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Author Topic: BigLift I - Rebuild  (Read 27088 times)

Fred

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BigLift I - Rebuild
« on: April 07, 2009, 08:45:01 AM »
Tow plane is back on track !
Yesterday evening, started the re-covering of the beast.
Will be all bright yellow for better visibility  :D
Slowly but surely, I hope to have it ready for Retroplane along with the electric one.





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DennisZ

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BigLift I - Rebuild
« Reply #1 on: April 07, 2009, 11:16:51 AM »
Hi Fred,

how much power tow plane is expected to have ?

also what mods have to be made to convert "ordinary" plane to a tug ?

I'm thinking maybe my electric monster can be used for that ?

http://www.leinster-model-flyer.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/dscf4146.jpg

80" wingspan

Dennis
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Fred

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BigLift I - Rebuild
« Reply #2 on: April 07, 2009, 12:18:00 PM »
Hi Dennis,

In general, well, that depend of what you have to tow !
The BigLift will go with a 26cc first, and if there is some interrest, I will certainly upgrade to a 50cc to go with bigger gliders.

The first thing you need, is a stable platform (the BigLift is born as a tow plane...) and power (tork). After that, everything else is in the way you fly the tow plane... Tow pilot is a R/C category on its own.

Then, of course, you need a release hook, as near as possible of the CG (we usually put it at the wing TE). Tow hook must be remotely controlled for the release.

I guess any planes can be converted as a tow plane, as 50% of the towing success are from the pilots, the rest, is the machine in my opinion.
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DennisZ

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BigLift I - Rebuild
« Reply #3 on: April 07, 2009, 12:31:58 PM »
Quote from: "Fred"

Then, of course, you need a release hook, as near as possible of the CG (we usually put it at the wing TE). Tow hook must be remotely controlled for the release.

Thanks Fred.
my plane certainly is nowhere near 50cc.

about tow hook: does it mean after glider has released its end, tug drops another ?
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Fred

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BigLift I - Rebuild
« Reply #4 on: April 07, 2009, 12:37:10 PM »
No worries, any power will do. That will only limit the weight of the glider you can tow !
My electric one will be for gliders up to 2 kg for example...

For the tow hook, no (well, not necesarely. I know some tow plane pilots who release the line before landing on a low pass...) but that is more an essential safety feature.
If the glider have a problem, the tow plane can always release. You save the plane...
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joe

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BigLift I - Rebuild
« Reply #5 on: April 09, 2009, 10:36:55 AM »
Good colour Fred. I think we will see that in the air.
When do I get my hands on it?? :D  :D  :D  :D
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Fred

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BigLift I - Rebuild
« Reply #6 on: April 09, 2009, 11:49:46 AM »
On my dead body !  :P
Or when I want to fly my gliders really...  :P
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Fred

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BigLift I - Rebuild
« Reply #7 on: April 20, 2009, 08:49:13 AM »
The BigLift now sits on his wheels !
Servos are in the fuselage too !  :D
And no photos! Tonight!
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Fred

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BigLift I - Rebuild
« Reply #8 on: April 21, 2009, 11:02:03 AM »
So, here is the progress so far  :D
A little bit of work every now and then...

Going to be visible I'm sure...  :lol:







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Happy Days

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BigLift I - Rebuild
« Reply #9 on: April 21, 2009, 17:56:32 PM »
Corrrr, you've certainly got a big one Fred! :shock:  :oops:
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Try not to run out of airspeed, altitude and ideas....... all at the same time.

Alan_Perse

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BigLift I - Rebuild
« Reply #10 on: April 21, 2009, 18:56:08 PM »
Hey Fred. Is that the old MPX Big Lift.
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Fred

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BigLift I - Rebuild
« Reply #11 on: April 22, 2009, 07:22:05 AM »
Hey there  :D

Wel Keith, not that big, but all square, that make it bigger than that thing really is I think !
On the nose, a 26cc (originaly, this plane towed hundreds of gliders with a 15cc...), but if we have lots of interrest, I will go for a 45 / 50cc in the future... (The 26cc with the 18x6 pull 5kg static...)

Alan, this is an original vintage BigLift from Multiplex... About my age !  Pure unobtainium !  :D

Full functions, at the time, we used to put a video camera on it (there is a window on the belly), tow hook, top (gliders) and bottom (parachutes, banner) etc etc... All the linkage were push/pull with steel cables, but now updated to a more modern standard !  :)
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Stephan

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BigLift I - Rebuild
« Reply #12 on: May 12, 2009, 20:08:30 PM »
Fred, could you measure on your BigLift the incidence? Has your BL ailerons and flaps, if yes you could measure them  too  :D
Thanks
Stephan
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Fred

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BigLift I - Rebuild
« Reply #13 on: May 13, 2009, 16:55:29 PM »
Hey Steph, sorry for the late reply !

Will do asap! Have to set it up in the garden to do it.

But the wing incidence pins should be built in no?  :?:
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Alan_Perse

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BigLift I - Rebuild
« Reply #14 on: May 13, 2009, 17:02:16 PM »
Maybe Stephan means the incidence between the wing and the tailplane?  :?: :?:
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