The Pitchy Plane Project

bdhold · Post by **bdhold** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 1:26 pm

as long as you don't actually get airborne, we'll be great.

that board behind the cockpit? imagine you stopping before it does.

I used to build and fly control line models, and had a Flite Streak that would do 70 mph. Maybe you should start there.

Booger Bill · Post by **Booger Bill** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 1:53 pm

Pitchy, can you rig a quick cable release in case whoever is dragging you dont see you get hung up or something? Yeah, you can do it, it just depends on to what degree you will be satisfied with to label it a "sucess" to your standards. I havent flown in somewhere around 20 years, but I know I could and would if we were being invaded or something. I woiuldnt call it smart or legal but I know I could survive. My old citaberia has a glider tow hook and was pulling gliders when I bought it 35 years ago. If you get this project done before the end of winter the place to try it is on a large frozen lake. I would tow it with a powerfull quad and have the local news paper and friends film your attempt. Try to take off into a 15 or 20 mph wind or so. Wear good goggels so your eyes dont water up. I would cut loose maybe 10 feet up or so and dont even try any turns try to land straight ahead. I would want a lake at least close to a mile long in the wind to get airborn, cut loose and land. The stronger the headwind the less length you need. You dont want to stall out anything over 5 ft high. You recectify that by pushing the stick AHEAD to gain speed to keep from stalling out anything under stall speed. I am guessing you will have to get up to 35 to 40 mph to break ground and your stall speed can and will vary, but ball park will be 45 mph. A airspeed indicator would be nice. You also need to find where the balance point is with you in the ship and add or subtract weight to the ship on the ground. You need to adjust your elevator cable to be in the ballpark.
I would say just 15 or 20 secounds or so off the ground would prove your point.

Bill in Oregon · Post by **Bill in Oregon** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 2:42 pm

Pitchy, if you survive this stunt in one piece, why don't you build a real glider like this classic SG-38?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_TneWGg ... re=related

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 3:07 pm

I`m going to be in the back of a truck with the wife who will be filming see if we can get it lift empty first.
I don`t like the disconnect idea, i see a video of a guy that did that and when he released the wind took the plane straight up and over backwards.
I`m going to have two ten foot ropes on it, one on each side of the skies to help to keep it going straight while on the ground.
I`ll have a long stick tied too the control stick so i can regulate the lift if it does lift off.
It will probably be a complete disaster but i`ll have tried and that will be good enough for me.
May be Sunday, just talked to my tow driver and he`s fishing till then so unless something changes........;.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 3:26 pm

Pitchy, I see why you're gonna tow this thing... not enough room for your feet to do the Fred Flintstone thing!

Remember airplane crashes add height to the speed component, and it's an exponential factor, not arithematic. Altitude is required to recover from all straight & level flight errors... er, deviations; so get very high, don't go very fast or make any errors! I'd suggesst Maker's Mark™ for getting high!

Bigger 'nads than me... for sure! It ain't flying in a contraption like that, that'd bother me... it's flying one I built!

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 3:37 pm

I don`t plan on getting over a foot off the ground, can`t get much speed up across my 300 yard field.
It will either be a good day or a bad day.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 6:29 pm

Works good

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 6:31 pm

Bill in Oregon · Post by **Bill in Oregon** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 6:59 pm

Pitch old pal, looking at that photo and the position of the joy stick and considering the possibility of a sudden stop, you might to wear, um, protective equipment under a jock strap ...

gamekeeper · Post by **gamekeeper** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 7:23 pm

Bill in Oregon wrote:Pitch old pal, looking at that photo and the position of the joy stick and considering the possibility of a sudden stop, you might to wear, um, protective equipment under a jock strap ...

+ 1....

rafter-7 · Post by **rafter-7** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 7:56 pm

A picture is worth a thousands words!....... Good luck pich.....LOL

^

Gobblerforge · Post by **Gobblerforge** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 5:57 am

Go Wildman, Go........................ I want a hang glider now.

Gobbler

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 9:17 am

Thanks gents, as soon as i can get someone to tow it things are going to happen.

My guess, it will lift roll and crack up into a pile of tooth picks.

bdhold · Post by **bdhold** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 9:58 am

I like the photos you already have.
I think you should quit now.

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 10:26 am

higher

Higher

HIGHER

whatever, have a safe flight.

