Thunderbolt finished (PHOTO'S) and stats. 3 more

LAST EDITED ON Nov-17-04 AT 10:13 PM (CST)
 
Thunderbolt stats

62 inch wing span aprox 747 sq.in
Aprox wing loading 11.38
59 oz. After prop change 58.25

I made a phone call to Bob Mc Donald and we talked about props. I am changing to a Bill Lee 2 blade. Guess what I lost a 1/2 oz. This is a good thing! Aircraft is now in the 58 oz range. I fortgot to ask Randy today about Mag Heads and back plates. But I will. I am thinking I'm still a little on the nose heavy side. But only flight time will tell and it should be this weekend. I will keep you informed on flight trim.

PA65 on a pipe
pipe length 17.5
4 blade Gator prop, Prop change to Bill Lee 13x4.25 and change spinner nut to lighter one.
1/2 oz wingtip weight.
Covering- Poly-Span
4 inch bellcrank,ball links and aero shaft push rods.
8 oz fuel tank.
Paint sig dope with PPG Strato clear.

The last 3 photo's are after it has been rubbed out.

Starting a new project tonight. I will post pics a I go. Also will be taping it. So I'll see where it goes from here. Enjoy.

Remember the finish starts with the first piece of wood cut.

Kind of neat- the pipe exit is just about where the turbocharger exhaust was on the full scale plane. Funny how things like that work.

>Kind of neat- the pipe exit is just about where the
>turbocharger exhaust was on the full scale plane. Funny how
>things like that work.

I am quite sure it will work the way it is suppose to. I am going to try to put it in the air this week end weather permitting. My projected weight is over by 2 oz but I guess I have to try harder next time.

Even with all the aluminum bolts and the lightest hardware I could find.

Remember the finish starts with the first piece of wood cut.

Robert,

Amazing how that works out. I'm building a relatively small ship right now. I had projected an all up weight before finish of about 44oz readyto fly (without paint). I was getting concerned because it's a foam wing, stab and control surfaces and they came out a bit heavy (the wing and flaps with controls, hinges and such was abut 14oz - Yeow!). but I apparently was able to save the weight in the fuse, blocks, cowl, etc. It's about ready for paint and the all up weight is 44.5oz.

Hey, I'm smiling.

LAST EDITED ON Nov-16-04 AT 09:13 PM (CST)
 
Your plane is kicking man! Glad to hear you are going to video tape the next one. Put me down for your up and coming videotape. I contacted Halle Berry and when I told her your name, she said, "Storick, he's the man, I'm there."

Very nice airplane. Wish I had the patience.

Is that a Geo Bolt wing built in a cradle from Bob Hunt? If so how are you getting your wing area numbers. I have built the Geo Bolt wing many times and come out with different area numbers.

>Very nice airplane. Wish I had the patience.
>
>Is that a Geo Bolt wing built in a cradle from Bob Hunt? If
>so how are you getting your wing area numbers. I have built
>the Geo Bolt wing many times and come out with different
>area numbers.

WS X half the cord including flaps= 747 divided by 144= 5.18
59 oz divided by 5.18 = 11.38

Remember the finish starts with the first piece of wood cut.

>WS X half the cord including flaps= 747 divided by 144= 5.18
>59 oz divided by 5.18 = 11.38

Do you mean half the total chord? Tip and root?

>>Very nice airplane. Wish I had the patience.
>>
>>Is that a Geo Bolt wing built in a cradle from Bob Hunt? If
>>so how are you getting your wing area numbers. I have built
>>the Geo Bolt wing many times and come out with different
>>area numbers.
>
>WS X half the cord including flaps= 747 divided by 144= 5.18
>59 oz divided by 5.18 = 11.38

That would work if the wing had square tips I guess.

Nice plane. You do nice work. I think you will find it is sufficiently light. Doug's Furias composite wing test plane is somewhere around 80 OZ, flies pretty darn good (same wing).

Kind of funny. Jose Modesto sent me an article from the 70's. It was a Fox 35 plane. The guy in the article said at 56 oz it was starting to be "too heavy".

It certainly appears to me that the lighter loaded Bily winged planes are very impressive when properly trimmed. I guess that could be said about many good designs when in proper trim.

