Scale Curtiss XP-55 Ascender
- Thread starter Larry B
- Start date
Jetpainter
640cc Uber Pimp
I just watched the video on Youtube of the smaller yellow one flying. That silhouette sure is different. 
pawnshopmike
Staff member
I just pinched this video off that "other site". Pretty cool!
Jetpainter
640cc Uber Pimp
Those Granville Brothers were pretty brave.......... or nuts... it's hard to tell.
acerc
640cc Uber Pimp
@Larry B, I wanted to mention on my prior post but didn't. In the video it look's as if the canard was pointing upwards a good bit, with the speed you hit a time or two seems to me the nose should have at least attempted to lift. Was the canard pointing upwards, and if so, could it be very nose heavy is why there was no lift?
Larry B
70cc twin V2
Ace R/C, you are correct, I did have a bunch of up elevator in the thing. I have found with this type of configuration (Pusher with trike gear) you have several things working against you. The first is the prop location, a high thrust line and being a pusher prop tries to drive the nose down when power is added. The second issue is the drag of the gear in the grass which also tries to make the nose dive.
And you are right about the CG, I do have the CG in the most forward location of the range. I have a feeling that when it does get airborne it may "pop" off of the ground.
Pusher canards are a bit like flying a jet, you make the entire takeoff run holding up elevator until it flies off the ground, as the model accelerates the elevator is reduced for level flight. Also there is no prop blast to assist with control surface response so the only thing you have going for you is airspeed.
Another issue is the wing loading, as the Ascender sits the wing loading is 56oz/sq ft, which is about where my 1/4 scale 109's fly at but it's gonna have to really get moving to fly off the grass.
We will see!
And you are right about the CG, I do have the CG in the most forward location of the range. I have a feeling that when it does get airborne it may "pop" off of the ground.
Pusher canards are a bit like flying a jet, you make the entire takeoff run holding up elevator until it flies off the ground, as the model accelerates the elevator is reduced for level flight. Also there is no prop blast to assist with control surface response so the only thing you have going for you is airspeed.
Another issue is the wing loading, as the Ascender sits the wing loading is 56oz/sq ft, which is about where my 1/4 scale 109's fly at but it's gonna have to really get moving to fly off the grass.
We will see!