Radio control

[MICHAEL WILLIAMSParticipant @michaelwilliams41215]

There has been mention on the Aircraft General Discussion thread of ultralight model aircraft . Some of these had as little as one gram basic airframe weight .

 

At least one of these planes was fitted with radio control – would anyone like to explain , guess at or reinvent the system used ?

[MICHAEL WILLIAMSParticipant @michaelwilliams41215]

[Ramon WilsonParticipant @ramonwilson3]

Hi Michael,

 

The ultra light model aircraft refered to at one gram are not in any way radio controlled. The class is an international class designated F1D and one of the rules is that airframes should weigh no less than 1 gram. It appears that that is now 1.2 grams (It may have been when I was involved but memory had it as 1)

 

As this was and still is a contest class those who participate try to build the lightest airframes possible and try to ‘build down to’ that minimum weight.

 

As an example the drawing of the model entered by the UK’s Laurie Barr in the ’86 champs had weights given as follows – Wing .34g, Prop .20g, [the] Rest .51g

total 1.05 gms (just taken this from a book of plans – looks like it was 1 gram at that time then)

 

Where radio control of this type of very lightweight aircraft has been attempted I believe this began by using an infra red system and using ‘muscle wire’ as an actuator to control a moveable surface. I think ‘muscle wire’ was similar to bi-metallic strip but instead of bending contracted as a current was applied – perhaps someone else can enlighten us on this

 

Of course since then the development of extremely lightweight radio control systems have leapt forward – only at Ally Pally last week I watched as one of the store holders hovered a small helicopter (which was smaller than the palm of your hand) above his fellow stall holders head totally in control. To imagine that, and not that long ago either, and what is almost taken for granted today was, difficult to perceive.

 

Hope this helps – Ramon

 

 

 

Edited By Ramon Wilson on 29/01/2011 14:16:24

[Ramon WilsonParticipant @ramonwilson3]

Michael, Just found this –

 

indoor r/c

 

it doesnt explain how it’s done but I’m sure this is the kind of aircraft you mean. Power source appears to be either a C02 motor or electric. A little ‘fast’ but it does exhibit extremely responsive control though. Shame you can’t understand what they are saying though but the images say it all anyway

 

Regards – Ramon

[Author]

Posts