ULF-1 Discussion Archive
Anonymous static archive of the former Mailman list
Anonymous static archive of the former Mailman list
Re: [ULF-1] Very New ULF-1 Builder In CA USA
You are of course absolutely correct, and we are dreamers.... I think an RC gasoline motor is the way to go, lightweight, all Controle hardware exists, Deasert Air 170cc, about 22 hp, american made! Member 95 DO Sent from mobile > On Aug 25, 2014, at 7:43 AM, [email] wrote: > > Hi Nick and John, > > I think discussions about aerobatics and the ULF-1 miss the whole point of the design. This aircraft is designed to be a slow and very maneuverable microlift sailplane. It is intended to exploit light thermal, slope, and lower atmospheric microlift. I do not think the designer ever intended it to be an aerobatic aircraft. > > Just my thoughts. We are trying to power ours with twin pusher electric motors with folding props while trying to keep the all up weight at gross, so we do not suffer a higher sink rate penalty which would hamper exploiting microlift. This is proving to be quite a challenge! New battery technology in the near future should help out a lot! > > Best regards, > Member 72 > S.N. 343-E > > > ---- Member 95 <[email]> wrote: >> Hi Nick, >> My son and I purchased the Ulf plans about two years ago after much cogitation similar to yours. We were hoping for some basic acrobatic capability. Ultimately I concluded the Ulf's airfoil is optimized for speeds too slow and too near stall to be safely flown acrobatically. Also because it is single seat, we wound up building a Legend Cub kit w 100hp continental, and hope to tow gliders. We finished it in July, and have 30 hours on it, looking at the next project either a Pitts, or a glider, but we can't find a aerobatic kit. If we were more financialy restricted, we would have gone with the Ulf, done some strengthening modifications, and put a Desert Aircraft 170cc gasoline engine on the nose. >> Still have the Ulf plans, it is an elegant design, and I love the basic construction techniques. >> Good luck! >> Member 95 DO >> Sent from mobile >> >>> On Aug 23, 2014, at 9:14 PM, Member 99 <[email]> wrote: >>> >>> Hello ULF-1 Discussion Group, >>> >>> I am a mechanical engineer out near San Francisco CA. I am working on my first project designing my first glider. In my research I found the ULF-1 as an existing aircraft that nearly met my design requirements. I have just ordered the plans and am looking forward to building this craft as a great learning experience to kick off a lifelong dream of designing my own aircraft. >>> >>> One thing missing from the documentation is firsthand flight characteristics feedback. What is the roll rate? Does the performance of the aircraft lack any area that can be described? Has the aircraft ever performed aerobatics, and if so what type? A max G loading of 4 G's seems sufficient for some loops and rolls no doubt, but it may be limited with its speed envelope. >>> >>> One other question that I have is regarding the flight envelope of the aircraft is the significance of the n term when describing max velocity. I believe it refers to the turbulence in the air. It appears that 1 occurs in very smooth air and higher numbers at higher turbulence. Can n be negative? I feel that I may be wrong in my reasoning of this number but have see in explained on the airfoi tools website http://airfoiltools.com/airfoil/naca4digit. in that instance n has direc affect on the performance of a single airfoil shape. >>> >>> -Nick B. >>> Richmond, CA >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> ULF-1 discussion list -- [email] >>> >>> Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Preferences, List information: >>> http://lists.ulf-1.com/listinfo.cgi/ulf-1-ulf-1.com >