Der Nurflügelkanal - The Flying Wing Channel

[Doc J]

Hi Guys - one thing we don't have on the Aloft forums, but does seem to be present in most other contemporary sites is a Nurflügelkanal - A Flying Wing Channel. I use the German name because I like it and after all they have done more for flying wing development than anyone - except of course the birds!

I know that many of us have at least a passing interest in flying wings, and for some its an addiction. With recent discoveries and developments in flying wing aerodynamics and theory - AKA "Black Magic" - it might be a good idea to start a discussion here?

Added to this, I'm resurrecting a project that I started with Peter Wick and friends some years ago for the design and manufacture of a fast slope plank type wing which might be a good topic, and I know that others here have, or are developing thier own projects.

What do you lads think?

Cheers,

Doc.

 

[Red]

I'm in! Can't wait to see what you come up with..

Red

 

[Doc J]

OK, to start things off is a site that for die Nurflüglers is a positive treasure chest of information and useful tools. These sites were given to me by Red Jensen who is another devious delver into Nurflügel magic and mystery, and probably has more experience flying tailless aircraft than most people walking the planet - take a look:

Nest of Dragons

https://www.facebook.com/groups/413028845405427 (Horten Believer's group)

I know not everyone does farcebook, but anyway its there.

Also I know that new contributor Marc Frank has his own design coming into sight - does he want to share it and its rationale?

Who else has their own secret wing design out there?

I have made two - a 1.5M low aspect ratio slope wing intended as a quick knockabout, cobbled together from a pair of veenered foam wings salvaged from a sloper F16 kit that someone crashed - flew well - for a flying wing that is - notice the addendum "For a flying wing..."

The other wing I made was 2.2M - again a low aspect ratio creation (I thought I'd learned something but I hadn't) with a central fuselage moulded and 0.010" PC Board glass covered wings, and a stinger tail. Fast as hell as it weighed about a ton, but occasionally it had its own ideas about where the gound was. You know that kind of plane - flies like a bird but just wont land? I've had a few like that. Must be something to do wth the design...

Anyway as the Ramones would say: "Hey Ho! Lets go!" and the Ramones, as all sentient beings know, are a voice that must be heard.

Cheers,

Doc.

 

[Hawaii Sloper]

OK, to start things off is a site that for die Nurflüglers is a positive treasure chest of information and useful tools. These sites were given to me by Red Jensen who is another devious delver into Nurflügel magic and mystery, and probably has more experience flying tailless aircraft than most people walking the planet - take a look:

Nest of Dragons

https://www.facebook.com/groups/413028845405427 (Horten Believer's group)

I know not everyone does farcebook, but anyway its there.

Also I know that new contributor Marc Frank has his own design coming into sight - does he want to share it and its rationale?

Who else has their own secret wing design out there?

I have made two - a 1.5M low aspect ratio slope wing intended as a quick knockabout, cobbled together from a pair of veenered foam wings salvaged from a sloper F16 kit that someone crashed - flew well - for a flying wing that is - notice the addendum "For a flying wing..."

The other wing I made was 2.2M - again a low aspect ratio creation (I thought I'd learned something but I hadn't) with a central fuselage moulded and 0.010" PC Board glass covered wings, and a stinger tail. Fast as hell as it weighed about a ton, but occasionally it had its own ideas about where the gound was. You know that kind of plane - flies like a bird but just wont land? I've had a few like that. Must be something to do wth the design...

Anyway as the Ramones would say: "Hey Ho! Lets go!" and the Ramones, as all sentient beings know, are a voice that must be heard.

Cheers,

Doc.

Nest of dragons website is a great site!

 

[Doc J]

I forgot - I also designed one for RCRCM many years ago.

Doc.

 

[Doc J]

Here is the Amokka 202 (2M) designed by Peter Wick, and manufactired by Drops. Its flying with a conventional model of about (I'm guessing) 3M span. as you can see we dont know the conditions but there seems to be very little difference in speed.

Doc.

 

[Doc J]

Another 2.2M (85") Amokka - as you can see its not exactly slow - but a little pilot error put a crunchy end to this flight.

Doc.

 

[Raymond Gaskins]

Another 2.2M (85") Amokka - as you can see its not exactly slow - but a little pilot error put a crunchy end to this flight.

Doc.

Doc,
I will follow this thread with interest, but do not have much practical or theoretical experience to offer. Flew a built from plans Plank slope wing back in the 1970’s and a few Bob Evans designs around the same time, but that’s about it.
Raymond

 

[Doc J]

Doc,
I will follow this thread with interest, but do not have much practical or theoretical experience to offer. Flew a built from plans Plank slope wing back in the 1970’s and a few Bob Evans designs around the same time, but that’s about it.
Raymond

Hey Raymond - you don't have to offer any experience or advice - but if you do happen to see something that interests YOU, then its very likely that it will interest all of us wing nuts (sorry) - so post it if you can!

