3D Foamie Fun-Fly Airplane

I have a build thread going on RC Groups, so I figured I would just send a link to that since I already have so much written.

First, an introduction to this airplane. This is a 3D airplane. 3D is a category of aerobatics in RC flying. There is no such thing as 3D in real airplanes, that I am aware of. If you attempt to do high-G 3D aerobatics in a real airplane you will die, and likely snap the wings off. Some maneuvers are the most extreme, stressful, high-G aerobatics you can imagine. On the other hand, 3D can be the slowest "flying" (technically, you are no longer flying - the fixed wing is no longer generating lift - the airplane stays in the air from the power of the engine/prop) in an airplane - down to not moving at all. Loops, rolls, 90+deg turns, hovering (on the prop like a helicopter) are all part of the package - some of those may seem elementary, but if you add in the power and 3D variations of those it gets pretty crazy. One of the neatest ones I like to do is a "harrier". You can't do this with a "normal" airplane. If you do it with a "normal" airplane what makes it "abnormal" is the wing loading - it must be very light, the airplane must be correctly balanced (tail heavy - which poses a snapping problem), flight characteristics of the wing design (back to the snapping problem - some wing designs are more forgiving than others) and you need to have a LOT of power - 1.5x, or more, power than a similar size sport/aerobatic airplane. Normal sport/aerobatic airplanes are built for efficiency and control while moving - little drag and good size control surfaces. Most airplanes don't have a lot of power to utilize. 3D airplanes typically have 1.5 times the power on the same size airframe as a regular sport airplane. The reason "normal" airplanes can't do 3D is you are letting the airplane fall in a controlled stall - nose up at about 30deg (the angle of decent determines how much forward movement you have - the greater the angle the less forward movement). The big fat wing of my airplane has extremely gentle stall characteristics. Combined with the LARGE control surfaces and short fuselage I can maintain a stall and descend in a controlled environment. A "harrier" is also the general entrance maneuver to hovering on the prop - the airplane's forward airspeed is already near 0 and there is no lift

Mine is made of foam insulation. Why? Because its inexpensive, easy to repair, and is easy to build with. To make a wing you use a Hotwire cutter (exactly what the name says - you pass electricity through a wire under tension and it cuts the foam like a hot knife through butter).

Check out the thread for more information: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=551484

Edit: 10/22/07

I just re-built the front end and got the airplane back together for the most part. There are a few details that need to be attended to but is mostly ready to go. The engine started right up. I flipped the prop a few times getting new fuel through the engine and it fired up on 3 flips. Not bad for an engine that's been sitting for a year.

Ill update this again when I get a chance to fly it. Hopefully I can fly it somewhere where I won't hit anything landing (check my build thread in the RCGroups link for info on the last flight).