2024-08-14 Foam Plane Flight Test

Owned by Meghan Dang
Last updated: 2024-08-14 by Daniel Puratich
2 min read

Introduction

Purpose of this flight test is to:

  • Test if foam plane can fly with chosen motor and prop with given weight and working elevator.

  • Pilot training

See 2024-07-28 Foam Plane Flight Test for detailed plane information.

Logistics

Date

  • Sunday, Aug 14, 2024

Location

Transportation

  • Walking + 201 bus, was pre quick commute

Attendees

  • @Meghan Dang

  • @Daniel Puratich

Checklists

check all control rods for proper bending
Offset for new elevator
Check prop direction
Check thrust feels sufficient for flight
Check video system (ensure monitors & goggles work)
Controller inputs
ensure correct orientation and direction
failsafe checks
Mech systems secure
no cracks or bends,
no obvious holes
nothing loose
EE systems secure
all boards are fastened and not moving
wings secure
battery installed
CoG checked
Enable VTX before throw (verify functioning)
Check Throttle & Controls one final time

Flight Plans

image.png

  • fly above path, see if it will fly/has enough thrust to stay in air

  • if possible then do loops around maroon line

    • it better be, the maroon line is very large

  • stand in purple area

Debrief

  • did it fly ??

    • It flew!

  • Low thrust to weight made turning difficult

    • most crashes after takeoff were caused by failed attempts to turn

    • needed to turn to stay in bounds

  • Taking off into the wind and w/ no wind was much better than w/ a cross wind

  • Throwing level and with some force was important

  • Pitch was very touchy

    • suspect this is caused by the propeller being pointed slightly upward

    • could also just be pilot skill issue

  • Camera has a green spot in it, lense is likely messed up a bit inside of it

    • we should buy new camera for the real fixed wing

    • we flew mostly without looking at the analog video, but ensured it was on and recording for all tests

  • Plane was very repairable

    • first crash was def the worst one, nose down, had to redo the whole thing w/ tape

    • Plane took lots of crashes

      • some causes could be battery shifting around in flight, velcro might not be strong enough

      • shifting battery pulled on ESC cable and unplugged it

  • Batteries

    • were pretty heavy and we never drained them or even got close

    • one battery we borked in a crash, the other three are fine

  • Toward the end the motor had a leftward tilt

    • this caused the plane to roll left regardless of full aileron

    • possibly caused by running the motor after crashing

  • We both individually piloted, had one goggle set

  • Allergies being out in a grown field a lot was kind of ggers

  • Plane Design Improvements

    • Higher thrust to weight would help a lot

    • Lighter foam is possible

    • Better motor mount

    • mounting motors on the wings protects them a bit more during nose first crashes

Media

In onedrive in the correct location for today. Not bothering linking because the links tend to break when we move out of the media ingest into the final source, but maybe a folder soon. Sources of media include:

  • Meghan Phone

  • Daniel Phone

  • DVR