T E A M
After getting a superb thermal ride on my cheapo Chinese built Elf glider from Hi-start launch, I got the idea of hooking up a HLG or DLG on the Hi-start. The super lightweight and efficient designs of HLGs and DLGs should have no problem hooking up the lightest thermal and using Hi-starts shuold give them extra edge over thier original launching means.
Since HLGs and DLGs are designed to be either javelined or side arm thrown, the airfoil need to be designed as such they are both efficient during the high speed heavy launches, and the ultra slow thermalling flight. Since my design will be mainly for hi-start, I do not need the latest cutting edge airfoils which are super thin and difficult to build. I strike a compromise for a practical structure and thermalling capabilities as very low speeds, and as such I chose the Selig 4083 airfoil.
Purpose-built gliders are always designed from the wings instead of anything else and this one is no exception. I bought the thinnest CF strips with sufficient lengths from Jet hobby I can find, and planned to use them on TE. I also use 4mm x 1mm and 3mm x 1mm CF strips for main spar. The LE is 5/16" thick balsa and the ribs are of 1/16" balsa.
The wing design is based on the Therminator HLG design, but deviated from the original 2-break polydehral. Instead, I kept the centre section straight, shortened the outer sections and added tip sections with further taper, that resembles a Schumman planform, and incorporated another set of polydehral. As such, the inboard polyhedral angles can be reduced and the overall polyhedral configuration should be more evenly distributed.
To thin down the wing section of the tip sections, I simply skew the ribs progressively towards the outboard, and this I hope will delay the tip stalls during tight thermal turns.
Since HLGs and DLGs are designed to be either javelined or side arm thrown, the airfoil need to be designed as such they are both efficient during the high speed heavy launches, and the ultra slow thermalling flight. Since my design will be mainly for hi-start, I do not need the latest cutting edge airfoils which are super thin and difficult to build. I strike a compromise for a practical structure and thermalling capabilities as very low speeds, and as such I chose the Selig 4083 airfoil.
Purpose-built gliders are always designed from the wings instead of anything else and this one is no exception. I bought the thinnest CF strips with sufficient lengths from Jet hobby I can find, and planned to use them on TE. I also use 4mm x 1mm and 3mm x 1mm CF strips for main spar. The LE is 5/16" thick balsa and the ribs are of 1/16" balsa.
The wing design is based on the Therminator HLG design, but deviated from the original 2-break polydehral. Instead, I kept the centre section straight, shortened the outer sections and added tip sections with further taper, that resembles a Schumman planform, and incorporated another set of polydehral. As such, the inboard polyhedral angles can be reduced and the overall polyhedral configuration should be more evenly distributed.
To thin down the wing section of the tip sections, I simply skew the ribs progressively towards the outboard, and this I hope will delay the tip stalls during tight thermal turns.
No No should be Miss Corolla!
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