Tmcfarland
Strong User
Just curious if the AH-100 is still in the pipeline or has been dropped. I realize Aloft has a lot of projects going on but to recreational thermal pilots I think this glider hits a lot of sweet spots.
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AH-100 updates
- Thread starter Tmcfarland
- Start date
Hey Tim,
Sorry, we had another setback with this plane. It was the original design, and it fluttered again. I have redesigned the wing, but have not cut on yet for testing. I am seriously rethinking my design though after the second prototype fluttered. I really do not want to push out a model that may run into issues.
For now it is frozen and will be brought back to the top after we finish off a few of our other designs that have sailed through prototyping.
The AH-100 was a concept that I had wanted to try and thought was going to work, but am now seeing the limitations of the design. There is a great weakness inherent in controlling twist this way, one failed glue joint and the wing is greatly compromised. Finding the failed joint is not as simple as one might think.
Sorry, we had another setback with this plane. It was the original design, and it fluttered again. I have redesigned the wing, but have not cut on yet for testing. I am seriously rethinking my design though after the second prototype fluttered. I really do not want to push out a model that may run into issues.
For now it is frozen and will be brought back to the top after we finish off a few of our other designs that have sailed through prototyping.
The AH-100 was a concept that I had wanted to try and thought was going to work, but am now seeing the limitations of the design. There is a great weakness inherent in controlling twist this way, one failed glue joint and the wing is greatly compromised. Finding the failed joint is not as simple as one might think.
G-man
Very Strong User
I agree with Tim, "For recreational thermal pilots I think this glider hits a lot of sweet spots."
I look forward to seeing the next version of the AH-100 wing in the air.
The wing does fly very well.
// Dave
I look forward to seeing the next version of the AH-100 wing in the air.
The wing does fly very well.
// Dave
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Tmcfarland
Strong User
I know nothing about design compared to Wayne. But just for arguments sake here is a photo of my Inside F5J. Simple 2.9 meter. Would it flutter if pointed straight down…perhaps. But those who buy this know its a floater and fly them slowly. Would it be worth considering keeping the AH-100 airfoils but using this style of wing?
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If that is a tube spar, I am not a fan of that construction method. I am also very suspicious of that wing and flutter with that much span and I see no other methods to fight flutter. With that said, it looks like it will have very low wing loading, that aloe goes a long way in avoiding flutter. The AH-100 with the fiberglass fuselage is not all that light. The wooden fuselage goes a long way to dropping the AUW with a much lighter power system.
We shall see.
We shall see.
G-man
Very Strong User
> If that is a tube spar, I am not a fan of that construction method.
Agreed. A crash fractured the tube CF spar in my original Topmodel PRELUDE, and I decided I could not repair it without excessive weight gain.
The fuselage survived A-OK and that's what led me to build a Sig RISER-100 wing for my beloved Topmodel molded fuselage.
> We shall see.
Yes. Looking forward.
Agreed. A crash fractured the tube CF spar in my original Topmodel PRELUDE, and I decided I could not repair it without excessive weight gain.
The fuselage survived A-OK and that's what led me to build a Sig RISER-100 wing for my beloved Topmodel molded fuselage.
> We shall see.
Yes. Looking forward.
