Nathan Woods wrote: > Yes, the Gulp is available as a glider, as is the Electron and the M60. > In fact, these kits only come as gliders at the momement. > > - www.stevedrake.com > - www.northcountyflyingmachines.com > - californiasailplanes.com > > There are not many wing only composite gliders out there, but there are > a few. SoaringUSA offers one called the X-Wing. Currently not onthe site > as our new shipment *just* came in this week. We have a video of one flying > on our website: > http://www.soaringusa.com/videos.htm (scroll down) > [X-Wing DS'ing - WMV - 2.3MB - 20 sec] > > Cheers, > > Nathan Woods > SoaringUSA.com
I'm seeing a trend towards wings which have "morphed" a rearward-protruding stubby fuselage with vertical stabilizer. Called "tail-less". I just ran into the ArtHobby Ghost: http://www.arthobby.com/gliders/specs/ghost.html This is kinda what I'm looking for, a *molded* ship in a flying-wing configuration. (it's classified as a sloper, though). The ones above are foamies. What about making a Ghost in a 2M size? It looks like a bigger version of the Multiplex Pico Jet (wing with a vertical stabilizer, pusher prop). Another "morph" from a flying-wing is the Rutan designs (Longeze, et al): http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/GENERAL_AVIATION/business/GA14G13.htm You can view it as wing which has "sprouted" a nose with a canard. There was similar design by a German guy @MWE 2003, a red colored wing with forward protruding fuselage (no canard, though)..had "fences" (like in a Mig 15) on the main wing to control tip stalling. (He was part of a German contingent, & I think there was a company called Shredwings in Oregon..a german guy also). You may have noticed I've used the words "sprout" & "morph". I'm using evolutionary terms to imply a GA (Genetic Algorithm) approach to A/C design. Michael Selig tells me he is high on this approach (I think he uses it in his airfoil designs). It's how Nature works: it's constantly "morphing" it's designs ("evolving") to increase it's performance..an evolutionary advtanage ("survival of the fittest"). I heard Paul McCready (Aerovironment) goes into the office & just starts "trying crazy ideas" (i.e., "fooling around", which is what a Genetic Algorithm does..massive trial & error). Here's another example of a "crazy idea": http://popularmechanics.com/science/transportation/1996/11/rutan_boomerang/print.phtml I recently heard of a glider that Bill Watson developed that had wing assymmetry (one side longer than the other). So here is my question. Has anyone heard of GA (genetic algorithms) used to come up with A/C configurations, say starting from a "flying wing"? Then, it sprouts forward-fuselage (head w/canard)..rearward-fuselag (tail w/elevator)..or a twin-boom (like RC Blitz or P-38 Lightning). Right now, it sounds as if GA resides in the "head of the A/C designer" RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please note that subscribe and unsubscribe messages must be sent in text only format with MIME turned off.
