6 Sep 01 - Model completed, ready to
fly.Switchblade by Cavazos Sailplane Design
6 Sep 01 - Model completed, ready to
fly.
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| N° of launches / Time | 9 | 0 hours 31 mins | ||
| Wingspan | 27 " | 68.6 cm | ||
| Wing Area | 118 ¨" | 7.6 dm² | ||
| Flying Weight | 1 lb. 1 oz | 0.488 kg | ||
| Wing Loading | 21.0 oz / ¨' | 64.2 g/dm² | ||
| Wing Cube Loading | 23.2 - Racer (and some) | |||
| Motor | Hacker B40 16W-Short brushless | |||
| Propeller | Graupner CAM Speed 4.7" x 4.7" | |||
| Batteries | 7 Sanyo 500AR - probably changing to 8 Sanyo 500AR in future | |||
| Speed Controller | Jeti JES 30-3P brushless 30A - 6 to 10 cells - BEC & Brake | |||
| Receiver | Webra Nano S6 - 6ch - PPM - 35 MHz | |||
| Servos | Ailerons - Hitec HS-55 | |||
| Elevator - Hitec HS-55 | ||||
| Static motor parameters | 7 Sanyo 500AR give 17800 RPM @ 7.0V drawing 15.5A, estimated 115W/lb. | |||
| Flight performance | Yet to be flown | |||
6 Sep 01 - I have just finished the model and it is ready to fly. The battery is right back against the elevator servo to obtain the forward most CofG quoted. I think that I'll need to get an 8-cell pack to move the CofG a little more rearward. I've added a few another couple of pictures above. The 4th picture shows the arming switch I fitted instead of the original one fitted to the Jeti controller. It is a small latching push-button double-pole switch that is mounted so the button is flush when armed, and protruding when safe. The use of this switch and countersunk screws to mount it causes almost no drag. However, it improves safety as fitting the wing with the motor live is to be avoided whenever possible..
16 Jul 01 - I have been test running the motor, with a Graupner CAM Speed 12cm x 12cm (4.7" x 4.7") propeller, for the last couple of days and have posted the figures above. I estimate that the current will increase to about 18.7A with a 13cm x 13cm (5" x 5") propeller, maybe I'll give that a go tomorrow.
2 Jun 01 - Brushless motor it is, and I picked up the Hacker brushless motor and Jeti speed controller today from Gordon Tarling. This Hacker motor can be bolted in as a direct replacement for a Speed 400 motor in most models as it is the same mounting holes, is the same diameter, but 5mm (3/16") longer. These motors and controllers have an excellent reputation and should really make the model move. I cheated in the kit of contents photograph above as I show the wing twice (you only get one). This was to allow illustration of the pre-painted upper surface and carbon reinforcement on the underside. The hardware pack is extremely complete with the motor mount all the mounting hardware (including motor bolts), clevises and rod need to complete the kit (I forgot to put the elevator pushrod in the photograph). It even came with a spare wing bolt.
25 Feb 01 - The kit comes in many forms, but I chose the Carbon version with pre-painted fuselage & wings. The kit contains a white pre-painted epoxy-glass fuselage, white / red pre-painted foam veneer wings and white glassed pre-painted balsa tail surfaces. I opted for the Carbon version because I haven't decided what power system I want to use. I am torn whether to build with a standard Speed 400 motor, or to fitted a small brushless motor.