Lomcovak Logger

Firstly I would like to thank Mike Oreilly for allowing me to borrow one of these loggers for review. The lomcovak logger is a miniature pressure sensitive height logger. The unit works by plotting your flights as a line graph on a computer. These plots allow you to firstly compare launch heights and secondly run analysis of your flights, for example if you check your stopwatch at a certain time you can check whether you were climbing or descending at this time, this is an excellent way to practice and to help hone your thermal skills. The logger has the following dimensions, length 38mm,height 13 mm and a width of 18mm. With this small size the logger should fit in most models. The weight of the unit is 9 grams with a JR cable. It requires a power supply between 4.4 and 9.6 volts. The current consumption is 15 mah and it has resolution of 0.5 meters. The logger needs software that can be downloaded from the internet, their was no problems downloading this software. Different sampling rates can be chosen using the DIP switches on the logger,these are small switches located on the logger. The total memory capacity 8 180 records in the standard version and 32 720 records in BF version. The logger uses a precise atmospheric air sensor so it needs surrounding air pressure to operate when installed in a model, in a sealed environment the unit will not be accurate. As the logger is actually an air pressure logger you should place the unit where pressure effects are minimal otherwise inaccurate plots can occur. The instructions for the unit are very specific this may occur. Due to deadline restrictions I flight tested this unit in a power model. When testing I simulated launches, circling while climbing and descending at different rates and long approaches to simulate returning from downwind after finding a thermal. During these tests I used a stopwatch to run comparisons of the “plots” that were made during the tests. During testing the logger worked as required, It plotted the flights as they occurred and comparisons of these flights showed good accuracy in this logger. Overall this product worked well, showed good accuracy and comes with the promise of good accurate plots of your flying. If you wish to analyse your flights this logger will solve the problem. If you wish to acquire one of these units please contact Mike O’reilly at Model Flight.

The Lanyu 3B

Introduction

The Lanyu 3b is new molded slope soarer that has just landed in Australia. It utilizes the MH32 wing section and its wingspan is just a fraction over two meters. It utilizes a cross tail for elevator that incorporates an all moving tailplane, so no wing to tail incidence problems. It has flaps for landing and a towhook could be added for winch or bungee launch, however this model is not designed for full on f3b launches. This model is not overly heavy for its size; weight and strength on this model is not an issue. This model has a fantastic, visible color scheme with stripes on the bottom and airbrushed on top and is also available in other colors.

Construction

For the radio installation, in the forward fuselage I marked out the radio gear with a felt tip pen and then proceeded to to cut the appropriately marked out area with a rotary tool and finished with sandpaper to neaten up the edges. The front of the fuselage has to be glued to the rest of the fuselage. This separation in componetry allowed a very easy start to the model, it was easier to work on a separate component rather than a whole fuselage. I used JR Nes 331 servos for the forward fuselage rudder and elevator controls and I used a small square 800mah, 4 cell battery pack to provide power. For the rudder control I made a carbon pushrod for this control and used a printed circuit board horn. Pc board is available from electronic stores and can be cut on a scroll saw if you are not concerned about blade life. The front fuselage was then complete and epoxied in place with 30 minute epoxy. For the wings all that was involved in construction was the installation of servos, wiring and to attach control horns to the surfaces. This model has flaps and ailerons taking the servo count to four. I used JR Nes 331 mini servos that have approx 3.3kg of torque. It sounds scary but I have found that if a small amount of epoxy is used the servos can be glued in and removed using a pair of plyers and twisting the servos. The servos where then glued in place. I choose to have equal up and down movement on the ailerons and flaps as this provides the most programming option’s things like crow, full span aileron and flap to aileron mix are easily taken care of with this set up. The only downside is that it is dificult to get 90 degree flap on landing due to the aileron horn not being offset, however I am not competing in competition’s and don’t mind. I used threaded rod as pushrods and sheathed them with carbon fibre tube.To do this cut the threaded rod to size, cut the carbon fibre tube to the required length and attach with nuts on each end. Put clevices on the reinforced pushrod and the reinforced pushrod is complete. Sheathing can also be acquired by running cyano on the appropriately cut to size threaded rod and slide the carbon tube over the rod. I then proceeded to balance the model using lead shot glued in with slow cure epoxy, this can be drilled out if the model is nose heavy. The batteries where cycled and checked and the model was prepared for flight.

