The Balsa Channel.

[Doc J]

Somewhere in England...as George said...

Aria has flown and is doing well at its VTPR job. I'll post a video when/if it is available.

Next on Andy's kit list are the "Foo Fighter" (a Kind of PSS in Glider or E-Glider mode, as preferred) and the "Cadenza" (a small slope or e-model all-rounder), both of which have the aeros and outside lines calculated/designed by me, with Andy Whitehead on the balsa construction, etc.

I can go into details here if anyone is interested.

Doc.

 

[Doc James Hammond]

First 60 Aria VTPR kits sold and sent out. Another batch of 60 is under manufacture.

No competition to Aloft, I think it should be a fun little plane.

More of my stuff is coming from AWD.

Gotta love balsa,

Doc.

 

[G-man]

Gotta love balsa,

YAE, VERILY

 

[2MUCH2DO]

What do those Aria weight in at?

 

[Doc James Hammond]

Interesting question - I'm not sure, but I'll find out.

Doc.

 

[Doc James Hammond]

Weight is 425 to 445g, depending on the builder and covering, ready to toss.

Doc.

 

[2MUCH2DO]

Just weighed my ahi at 340g, so can I assume this would need a bit more air than I'm used to with the foamy?

 

[Doc James Hammond]

Just weighed my ahi at 340g, so can I assume this would need a bit more air than I'm used to with the foamy?

No, not necessarily.

The Ahi is moulded from foam, so although it's very light (Max weight 425g), it does not have the best aerodynamic performance due to thicker TE's and surface finish and design topography (Non-smoothed bits).

Even made from balsa and with a film covering the overall drag from an Aria will be a lot less than that from an Ahi.

This will be easy to see in the Aria's better accuracy of manoeuvres, penetration and overall energy retention when compared to its foam counterpart. Ballast of a kind can also be used by changing the round wing joiner.

Hope that helps,

Cheers,

Doc.

 

[Wayne]

Yeah, I'd think they would fly in similar conditions.

 

[ted]

Hey Doc
For those of us who are Centenarians, and from time to time are grounded, I would like to say Please do!
I am building an electric Ridge Runt and have enjoyed the blow by blow build that Wayne has produced.
I also enjoy reading about your active work and what other folks around the world are doing. I sure whish
this kind of help was available back in 1932!

As I am sure you know, producing build manuals, drawings-plans, and associated photos are art forms in themselves
and I enjoy drooling over them almost as much as building the model it's self.

Tom

At 82, I have to agree with you, stuff is now much cheaper and better than it was in 1952.

 

[Doc James Hammond]

Rob Day is getting used to his Aria - baby steps.

Andy Whitehead on Reels

www.facebook.com

 

[Haoyang Wang]

Waiting for wind...

 

[Doc James Hammond]

Waiting for wind...

Beauty, Haoyang!

Doc

 

[Doc James Hammond]

Martin Hyde maidened his beautifully built Aria at Cap Blanc-Nez, France. She flies well. It's nice to see my balsa designs being enjoyed - great kudos to Andy at AngelWings designs, who produces the kit.

 

[smirkracing2024]

Doc

I hadn’t realized you were the designer of the Aria. That’s amazing. I’ve had my eye on that plane for months. It is stunning!

My challenge is that I can get out to the slopes only very rarely. I do however get to the normal (flat) flying field reasonably often.

I would love to hear your thoughts on whether this model could be motorized. Doesn’t need to have crazy power - just enough for perhaps a half dozen or so climbs to a hundred meters, give or take.

I know this is a VTPR model and I love the idea of acro close the ground, but I am working with various constraints for now (one of which is skill). I figure that getting proficient at using 100 meters of altitude for medium height acro is good enough for now.

Thank you

 

[Doc James Hammond]

Hey Smirkster!

Doc

I hadn’t realized you were the designer of the Aria. That’s amazing. I’ve had my eye on that plane for months. It is stunning!

Yes, actually, I designed a couple more for AWD that will be coming out as and when. This one sold the first batch of 100 in two weeks with preorders and lots more since then, I'm told. It's actually an aerodynamically quite sophisticated model, hidden in a simple but nice shape, and it flies well.

My challenge is that I can get out to the slopes only very rarely. I do however get to the normal (flat) flying field reasonably often.

I would love to hear your thoughts on whether this model could be motorized. Doesn’t need to have crazy power - just enough for perhaps a half dozen or so climbs to a hundred meters, give or take.

I guess it's possible, but the front is pretty skinny by design.

I know this is a VTPR model and I love the idea of acro close the ground, but I am working with various constraints for now (one of which is skill). I figure that getting proficient at using 100 meters of altitude for medium height acro is good enough for now.

Not really - in fact, I designed it as a small handy sloper OR a VTPR model, and the elevator setup can be changed from one to another.

Thank you

Cheers,

Doc.

 

[Doc James Hammond]

Andy posted a nice Aria video.