Building lighter is tempting, but since I just completed the Solace, I have decided I may never do another open bay wing as long as I live. It is just too much a pain in the butt for a 1-2 oz savings (if any). The sheeted wing planes I have done have all finished so well and were truly bullet proof.

What class do you fly in? How long have you been flying?

>What class do you fly in? How long have you been flying?

I will fly in open class at 05 nats. I have been building and flying 40+ years.

Remember the finish starts with the first piece of wood cut.

>
>>What class do you fly in? How long have you been flying?
>
>I will fly in open class at 05 nats. I have been building
>and flying 40+ years.

Awesome. Hve you been to the Nats before? I was wondering if I might have seen some of your other stuff.

>Very nice airplane. Wish I had the patience.
>
>Is that a Geo Bolt wing built in a cradle from Bob Hunt? If
>so how are you getting your wing area numbers. I have built
>the Geo Bolt wing many times and come out with different
>area numbers.

Hi Doug ...Hello Robert great looking plane, youy really did a great job with it. 59 ounces is very light for that one too.
about the wing.. the wing area on that wing is 698 sq ins.

Regards

>>Very nice airplane. Wish I had the patience.
>>
>>Is that a Geo Bolt wing built in a cradle from Bob Hunt? If
>>so how are you getting your wing area numbers. I have built
>>the Geo Bolt wing many times and come out with different
>>area numbers.
>
>Hi Doug ...Hello Robert great looking plane, youy really
>did a great job with it. 59 ounces is very light for that
>one too.
>about the wing.. the wing area on that wing is 698 sq ins.
>
>Regards
>
>Randy

How did you come up with that? Thanks

Remember the finish starts with the first piece of wood cut.

HI Bob

I know that wing very very well
I have several of them here, plus I did the calculations on Billy when P-47 I assume this is the same as his?
I have also figured the area in Autocad

> I have also figured the area in Autocad

AutoCAD really sets the record straight. The areas are never as large as the "box" calculations.

LAST EDITED ON Nov-17-04 AT 01:18 PM (CST)
 
>HI Bob
>
>I know that wing very very well
>I have several of them here, plus I did the calculations on
>Billy when P-47 I assume this is the same as his?
> I have also figured the area in Autocad
>
>Regards
>Randy

Randy its a secrete what's been done here check you email and tell me if I'm right.

Remember the finish starts with the first piece of wood cut.

>Hi Doug ...Hello Robert great looking plane, youy really
>did a great job with it. 59 ounces is very light for that
>one too.
>about the wing.. the wing area on that wing is 698 sq ins.

That is what we figured. Right at 700 squares.

>>Very nice airplane. Wish I had the patience.
>>
>>Is that a Geo Bolt wing built in a cradle from Bob Hunt? If
>>so how are you getting your wing area numbers. I have built
>>the Geo Bolt wing many times and come out with different
>>area numbers.
>
>Hi Doug ...Hello Robert great looking plane, youy really
>did a great job with it. 59 ounces is very light for that
>one too.
>about the wing.. the wing area on that wing is 698 sq ins.
>
>Regards
>
>Randy

Randy this is what I was thinking.

Mine has swept tips and my flaps are just a "sneak" bigger than Billy's. Puts me at 714.

Once I heard someone say the Geo Bolt wing was 767sq inches. I just smiled.

LAST EDITED ON Nov-17-04 AT 09:13 AM (CST)
 
Robert,
Your airplane is awesome. The weight also sound good.. The nitty gritty on the wing area is dwarfed by the quality of your work!

Tom Niebuhr

Bob,
Nice job. Thanks for sharing the project.

>Bob,
>Nice job. Thanks for sharing the project.

Thank You. I just hope somone learned somthing...On the internet you never know who your talking to.. This is The show me state.

Remember the finish starts with the first piece of wood cut.

The thunderbolt will be flown in the morning. Weather permiting. Someone had submitited pictures to Tom Morris for some reason. I was asked to take good pictures and send them to him for submission in Stunt News. So maybe you will get to see it in the next issue.

Remember the finish starts with the first piece of wood cut.