Radio Programming

After setting the end points and setting sub trim, I programmed 70% differential on the Ailerons. Aileron 1 and Aileron 2 where mixed to provide Aileron control. Flaps were mixed together to provide flap/ crow braking.Crow was set with maximum down flap, as much movement as was physically possible. I mixed elevator to full span camber change, 2ml down at the trailing edge across the whole wing that is switchable on and off. I also mixed elevator to full span reflex on a switch, 3 ml upward at the trailing edge, this provides fast but not sharp turns by reducing drag. I also mixed crow to elevator to prevent pitch up on landing. I felt aileron to rudder mixing was not necessary. The last switchable mode was full span ailerons but this was not really required.

Flying

I went to a local slope and was not disappointed. I spent over an hour, in approximately 15 knots pushing this model as hard as possible, and did not come close to flutter or having any other problems. The model performs aerobatics well and with crow braking is easy to land. This model is fast and has no bad manners. Overall a good performing slope soarer with excellent, strong , molded construction.

Conclusion

This model flew well, was fast and was very easy to fly. Its minimal construction is a god send and it an excellent slope model. It uses a modern F3B wing section the MH 32, that has been very successful on larger models F3B models and did not disappoint with this model. It also utilises a cross tail that defeats any chance of incidence problems. I have no problems with recomending this aircraft as a high performance, high quality molded slope soarer, that is priced well when compared to other molded models of a similar size.

Airstrike ultra

The Airstrike winch company was formed during the mid 1990’s to provide good quality contest winches for Australian competition pilots. In early 2001 David Pratley bought the castings used to make the winches and the company name Airstrike from the previous owner of the company. David produced an improved version of the winches using the previous design as the template for the new design. The next and latest Airstrike winch is the Airstrike Ultra, with major changes to design when compared to the two original Airstrike designs. The new winch is based on designs seen in European winches in essence the winch is designed using the European style winches as a template for design. The European style frame provides a stronger frame and this is why the Airstrike Ultra uses this design, the winch frame is stiffer, and the frame on this design is CNC cut to reduce weight. The winch is lightweight and easy to carry. The Airstrike Ultra has been optimised for F3B use. Fully enclosed drum flanges mean’s no line tangles and the winch has a solid one piece drum casting.Thick and strong drum end flanges ensure that lateral forces from high tension launches cannot distort the drum flanges. The KK25 one way bearing will take shock loads with 300lb line at full tension. The outer end bearing contains and one way bearing and integral latch system. 125mm diameter drum flanges hold 400 of winch line even when cheek plates are fitted. The winch is fully assembled and ready to use just add line and turnaround and you are ready for use. The Airstrike Ultra uses a Bosch GF starter motor form the Holden car company that has been resistored to 15 milliohms. The switch for operation is a 150 amp continuous rated silver contact solenoid. The winch uses quick action battery connectors. To operate the winch a foot switch with a canon style plug is provided to activate the winch. The Airstrike turnaround is a swivelling lightweight and is designed to prevent tangling but must be purchased seperately.The Airstrike Ultra, has double row internal self aligning ball bearing outer ends. The winch is complete and ready to use with cheek plates for light wind conditions. The line, drogue chute and battery are not included, you can however purchase legal batteries, winch line and strong chutes from David Pratley, owner of the Airstrike company. Why should I purchase this winch? When I first saw the winch I was taken back by the quality of the castings the design and workmanship. If you purchase this product you will be covered by a 12 month warranty. The winch uses a narrower drum than previous Airstrike winches so will provide more power in windy Australian conditions. This winch is great value and the metal based workmanship, including the CNC cut frame is magnificent. I cant wait to see next high quality design from the Airstrike Winch Company. This winch was debuted at the Jerilderie 2008 and was proved in action to be up to the task of high powered winch launching for competition pilots.

Minor changes to text Hayden Daley March 2009

Welcome to these DVD reviews, I would like to thank Paul Naton from Radio Carbon Art who contacted me by Email from the USA and requested reviews on these DVD’s and also Michael Oreilly from Model Flight for allowing for these products to be reviewed.

