SZD-10 Czapla, scale 1:5

[ultralajt]

I decided to go other way and build another stand for a camera.
Now, the camera is rotating only around vertical axis and is driven by a geared servo using free chanel (chanel 8 in my case) that is controlled by a turn knob on the TX. Camera can rotate from one to another wing tip.
To get a bit more realistic camera movement, I connect a cheap gyro between RX and servo. Now, indepenently of the knob position, camera swing a little in the direction of the model nose turning. So when turning left, camera rotate a little to the left (and vica verse).





I hardly wait to test this new gadget in flight, and to make some new videos!

Until then, a short test video is here (click).

Mitja

[czirh]

Gyro good idea..

[Anonyme]

Good idea indeed, wait for the new videos !

[Walter L.]

I´m very interested in seeing a video made using the gyro. It is a great idea!

Regards Walter

[ultralajt]

Hi guys!
Last sunday I was at Aerotow meeting with Czapla, where I was able to test the new camera stand.
Looking at the videos I made, I was not happy as I find many things that somehow ruin the video clips.
Luckily all of them are solvable!

Here we go:

A. Gyro-gain was set to low. Gyro moved camera in turn direction just a little and not smoothly. It should move more than that! In the future I will simply disconnect the gyro or set gyro-gain about twice more. I think, that glider didnt turn in the air so fast as I tested at my frontyard holding glider in hands and making "pirouetes" :)

B. Camera mount was placed too high in the cockpit. When looking towards the wing tip, a canopy structure at uper part of the picture disturb the view. When sun shine on that aluminum bar it totally ruin the view. Well, as camera stand is made such way, that it can be lowered, I will do that next time.

C. All bright internal parts in the cockpit give reflection images on the canopy, especially when sunlight is at apropriate angle. Again it ruins the video clip, as it is very funny to look down to the fields and meadows on the ground and see the white gears that drive the camera. Well, I will paint all these bright parts with matt black spray. Maybe a polarization filter infront of the lens could help, but I will try just black paint for start.

Here is a group photo of last sunday event (my little Czapla on the left):





And now some videos!

Flight 1

Flight 2

Flight 3

Flight 4

I was lucky as last sunday I actually soar in thermalls with Czapla! It was a reall pleasure to obserev very slow flying model circling and getting smaller and smaller! I was very happy! I also getting relaxed on aerotows. It is not so hard as I was thinking before. Also I am getting used with Czapla performance and results are seen also at landings (see movies). I can easily land on the spot where I want. Air brakes are very effective and allow me to make very steep final approach to the landing field. This brings me confidence in the landing procedure.


A friend made a short video of that event and at 05:55 you can see my first start that day. (Click for the video)

Regards!

Mitja

[ultralajt]

As an interesting (luckily) thing, you can see at end of the video (last link on the previous post) how an ultralight biplane Renegade, starting on the nearest airfield (about 1 km away from us) starts to loose power (exhaust system malfunction) and turning back to the field!!! (the worst scenario!!) We all affraid that it will crash as it flew at extremly high angle of attack. He made a turn back just over the footbal field and parking lot, loosing a lot of height. He was able to return back to the landing strip.

We all feel a great relief when he land at last!

Mitja

[ultralajt]

Hi!

Yesterday was a nice day for aerotowing.





I made two nice soaring flights, using homemade variometer.

On one flight I forget to turn vario o, and on two flights didnt find any useful lift. But I am pleased very much with oth successful soaring flights.

Now, I really enjoy flying with Czapla as it is very meneuverable, predictable and without any nasty flight behaviour.

Tow starts without need for a wing helper, and flying behind a towplane is rather easy, as only winh level and a bit of rudder is needed to follow the tugplane.

landings are really easy..both with or without airbrakes.

If I am low, I just glide slowly till ground, and when I decided to go on final from a height, brakes ruin glide angle and speed well and it is really simple and easy to land the glider at desired spot.

Mitja

P.S.: Here is a video that I made yesterday, but sorry, no Czapla captured...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znDLzaMj5Xo

[ultralajt]

Nice shot of Czapla as captured by our member Rusjan at saturday meeting:





Mitja

[ultralajt]

A brief insight in today`s aerotowing event held at the airfileld very near to famous Postojna Cave.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4f1oQ7USSk


Mitja

[czirh]

Nice video..

[ultralajt]

[ultralajt]

Sorry guys if I am becaming annoying with so many posts about my Czapla, but it seems I am addicted with this model now...

Here is a short photostory, made from photos captured by my friend:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnritZZa4GA







Mitja

[Frank Albrecht]

That's okay!

We ALL are addicted by our planes!

Frank

[ultralajt]

Oh, boy! I want to share with you some photos!

Yesterday I was on aerotow meeting, where I saw a wonderful Minimoa!

It was a scratch build and plans were drawn by an obvious well skilled modeller.

Model is build entirely from wood. Fuselage is 0,6mm plywood, wing torsion box also 0,6mm, and tail feathers planking is 0,4mm plywood.

The very interesting thing is a wing joint with fuselage as it is done in a manner as at real glider...each wing spar cap has its own bolt.

See photos of this beauty and enjoy!

































































And a link to a short video of this Minimoa aerotow:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdwRz-XLBlA

Mitja

BTW, yesterday I climb with my Czapla in the thermal to very edge of visibility....
I made also the first roll, and some low level aerobatics before landing. I really enjoy fly with oldtimer![/img]

[Anonyme]

Very nice construction indeed
Marc , a lover of the Minimoa

[ultralajt]

Last saturday was the probably last aerotow meeting here in year 2010.

I manage to make 2 really good soaring flights, rising pretty high, and also made several flights with moderate and even poor soaring.

But what the heck... one need also to practice these pattern and landings ;)


Here is a short video with camera mounted on the vertical fin. (little tail heavy..didnt compensate):

VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7oXgGw7WCU










Regards!

Mitja

[ultralajt]

Today, my beloved SZD-10 Czapla left my house and ended in the hands of new owner.

I know she is in good hands now, and I am looking forward to meet her next year on some aerotowing events.

I am sad and happy for her at the same time..... very strange and odd feelings for me as this was my first model that left my house.

So, I think, this is an official end of this thread from my side.

Now, back to the drawing board!


Mitja

[tibor kertesz]

WHY?

.... it was a beautiful sailplane and very original....!!

[ultralajt]

[Jean-Paul]

'' '' '' ''

[ultralajt]

Last video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7oXgGw7WCU






Mitja

[ultralajt]

This is probably the last one:

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZRXjnEdOe4


Mitja

[Walter L.]

Hi Mitja,
it´s a really nice video. Well done!

Regards

Walter

[ultralajt]

[Anonyme]

Nice videos, particularly the second one, nice vintage sailplane meeting

[ultralajt]

[Anonyme]

This K8b seems to be a good flyer but I don't feel much concerned with ARF models...

[ultralajt]

[ultralajt]

Hi!
Czapla plans and DXF files (for CNC cutting of the parts)
LINK: http://ultralajt.webs.com/apps/webst...s/show/2966301

Mitja