Summer project for Dan T.

[Dan Tandberg]

I have several pieces of other peoples (and my) crashed models in my shop.  I have decided to try and combine them to make a 3 meter electric sailplane.

The fuselage is from a 3m Coroplast sloper that survived two years in the trees at Greens Peak.  It has quite a heavy plywood pod and a golf driver boom. The radio gear and motor and esc will come from this. So will the tails.

The wing is a beautiful 3 meter design that Mike Carris built about 10 years ago.  I repaired it and have flown it some.

The fuse was salvaged from Mike Carris' Aether.  

[Dan Tandberg]

I have cleaned up the fuse. It had a lot of tape residue, cracks, and extraneous messy glue. It is going to take some major repairs to the pod, particularly the wing saddle and hatch.  I will also have to clean up the nose damage and make a new motor mount.  

Splits in the previously repaired wing saddle.

Nose damage.

[Dan Tandberg]

The wing saddle will need to be converted from four screw to two screw layout.

[daniel roberts]

Looks great Dan....you've got a lot more motivation than I have right now. I"ve just been staring at the building board. 

Dan R. 

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From: soa...@googlegroups.com <soa...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Dan Tandberg <tandb...@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, July 6, 2025 9:39 AM
To: soarabq <soa...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [ASA] Re: Summer project for Dan T.

 

The wing saddle will need to be converted from four screw to two screw layout.

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[Dan Tandberg]

Here are the radio and power train parts scavenged from the old crashed sloper fuse.. The HI Tec HS-85 MG servos center fine and should be plenty strong for the rudder and elevator.  I am pretty sure the ailerons are moved with the same servos.  

This Multiplex Permax 3:1 geared brushless inrunner works fine at 40 Amps and should provide plenty of launch power. Same for the Castle Talon 60A ESC.  The tails survived removal from the boom, so I'll be able to use them too.  

[Dan Tandberg]

New firewall progress

Dan Tandberg, MD

Professor Emeritus

UNM School of Medicine

[Dan Tandberg]

New rear hard point for two wing bolt setup. Wing saddle damage repairs. 

[Rocky Stone]

Busy, busy! 

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[Dan Tandberg]

Progress!

[Dan Tandberg]

Beginning the rear wing fairing. Notice the tape to keep from gluing on the wing TE.   

[Dan Tandberg]

Learning about aircraft fairings.   A wing fairing is a streamlined structure attached to an aircraft wing, primarily to reduce drag and improve aerodynamic performance. They are essentially covers for gaps, joints, or components on the aircraft's exterior, creating a smoother airflow and minimizing turbulence. This, in turn, enhances fuel efficiency and overall flight performance. [1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]

Here's a more detailed explanation:

• Purpose: Fairings are designed to smooth the airflow around the aircraft, reducing drag, which is the force that opposes motion through the air. [1, 1, 2, 2]
• Location: They can be found in various locations on an aircraft, including the wing-fuselage junction (wing root fairings), along the trailing edge of the wings (flap track fairings), and around other components like landing gear. [1, 1, 2, 2, 4, 4]
• Types:
  • Wing root fairings: These smooth the airflow where the wing meets the fuselage. [1, 1, 2, 2, 4, 4]
  • Flap track fairings: These cover the mechanisms that operate the flaps on the trailing edge of the wings. [1, 1, 2, 2, 8, 8]
• Benefits:
  • Reduced drag: By streamlining the aircraft's surface, fairings minimize drag, leading to improved fuel efficiency and performance. [2, 2, 3, 9, 9]
  • Improved appearance: Fairings contribute to a cleaner, more aerodynamic aesthetic. [2, 2, 10, 11]
  • Enhanced safety: In some cases, fairings can protect critical components from damage. [2, 2, 12, 12, 13]
• Material: Fairings are often made from composite materials, such as fiberglass or carbon fiber, for their lightweight and strong properties. [9, 9, 10, 10, 14]

AI responses may include mistakes.

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLItpFSex0U

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_fairing

[3] https://www.atr-aircraft.com/aviation-glossary/aircraft-fairing/

[4] https://www.quora.com/What-is-a-fairing-on-an-aircraft

[5] https://documents.lancair.com/aircraft_documents/ES-ESP/Wing_Fairing.pdf

[6] https://www.lakecentral.com/product_sec/wing-leading-edge-fairing/

[7] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/physics-and-astronomy/fairings

[8] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y100a_nB984

[9] https://www.tiktok.com/@airplanefactswithmax/video/7432310107129629995

[10] https://www.quora.com/What-are-flap-track-fairings-FFTs-on-a-Boeing-aircraft

[11] https://www.ebay.com/itm/304030252570

[12] https://www.heritageconcorde.com/wing-fairings

[13] https://www.kingsmotorcyclefairings.com/blogs/news/understanding-motorcycle-fairings-benefits-and-types-all-you-need-to-know

[14] https://www.dhgate.com/product/racing-fairing-for-suzuki-tl1000r-tl-1000/494575401.html

Not all images can be exported from Search.