F3 Building Clinic

This DVD begins by explaining all the tools needed in the construction of a molded F3B type sailplane, glues, sanding tools and other items needed for construction are well explained. The brands and types of glues and other parts are shown allowing for the purchase of these or similar items before beginning construction. Next is the electrical equipment required before beginning construction, these include a soldering iron, solder and flux; and heat shrink material for wiring of different sizes and widths. Paul Naton also runs through the hardware required for wiring servos, ball links for control surfaces and suitable batteries to be used in these models. Next is a short section on radio gear. This DVD is based on different catergories which are recorded in chapters allowing the catergories to skipped to certain sections easily. V-tail construction and linkages needed for the V-tail are well covered. Next up is fuselage construction, it shows how to mount fuselage servos, how to mount a battery, how to construct V-Tail push rods and where to put switches. Next up is electricals, it shows construction of custom battery packs, what cells to use and what tools are required in construction. Next is testing of the newly constructed battery pack. Servo wire soldering is thoroughly explained; as is the soldering of plugs and fixtures for wing servos and this information is demonstrated with possible errors that can occur and shows how to test for possible poor connections. Diagrams are used to explain the electrical “system” in the sailplane and options available in wiring. Fuselage and wing wiring are thoroughly explained. The next part is the tasks required to finish the fuselage this includes nose weight, tow hook and aerial placement. The wing construction is well covered, servo installation on other tasks are well explained. There is much more to this DVD but you will have to purchase to get the rest, overall an excellent explaination of how to construct an F3B sailplane.

Radio Clinic

This DVD is an explanation of how to program modern computer radios for sport, as well as high speed performance style models used in competition. It begins with the goals to be achieved when programming models for efficiency and the reasons for the need of efficient setups in RC sailplanes. This DVD shows programming of 2 channel sailplanes right up to high performance molded models. Basic radio controls and there uses is covered. A thorough explanation of flight modes and there uses is explained, and the reason for the need of flight modes in modern soaring aircraft. The basic programming, model select etc are demonstrated and the settings needed for the basic set up or RC sailplanes. All the perimeters available in the radio used for demonstration are explained, sub trim, dual rates, exponential, flight modes and other functions. This DVD contains diagrams and more importantly the reason and needs for a particular setup in the model and how to achieve these settings with computer radios. The mixes like elevator / flap and other mixes are demonstrated and the need for these mixes and the percentages required when using these mixes. Radio clinic shows the set up of different models, essentially this DVD contains all you will need to know when setting up RC models and guides you through the programming sequences required to program modern computer radios. Radio clinic for sailplanes is a clear and precise, logical explanation of modern computer radio programming. There is much more to this DVD but you will have to purchase to get the rest!

High Performance Thermal Soaring

This DVD begins with the importance of weather and the ability to gauge weather when thermal soaring, this is clearly demonstrated with diagrams and shows how weather can affect the formation of thermals and there size. Gauging of weather forecasts is demonstrated by using information from websites and the ability to use these forecasts to choose the best times to thermal soar. The explanation of ground signs when thermal flying is excellent it explains the signs on the ground when thermals pass through a flying site. This DVD shows the importance of flight modes, the ability to change settings when soaring to allow for different flying conditions including a minimum sink setting flight mode when thermal soaring and the need for speed setting when returning from downwind. Trim settings and there needs when thermal soaring and also other trim settings are demonstrated. CG settings and the affect they have on the models performance and setups required, it explains how to set the CG effectively on high performance sailplanes and to adjust the radio for CG setups. This DVD covers the need for efficient flying, bank angles and the increase of drag that occurs with bank angles and the reduction in efficiency resulting in poor flight times; and the need for smooth efficient flying. All thermal soaring topics are well covered. Next up is David Hobby and he explains how he thermal soars, the techniques, the way the model reacts in lift by using a small model to demonstrate the model reactions in different conditions. David Hobby explains how to thermal downwind but his main demonstrations are based on the importance of staying in the core of the thermal when thermal soaring. Tactical and other information are also covered by David, in essence he tells you how to thermal soar and the way he does it. There is much more to this DVD, an informative well explained look at high performance thermal soaring.

Hayden Daley 2008. Minor changes to text 2009