Re: [RCSE] Majestic 110" RES from Laser Arts

[Dick Williamson]

Title: Re: [RCSE] Majestic 110" RES from Laser Arts

Dan said:

I'm looking to build a RES ship to fly in our local club contests. While doing a Google search, I ran across the Majestic 110" RES from Laser Arts.

Question: has anyone had any experience with this kit - pros or cons?  Flying characteristics?

The Majestic is a popular plane in our club and many have appeared at our RES contests.  The laser cut parts fit together nicely.  The wing takes a fair amount of work because cap strips are used on the top and bottom of every rib.  The plane, built stock, flies quite well.  It penetrates better, but doesn't float as well as something like a Paragon.  Modifications can help the performance in several ways.  Mark Drela's list of suggested modifications is well worth implementing.  They are on the Allegro web site and in other places.

The supplied fiber glass tail boom has a fair amount of flex.  Replacing it with a tapered carbon fiber tail boom will provide more rigidity and also save weight.  The stock plane requires a fair amount of lead in the nose ( maybe 8 oz.).  The plane can be lightened a lot by using a carbon fiber boom and making an essentially new set of tail feathers out of lighter balsa.  Getting rid of the metal tail mounting structures also helps.

I have seen two Majestics fold their wings on winch launches.  Mark's suggestions for strengthening the spar should make the wing nearly bulletproof.

The spoilers are fairly small for a plane this size.  The spoilers can easily be made longer spanwise.

Yaw stability and rudder authority are improved by using the larger tail feathers suggested.

Stability and sink while circling are improved by using the suggested modification of the polyhedral and by adding washout.  These modifications take no extra work.

Regards,

Dick

 

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Dr. Richard C. Williamson            Phone:  781-981-7857
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