lownslo

I built a Ray Hayes XL Big Bird and now I wish I would have put in the spoilers. I do not do contests, just pleasure soaring. Due to a "slight mishap",, I will have a chance to install the spoilers OR maybe go with flaps. I have NO experience with either. I have flown RC powered craft for 7 years but never used flaps. All I want to do is be able to get it down on shorter fields ..... say.... about 400 feet, with room to spare. This B/B wants to keep flying!![X(] It is electric with a 2S lipo with a flying weight of about 52 oz. For my needs.... what would you fellas do.. flaps OR spoilers?
Thanks in advance, ... lownslo

soarrich

My Feedback: (98)

No question about it....FLAPS.

You said you aren't going to go to contest, so staying RES legal isn't an issue. With flaps you can approach very steeply and slow, you actually speed up a little with spoilers and you can't come in a steeply going slow.

The pictures show the difference in normal approach angles of flaps and spoilers.

lownslo

Thanks Rich,
The steep angle is a plus I was not counting on. I have to clear crops "safely", on either approach. I have had a tendency to clear them too high, then try to come in lower. As a result, I gained speed with a nose down attitude and keep too much altitude. (thus running out of airstrip) .....lownslo[]

BobtheNuke

My Feedback: (1)

Having owned and flown full size gliders with either flaps or spoilers, I'll take flaps anyday.

As Rich describes and demostrates very nicely with the pictures, a flap equipped sailplane can approach at a very steep angle while flying very slowly. With a very mild headwind I was able to set up a landing approach in my HP-18 at 1000' AGL at one end of the runway and still have to relax flaps in order to not land too short. My airspeed would be around 35 mph and my groundspeed maybe 20. Flaps are definately what you need to duck over the crops.

bob

lownslo

Thanks again to you both!![8D] ..... lownslo
Bob in Indy

Liberator

Here is another reason (if you needed one) to go with flaps.

I have the Skybird from Ray. On the downwind leg it wants to stop flying on ya so sort of watch that. If you have flaps you can drop them about 10% and you will notice a marked improvement. The plane calms down and won't be as tip stally on the down wind turn with the flaps down a bit. I also have mine set to reflex up a bit so if I encounter sink I can push out of it a bit quicker.

You will love the plane, they fly great.

lownslo

Heyyyy Thanks, I didn't think of the help downwind etc. Flaps it is!![8D] lownslo
PS. Here is a photo of my XL Big Bird. (AXI power with a 2 cell lipo, and it has plenty of power to climb out great!!

Liberator

Good looking plane! Have fun with that. I put one of those how high altimeters in mine and got her up to 2119 feet the other day. Is that yellow hard to see? I need to go with the extreme contrast or I lose it when its high.

lownslo

My eyes can see yellow the best. Other guys at the field have other selections, but yellow is among some of these. I was looking at that altimeter on a web site. I would not mind having "another toy"!! ... lownslo
PS. I DO like the color scheme on your Bird.

soarrich

My Feedback: (98)

Just had to show this. It was a woody ladder contest this summer, my next flight was maybe 1500' higher, but the memory was full[:@]

They say if you can do it it aint bragging I think it is, but I was having a good day!

lownslo

WHOA !!!!!!!![8D] ... lownslo

Liberator

Yikes, how big was the plane? At 2100 feet my sky bird is pretty small.

soarrich

My Feedback: (98)

It was my own design Dancing Hippo, 120 wingspan.

lownslo

I think I saw one of those dancing at a night club one night!! ..... lownslo
Seriously........ nice plane....and your design too!!!