AND DON'T DISCONNECT !!!

that wing has no lift, it's like holding your hand out the car window.... if you dropped the towline, or it broke while you are airborn, you'll likely backflip.

hopefully you will find the center of gravity and document a weight and balance test for the air-minded among us.

and after the flight you will enjoy looking at man-lifting kites. there's detailed history of using kites to elevate observers.... and hot air balloons are really simple, and can be tethered so you don't wind up in the Mississippi drainage...

or you could modify the school glider to produce more lift and go soaring up to cloud base... the future looks Bright.... happy flight time.

Grizz

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 1:26 pm

Here ya go, the steel channel iron is center of the wing .

RIHMFIRE · Post by **RIHMFIRE** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 8:13 pm

cant wait to see that barrel role!

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 8:40 pm

I suggest your center of gravity be a little forward than wing center. I found with my radio controlled it flew better.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 9:12 pm

kimwcook wrote:I suggest your center of gravity be a little forward than wing center. I found with my radio controlled it flew better.

Yepper, if i move forward a little it is that way.
Don`t worry fellers i`m not going to take any risks that will kill me and i appreciate all the info and concerns.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:30 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T7K80HX ... re=related

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:42 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruldKnHN ... re=related

Cliff · Post by **Cliff** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:44 am

This stuff is education and looks like a thing to pass winter in your part of the country. Hope it goes well and safely for you. OF course you do realize that once it flys you will have to have a few TSA people there to supervise who is flying and what they are carrying. Not to mention all the other alphabet agencies getting involved. Just kidding, I Hope. ATB

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 11:16 am

Pitchy wrote: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruldKnHN ... re=related

not only does this airplane have plenty of ponies, the guy can ride 'em !!

love this video and it's going to the young'uns.

bdhold · Post by **bdhold** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 11:54 am

Pitchy wrote:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T7K80HX ... re=related

all those guys built bicycles first - start there.

bdhold · Post by **bdhold** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 11:57 am

Grizz wrote:
Pitchy wrote: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruldKnHN ... re=related
not only does this airplane have plenty of ponies, the guy can ride 'em !!

love this video and it's going to the young'uns.

it's also a staged airshow gag - only way the cameras could follow it that well.

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 12:01 pm

bulldog1935 wrote:
Grizz wrote:
Pitchy wrote: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruldKnHN ... re=related
not only does this airplane have plenty of ponies, the guy can ride 'em !!

love this video and it's going to the young'uns.
it's also a staged airshow gag - only way the cameras could follow it that well.

Oh Yeah... professional all the way... it's amazing to see how far he can push the envelope. that flier has top notch skills.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 12:32 pm

Yep all staged but what a showing of flying ability

My plane will fly that way without trying

and maybe i`ll really be drunk

One more day bros, just don`t hold it against me if it doesn`t lift off.

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 12:34 pm

I'm pretty sure he was at the Appleton show many moons ago...or one just like him. Takes Big Ones to do that stuff so low.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 2:20 pm

Added some snow skies under the ones that are on it to ride over the bumps better and added a four inch slat to the front of the wings.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 6:09 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQYPZcpE ... creen&NR=1

markinalpine · Post by **markinalpine** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 7:09 pm

GOOD! You're still with us.
#1
Mark

FWiedner · Post by **FWiedner** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 7:43 pm

That fella in the paper plane sure looked like he had his hands full.

Bill in Oregon · Post by **Bill in Oregon** » Sun Feb 19, 2012 12:32 pm

Well for heaven's sake, Pitchy, don't keep us in suspense. What's the name of the local hospital?

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sun Feb 19, 2012 2:28 pm

Well boys i failed but at least alive and tried.
The field is so rough that if we would of went any faster it would broke apart before it got off the ground. We were going about 20-25 mph and it felt like it tried to lift once.
The truck i`m sure was blocking a lot of wind but i wanted to be tied short so it could drift around or go too high.
This plane was not designed right for this type of attempt, not enough lift to the wing so ya gotta go to fast.
I built this to go on a pedestal as a trainer like in the article on the first page of this thread.
I might build another wing more like the Wright glider with a warping wing that would be light and low that i would lay on.
Anyway hope i didn`t disappointed ya all to bad but it was fun and exhilarating.

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Sun Feb 19, 2012 2:32 pm

Disappoint no, but you sure did scare the---- out of me when I first looked at that thing.

FWiedner · Post by **FWiedner** » Sun Feb 19, 2012 2:43 pm

I thing you did it wrong.

