to my portfolio of planes and I have on order, a GWS 370 C/BB with a 6.6:1 gear ratio on it swinging an orange 12x6 park flyer prop.
I was wondering if anyone had ever seen one of these planes fly or knew anything about it. According to the site I got it from, it has loads of climb and a stall speed low enough you can catch the plane in your hands. The total flying weight will be 10oz plus whatever the motor/gearbox weighs.
I was also wondering if anyone had any bad experiences with this specific motor or gearbox. I have read a review of the GWS beaver and a similar motor was used and there were no complaints in the review so I assumed it was safe to buy. Ill have some pictures of it when I get the motor in it.

[Brianathayes]

Hi - Yes, I built one of these, exactly as per plan. Like the man says, it will hold a very high alpha attitude and fly very slowly - harriers are almost the natural way to descend. Loops in about its own length. It is very twitchy though, and loses height quickly when in knife-edge position. This is probably because I used a GWS 300, which may be a bit short on power; the 370 should be better.
One tip - CA and tape a 2mm c/f rod to the leading edge - it badly needed this small amount of stiffening. Mind you, that may be because I made the model from 6mm Depron instead of Correx.

I've temporarily retired it at the moment, at some point I want to replace the GWS motor with a small brushless and try again.

Needs to fly in very calm conditions - all that area and low weight is strongly affected by the slightest breeze. I built it to fly indoors, but found it difficult to keep it precise enough, so it's long grass and no wind!

Brian

[millhouse_5]

I predicted that the plane would be a little twitchy due to the high power, short span, enormous throw, ect. Would you know how mutch your plane weighed. Mine without the motor is 10oz right now and I built it out of 2.5mm yellow coro, not the recommended blue foam and im a little worried about weight. Will this plane actually launch at half throttle with an underhand throw (I had a bad experience with a foam plane shattering into 4 pieces right after launch) and I dont want to bend the fragile propshaft. I origionally wanted this plane not to have a rudder so I would not go to wild with it before I got used to a highly aerobatic plane. My elevator throw is about 20 degrease and my aileron throw is around the same. Will this be a little much for a beginner aeroatic pilot or should I tone it down a bit.
Thanks for all the avice

[Brianathayes]

That does seem a little heavy, mine is 11.5 oz AUW. But see how it goes. It certainly is very sensitive, but 20 degrees sounds OK - just turn your rates down.
As far as launching is concerned, I launch overarm at about 80% power - it's just that bit further from the ground, and gives me, I guess, an extra split second to grab the sticks!!!
You can fly without using the rudder till you get used to it, but it will make nice tight flat turns when you get the hang of it. It's a cartoon plane, and it flies that way.

Brian

[Richard]

This sounds interesting, I've got some 2mm correx could I build one with that?

Anybody got a picture/link of one ?

[millhouse_5]

You should be able to make one out of 2mm no problem. I have to agree with Brian though, it dose look kind of unstable and cartoonie.
Just use a few pieces of balsa or ply stringers to make the plane a bit more ridgid.
And of course the one and only http://www.spadtothebone.com/ its the first plane on the list
Im using
2-3 hs-81 servos (0.53oz)
GWS Naro 6c reciever (8g)
Nuclear power 7x500mah (3oz)
GWS 370 C/BB 6.60:1 with a 12x6
30a speed control (0.8oz)
2.5mm coro wing and fuse
Hope you have some fun with it Rich.
I also am curious to see a few pictures of Birans ESPA3D, maby he even has some of it doing a few tricks?

[Brianathayes]

I think I can see where your weight is coming from - you could use GWS naro or pico servos, or hitec HS55s. A 10-15amp ESC would be enough, and your battery pack is heavy - you could use 300s, or better still Li-polys or even Li-ions - I have 3s x 700 Li-ions in mine.

No piccies, I'm afraid, except the one on this forum. You will find it on the thread 'New Venue at Twickenham on the Indoor forum.

Brian

[millhouse_5]

[millhouse_5]

one more picture I forgot to load on.
(Didn't the size of pictures used to be 105kb)

[Richard]

That looks very strong, how are you going to fit the motor?