[Dan Tandberg]

Here is the firewall for mounting the motor. Notice that all the holes have been drilled on the drill press and pre-tested for fit before gluing it in place. The edge of the firewall has been modified with many tiny cuts to increase gluing surface area.  Notice also that the edge of the firewall has been beveled to enhance the fit into the tapered nose. Gluing is with 30 minute epoxy and milled fiberglass.

[Dan Tandberg]

Gluing on the horizontal stabilizer.  This method assures that there is no "tilt."

[Carris Mike]

Dan,

Using spoilers for landing?

Mike

https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/soarabq/6677e68c-ac3f-4d08-830a-c704671dfb8cn%40googlegroups.com

.

[Dan Tandberg]

Spoilerons.

[Dan Tandberg]

Mike. Any nostalgia?

[Dan Tandberg]

Does anyone have an old 50mm folding spinner they are no longer using?  I'll make it worth your while.

[Carris Mike]

Dan

The planform looks familiar .

The leftover from the 4 meter that fluttered to death on launch I think.

Kind regards,

Mike

https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/soarabq/0d461d93-39c4-4de4-ab2e-b5f171ee6c81n%40googlegroups.com

.

[Dan Tandberg]

I think the fuse if from the Aether, as well. The wing was from your 4 meter design as you recall.

[Dan Tandberg]

The rudder I was going to re-use is a bit too warped for my taste.

So I guess a new one is in order.

[Dan Tandberg]

Rudder Day!

Dan Tandberg, MD

Professor Emeritus

UNM School of Medicine

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[Dan Tandberg]

Rudder glued in place.  Pretty straight!

[Dan Tandberg]

50 mm spinner pieced together out of old parts.

[Dan Tandberg]

Can't wait to fly it!

[Dan Tandberg]

Here is Mike's sad story of the demise of the 4 meter version:

Mike<mike_...@yahoo.com>
Jun 19, 2021, 2:10:59 PM (8 days ago)
to soa...@googlegroups.com
Dan,

Starts at a AG35 and transitions to AG 36 and then to AG 37.

That wing started out as a very light 3 meter wing. All balsa is around contest grade. When I enlarged it to 4 meters it was a disaster and literally fluttered to failure at launch when I switched on the motor and pulled up. By the time I finished it, I was aware that it was probably too fragile, and tested it was away from persons and things.  I  did not think it would be as bad as it was though. The spars are strong, but the torsional stiffness is lacking. Shortening three ribs at the root and glassing the new root might be a way to go. Hope that helps.

Mike

[Carris Mike]

Hi Dan,

Please post a flight report.

I spent many hours on the build. 

Hope it flies great! 

Everything was CNC cut including the trailing edge balsa planks machined to the profile, accurate and strong.

Kind regards,

Mike

https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/soarabq/9967122e-3806-41eb-9d74-0832e983c0d1n%40googlegroups.com

.

[Dan Tandberg]

Equivalent Dihedral Angle
5.15 degrees

Projected Wing Area
839 in^2

5.83 Ft^2 All up weight
67 oz

Wing loading
11.50 oz/ft^2

[Dan Tandberg]

Kirby held the model for a picture after the maiden flight.  It flew a bit tail heavy, and tended to tip stall on left turns.  I have added a bit of washout to both sides and am ready to fly it again tomorrow.  This is really a good wing, and the plane flew pretty well even with the cg too rearward and the left wing tip warp. Thanks much to Kirby for the careful pre-flight check up and the super first throw!

[Dan Tandberg]

I have decided to call her "Carris120" since the wing and fuse came from Mike.  

 

[Carris Mike]

Hi Dan,

Did your attempt in adding washout to negate the warped left wing tip work?

Kind regards,

Mike 

https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/soarabq/455ce28a-cd0e-43fc-a5a1-0779a69cc290n%40googlegroups.com

.

[Dan Tandberg]

Didn't fly it today.  Early winds and I spent the time working on Buzz Averill's old Sky Sergio.