Places to fly

[snoopledorf]

Any good places to fly powered fixed wing craft (flying wings specifically) not too far from Novato? I've been thinking about driving over to the Nicasio Reservoir one of these weekends, but I'm curious if there are any other local spots that are worth a visit.

 

[Jarron]

Check out Vallecito Elementary school here in Terra Linda! There’s plenty of room to fly a variety of aircraft and a dirt track to use as a runway for your planes with wheels.

 

[Wayne]

Yep, what he said. Another option is to join the Sam27 club, they have a field off of Lakeville Highway. It is a vintage club, so they sort of require you to have a vintage plane as part of their bylaws. We have been having fun flying there on Sunday mornings for our electric fix.

You may want to try out slope gliders, you live in a great place for that and I think you will find it a lot of fun. We have amazing slopes here. I fly from a little one at the end of Center here in Novato. (I can walk to it from my house.)

-Wayne

 

[snoopledorf]

I definitely don't have any vintage planes, so that's a no-go for me. I've actually thought a bit about gliding, but the planes seem to be a bit too expensive for me to get into it (though I definitely have noticed the ridge lift around here )

 

[Konrad]

While Wayne does carry a lot of high end stuff. I've always thought that completed gliders were actually less expensive to set up and fly. There are even some EPO foam models that actually work on the slope. I'm thinking of planes from Dream Flight.

Dream-Flight | Wind-powered fun since 1996

dream-flight.com

I've found the problem with slope is in the landing. Or more to the point landing on rocks and into the scrub oak. Foam seems to take these insults rather well.
As has been mentioned we live in the premier slope flying area. It would be a shame not to take advantage of the slopes while one still lives in the area.

So you are in the best area you just need a plane to match it. And in my opinion that would be a slope plane.

Back to your original question. Many club fields have restriction on flying wings. That is rear mounted engines are not allowed. This is because the prop going through the wing wake makes a horrendous whine!

If flying "outlaw", please be considerate of the local neighborhood.

All the best,
Konrad

P.S.
Aloft does sell a good beginner slope plane.

Zulu EPO - Kit

The Zulu is a very unique plane that features "Drooperons" on the leading edge, these provide much improved lift and aerobatic capabilities that you have to fly to fully appreciate! Thanks to the dropperons and the overall design the Zulu is hard to class

alofthobbies.com

 

[Wayne]

A good slope wing made from EPP would be a great tool for you. If you don't mind a little rebuilding, I probably have an old one I can let go for dirt cheap as long as you promise to give it a good home.

 

[Konrad]

I actualy like EPP over EPO for the flying aspects of a model. But EPO holds up to my landings a bit better. But a better flying plane lands better. So make your choices and take your chances.

 

[snoopledorf]

I could definitely be down for rebuilding an oldie, and it would be nice to fly something quieter than wings for a change (like you said Konrad, they do make quite a bit of a whine... I try to fly smaller stuff like the nano goblin). I think I've actually seen someone soaring on a slope with a solitary tree (or was it a small cluster?) somewhere around lower Burdell.

 

[Konrad]

That's almost cool! That 3500KV motor sounds line a gnat. But other than that this might get me to try FPV!

STRIX Nano Goblin - High Performance FPV Plank - PNP - RMRC

Are you looking for one of the best RC FPV aircraft ever created? The Nano Goblin PNP is it! Less than 250g and flight times up to one hour with superb stall characteristics. Buy yours now and stop waiting!

www.readymaderc.com

Are you looking for an FPV or a LOS flying location?

 

[snoopledorf]

I typically fly FPV, so those are the kinds of spots I'm after. I have some quads (from 2" to 5") as well. Slope soaring sounds like a good way to practice LOS

For the record, if you want to try FPV the NG has a huge bay for all sorts of electronics if that's your thing... I have mine kitted out like a larger plane, with full FC and mavlink set up. As a downside, it has a tendency to be a 'bucking bronco' especially if it's loaded up light (the winds around here don't help with proximity flying to boot), so the mini AR wing might be a better (and cheaper) option for trying an FPV wing.

 

[snoopledorf]

So, I'm looking at picking up the Zulu EPO kit as per Konrad's recommendation, to get into gliding / slope soaring as a first-timer, but have a few questions before I pull the trigger:

There's the power kit available, but I'm trying to keep this on the quieter side (and more budget as well); is this something that I need to pick up?

Is it worth laminating the Zulu? I have all of the gear to laminate planes (and have lam'd most of my planes), and it seems like the added rigidity and durability would be a boon here.

 

[Konrad]

OK, the Zulu. I need to say I've never flown one.

Weight is a problem with slope or any glider. So I would not laminate this EOP model. There is a weak spot in the design, it is at the nose to fuselage junction. I'd look at ways to strengthen that area (carbon rods or a cast nose sheath etc.)

Unlike most planks the Zulu places the motor up front. This is a nice place for the prop as it is then working in clean air. Much quieter than in the rear with the wake turbulance!

It is just me but I'd like more power than what that power option offers. (That power option is perfect for the slope should the lift die or it is a bad day for lift).

 

[snoopledorf]

Thanks for the feedback Konrad.

I assume that I could use one rod of something like this, maybe in 1.5mm or 2.0mm, and reinforce the nose/fuselage junction with some 5-7" cut segments. A nose sheath seems a bit out of my league

Something about a plane with no motor at all sounds somehow more charming to me, I think I'll pick it up without a power pack and see if I need one later down the road.

 

[Wayne]

Better hurry, we are nearly sold out of Zulus. We will not be restocking them for a while.

They are great flying planes. If you are going to add an electric, I would suggest adding some nose strength via carbon strips glued to the inside. Easy and works well. For slope, also a good idea. We did have some carbon skids for the bottom of these and they added a ton a nose strength, but the company that made them for us disappeared.. with some of our money.

The motor package we suggest is not very powerful but the goal was to get some altitude and keep the CG in a usable range. This plane does not accept a heavy motor upfront. If you do that you will have to add weight to the rear to maintain the CG. I hate doing that, so we avoided it at all costs. Also, the Zulu will flutter with too much speed, so again, the low powered motor helps avoid that.

 

[snoopledorf]

I assume you mean the strips on your store... What thicknesses would you recommend for reinforcement purposes on this plane?

 

[Konrad]

The more carbon in cross section the better. I like the thinner wider stuff as it affords more surface area to glue the carbon to the EPO foam. It also follows the curves of the inside pocket a bit better. But 3mm rod is easier to install, just poke a hole were you want to install it.

 

[snoopledorf]

I ordered the plane I'll see about picking it up tomorrow since it's getting a bit late to do that today.

Thanks for all the advice, and I look forward to trying out something new.

 

[snoopledorf]

Well, I see why a lot of photos of these planes are in the kitchen; this model is 'just' 1.5m and it is quite cumbersome in my usual plane workspace

Got it all set up. The first ESC I put in kept browning out, but the second one seems to be doing the trick. Going to give it a go tomorrow.

 

[PaulG]

Hey Snoop, I fly at Vallecito in Terra Linda as well. I fly fpv drones and some fixed wings as well. An added bonus is there is a newer 3" acrobrat quad & 4s battery somewhere in the field that could be a bonus find! (ask me how I know that... )

 

[snoopledorf]

Good to know. I'll give that spot a shot one of these weekends and maybe run into some of you all there. Seems like there's plenty of room there.