The original instructions showed the guy gliding gently off a cliff or a steep hillside, didn't they?

Ain't they got no cliffs in Minesooooota?

I'd think you could at least jump off the pole-barn before you put her in the hangar forever.

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Sun Feb 19, 2012 2:59 pm

Well glad your maiden "flight" didn't result in any injuries. It sounds like you videographer has some ideas of her own to help you out too. I heard her making suggestions in the background.

Congratulations on being able to walk away!

Booger Bill · Post by **Booger Bill** » Sun Feb 19, 2012 3:13 pm

I still say your best sane bet is to try it on a nice iced lake. Level, can turn any direction to be square with the wind, no hills, bumps, bushs, fences or trees to worry about. Your from northern wisconsin arent you? There has to be a ton of lakes nearby. Might have to ask for a few guys to temporarly move their shantys though. I bet they would love to, to watch you try!

.45colt · Post by **.45colt** » Sun Feb 19, 2012 3:41 pm

Heck Pitchy You didn't fail, You built the critter and the tried to fly it, In My Book the misson is an absolute succes. And You'r still here to talk about it..No Guv'mt funding. better watch out though a bunch of them drones may be watching Your place.You could be a National Security Risk.

.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sun Feb 19, 2012 3:48 pm

Thanks guys, Bill the lakes here in Mn. arn`t safe to drive on because of the mild winter. As you noticed there wasn`t much snow in the field.
Later on if we get a foot of snow i`ll have the kid bring his snowmobile over and tow me with it. That should work good and a foot of snow would be nice to crash on.
I`m happy with the way it went for now.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Sun Feb 19, 2012 4:10 pm

Dern. I figured once you tried, you'd give up this madness. But that wasn't likely to happen, was it?

Pitchy wrote:Later on if we get a foot of snow i`ll have the kid bring his snowmobile over and tow me with it. That should work good and a foot of snow would be nice to crash on.
I`m happy with the way it went for now.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sun Feb 19, 2012 4:24 pm

Griff wrote:Dern. I figured once you tried, you'd give up this madness. But that wasn't likely to happen, was it?
Pitchy wrote:Later on if we get a foot of snow i`ll have the kid bring his snowmobile over and tow me with it. That should work good and a foot of snow would be nice to crash on.
I`m happy with the way it went for now.

Your getting to know me pretty good Griff

Nath · Post by **Nath** » Sun Feb 19, 2012 4:52 pm

Pitchy, you nuts

To much dirty air that close to a big truck for sure.

I think at that speed the wing section would need alot more shape!

N.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sun Feb 19, 2012 5:16 pm

Nath wrote:Pitchy, you nuts

To much dirty air that close to a big truck for sure.

I think at that speed the wing section would need alot more shape!

N.

Just another thing i can add to my "and have " sig

Bill in Oregon · Post by **Bill in Oregon** » Sun Feb 19, 2012 5:38 pm

Pitchy, I doff my Stetson and bow in the presence of modern-day Leonardo. You get an idea and go with it. You tried and you lived.
I salute you!

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sun Feb 19, 2012 6:42 pm

Why thank you sir, chit there are many others here that i can`t hold a candle to when it comes to making things.
Heck if i`d made it right the first time it would of flown so now i`ll have to try again.
Appreciate all the help and kind words from everyone, don`t know what i`d do without ya all.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Sun Feb 19, 2012 9:00 pm

Pitchy,

Even the Wright Bros had their non-successes. From what I saw you got it going fast enough to get the tail off the ground. That's gotta be worth something ... right?

Joe

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Mon Feb 20, 2012 12:28 am

At least the rubber band didn't break! We love you man. Keep your tail on the ground!

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Mon Feb 20, 2012 12:31 am

The lady with the camera got it right, you need a lot longer rope.

There are training setups where the glider sits in the bed of the truck and then you can feel the results of control inputs on the wings.

Biggest issue I see is that you have no roll control. If you get airborn, (and I sincerely hope you do), a wing dip would be uncorrectable and would cause a certain crash. You have to be able to keep the wings level.

You can even fly on a towline in a big wind, like a kite, if you have attitude control. Not you, I mean control of the plane's attitude. Good attitude means you get to do it again....

bdhold · Post by **bdhold** » Mon Feb 20, 2012 8:18 am

glad you stayed on the ground, but maybe you should keep the next project below 12 mph