Cheers,

Doc

 

[Doc J]

Here is an interesting new one from: https://www.onewing.de/modelle-de

This puts the blended wing body (BWB) into a whole new regios - 'cos ther aint no body!

There is a larger model on the Onewing webpage too.

 

[Doc J]

I think everyone must have seen this unusual offering from PCM - Its an interesting departure and best of all, its available from Aloft:

Cheers,

Doc

PCM Fritz - Flying Wing 1.5 meter

You have not seen a plane like this one before! Introducing the brand new PCM Fritz flying wing!! Looking to add something unusual, fast and exciting to your collection? If so, the Fritz might be just the thing. The first time I saw sketches of this plane, and knew they were coming from the...

alofthobbies.com

 

[Doc J]

Another plank from Lesky Composites, the 2.2M Lesky Wing.

In terms of fast 'plank' planform flying wings - this one should be pretty quick by design. The aerofoils are by Daniel himself and if they are well designed to get the best out of the planform style, then wow! In the case of the very low sweep elliptical lift plank form, the aerofoils and wing shape are really ctitical to allow the MAC and the CG to be far enough away from each other to allow stable flight.

The close similarity in design between this model and the Amokka is obvious.

Looking at these newer models, I'm not sure if my upcoming design with Peter is thinking out of the box, or deeper into it!

Watch this space!

Cheers,

Doc.

 

[Red]

I think everyone must have seen this unusual offering from PCM - Its an interesting departure and best of all, its available from Aloft:

Cheers,

Doc

PCM Fritz - Flying Wing 1.5 meter

You have not seen a plane like this one before! Introducing the brand new PCM Fritz flying wing!! Looking to add something unusual, fast and exciting to your collection? If so, the Fritz might be just the thing. The first time I saw sketches of this plane, and knew they were coming from the...

alofthobbies.com

View attachment 14624View attachment 14625

I was able to see one in person at the Aloft Banos event. Unfortunately it was not complete so it didn't fly. OMG its gorgeous!!

 

[Wayne]

We also had the X-Bow through the shop. Not sure we will ever get anymore of them though. They were made in Ukraine.

 

[Doc J]

We also had the X-Bow through the shop. Not sure we will ever get anymore of them though. They were made in Ukraine.

Pretty sure they were designed by Stobbe in Germany though. I wonder if they will try to find another manufacturer, or maybe just hope for the best in Ukraine.

Never flown one, but I'm guessing that in this small size, the performance wouldn't have been too bad, but not very heart stopping.

Cheers,
Doc.

 

[Wayne]

The one we had was VERY heavy as it was intended to try and break a DS record. It went to Tebo. He told me the plane was on the edge of flyable due to the extreme weight. To be clear it was not at all the normal build, they are a wonderful plane at the normal weights. I think there is one other in the US.

Yes, designed by One Wing "team" in Germany. We are supposed to be his US Dealer, but he has never managed to send us a second shipment of planes. I have not bugged him either, he is a super nice fellow and think he has a day job and all that.. They are produced at one of our DLG shops in Ukraine. They are not cheap..

 

[jure]

for fun, I hacked together some time ago the Hortenstein flying wing:
( no science involved, BTW )

 

[Doc J]

for fun, I hacked together some time ago the Hortenstein flying wing:
( no science involved, BTW )

Wow that looks like a heck of a bang for the buck.

Doc.

 

[Doc J]

And now for somethng completely different: The US Navy's X-47B a demonstration unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) currently in development by Northrop Grumman. Designed for carrier-based operations, the X-47B is a result of collaboration between the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the US Navy’s Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration (UCAS-D) program.

I guess this would be classed as a hybrid Lifting body wing/Bended body wing.

Not sure, but it sure does look cool!

Cheers,

Doc

​

 

[Doc J]

Here we have the Genesisi 2 - a beautiful 'almost pure' flying wing...well its got that little tissue of a Horizontal stab perched on top of the fin...but...

I know this has been modelled several times but I'm not sure of the results.

One thing it does illustrate - in the hunt for stability with flying wings there are three main variations:

1. Swept back - probably the most common variation with stability in flight quite easy to achieve.
2. Non - or very slightly swept plank - probably second most common variation - but one of the hardest to get right interms of stability.
3. The swept forward configuration - oddly stability with this planform is not hard to achieve but many people think it looks a bit weird so they tend to shy away.

IF and its a BIG IF you can get the geometry and aerofoils right to achieve the amount of stability needed i.e. not longitudinally over-stable as some lower aspect ratio swept wings (Forwards or backwards) can be, then the plank planform will be the fastest and most efficient. But...its really not that easy to get it all right and working together.

More thought and experimentation is needed.

Doc.