Spare FES battery cost

[jshaw]

Hi All,

I requested quote from Blanik America for spare FES batteries in case I decide I want to have multiple self-launces in the same day.

We sell FES battery packs only in pairs. The price for a pair is 7150,00 € + VAT (FES GEN 2 14S Battery pack). 

For the stainless steel battery boxes...

the price for ONE PAIR is 450,00 € + VAT

Blanik would work with the buyer to arrange to ship the spare batteries in the same container as one of the next glider shipments to the U.S. to save on costs.

Hope this is helpful.

Justin

[Steven L. Bair, Psy.D.]

My Mini is about to ship if you would like to hitch a ride.

[Steven L. Bair, Psy.D.]

Justin,
I understand from Jamie that you have done a number of self-launches from a paved runway. Would you please share your experience and advice? Stick position; climb rate; typical climb attitude; gotchas; anything else? Much appreciated.

Steve

[Matt Herron]

Hi Steve: Pardon me for butting in, but I did a MiniLAK  FES launch near the LAK factory in Lithuania last October. Obviously, I don't have much experience with the glider, but I found the launch to be dead simple: Arm the Controller, twist the power knob to 4500 RPM. taxi and take off. Afraid I can't estimate the paved runway length, but it was a relative short strip. The rollout felt quite similar to what I experience in Nevada, tow-launching my LS-6 at MSL 4,000, and the control inputs were similar. I climbed at a moderate rate to 3,000 and shut the engine off. I restarted the engine several times during the flight (there's no October lift in Baltic Lithuania) and again I can't tell you what power remained -- it was my first flight and my focus was elsewhere -- but the system certainly showed no signs of running out of power.

Sorry this report is so impressionistic, but I thought you might be interested.

Regards,

Matt Herron, Tango Two

[Steven L. Bair, Psy.D.]

Thanks Matt. All info from experience is a good thing!

[jshaw]

Steve,

Jamie has created a spreadsheet where he has analyzed igc log files that summarized takeoff performance - distance to 10' AGL and distance to 200' AGL.... link here:  

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1buIHqnbmdORsOcARkgm6aToO4fpH3uP7JZGG61xhnkg/edit#gid=0

My performance is 600 to 900' on paved runways to get to 10' AGL (varies based on wind, technique, level of battery charge - the 900' was a second or third launch on same battery charge).  To 200' AGL my distance is 2600 to 3000'.

I first did several tow plane launches to get the feel for the ship (which Jamie had recommended and he did the same).  

My first few self-launches were with a wing-runner, but lately I've been launching unassisted.  Depending on runway width and winds, unassist can be tricky because you can't steer much until the wings are level and speed is picking up.  (I have aborted on more than one occasion as I was veering off the runway straight for the runway lights!)  Flap position of -1 is important (consistent with flight manual) to have faster wing control during the initial TO run.  But don't forget to change flaps to +2 once you do have the wings level and controllable.  Otherwise you will have much longer ground roll.  (don't ask how I know this!)  Stick position is aft to mid-way between full aft and centered.  After a few launches, I felt like I had a pretty good feel for the stick position.  

Climb rate is 4 knots is smooth air, but after 200' AGL I power back to save the batteries and achieve more like 2 knots.  Typical climb attitude is normal I guess, maybe a bit flat but nose slightly above the horizon.  

In terms of gotchas, I already mentioned the biggies... 1) veering off the runway with X-wind or down wing before you have enough speed to have wings level and some rudder authority; 2) flaps at -1 to start but don't forget to move to +2 during TO run;  Only other thing that comes to mind is don't forget to remove the prop safety covers (I almost did once - need a checklist item for this!)

Happy to chat live if/when you're ready.  Hope this info. is helpful.

Justin