OZ e flyer

Probably not the ESC. Sounds like the problem may be with the receiver or tx program and as Jason says, possibly a reversed panic switch. I assume all the other control surfaces work ok? I don’t have the manual for my apprentice at hand but I’m pretty sure there is a way outlined in the manual to do a reset. ive been flying my apprentice for a few years now and I still enjoy flying it. Almost always on expert mode now. But it performs really well and I get great flight times out of it. It has been banged up and rebuilt or repaired a bunch of times now but it’s a tough little plane. hope you enjoy yours as much as I enjoy mine.

Simon I think there could be a simple solution to your problem. Work from your knowns and make sure it fits inside the maximums recommended. for example; You know the weight of your plane and the watts per pound formula to suit the style of flight you want to achieve. you then know how many watts you’re looking for so that’s a known, let’s call it 400watts. you know you know how many volts you’re going to have because of battery size (3s = 11.1 etc) you know watts = volts times amps so 11.1volts times 36amps = 399.6watts does that fall within the parameters stated on the motor data? If the answer is yes then you have a suitable motor. Select an ESC rated generously more than 36amps (50 maybe) then select and fit a desirable prop. Using a meter, measure the amps being drawn during a static bench test. if it looks like you are going to draw more than 36 amps at full throttle then fit a smaller prop and try again. A little trial and error until you have your desired pitch and size prop and I reckon you’re good to go. I always add about 10% in to my calculations and I believe it’s always better to select slightly larger than you calculate you’ll need if it’s practical. It’s how I’ve always worked with my setups and I’ve never had an issue. best of luck.

Was the use of gliders ever really successful from a military perspective? I know they are using drones now that are almost gliders but I'm curious as to how effective they were during conflicts.

I have to admit it was certainly a pretty strange idea. What started as a cargo carrying glider becomes a spy glider. Strange. I guess they were trying to achieve something for a reason. The aussie airforce was and I guess still is, very small so bang for buck becomes vital and innovation can sometimes provide that cutting edge advantage......not always though. Lol.

Many thanks guys. I’ve been able to find a little more info now. Very short lived machine. 8 made only but it was 1952 when the project finished. A most curious design that “suction wing”. It appears there was a suction fan in it as well and when operating (suction on) it appears the stall speed was slower. Amazing stuff. Couple more photos below if you’re interested. thanks again for your help. Shane

Yep I think that’s the one. I believe it had an experimental suction airfoil wing design though.

Hi everyone. I’m seeking any knowledge I can find on a glider that was made fleetingly for the Aussie airforce during wwII. I know very little about the DH2 other than it was designed and manufactured in Australia by Dehaviland. The Australian airforce (RAAF) is celebrating its 100th anniversary next year and there are people looking for information on this glider far and wide as it seems there is very little info on it. Any help would greatly appreciated. Shane

I’m glad I don’t have to consider heating issues down here in Oz. My biggest issue is keeping the work area cool. Lol. Piers makes a good point with regards to insulating though and is spot on regarding lighting. I use LED strip lighting around my workspace and it is brilliant as well as dirt cheap to run. I have even started fitting my house out with LED lighting because of the running cost and zero maintenance (no more blown globes or tubes). If you want to help out your lights though (you definitely don’t have to with LED) consider reflective or white ceiling surfaces and walls. sunshine is not an issue down here so solar works brilliantly. My parents have been running solar power for several years and have not had an electric power bill since installing their system. All the surplus power they generate feeds back on to the main supply grid and this offsets their power usage bill. End result - no bill. Of course we are talking about a much bigger system than a garden shed though. Dont be put off Amy. Do your research, weigh up the pros and cons, work out your budget and see where you’re at. I’m not a greenie power saver type of guy believe me but I do think solar power is worth the effort. I am looking at getting a solar system for my house this year (6.5kW which is really big) but I’m sure you could get a suitably sized unit for your requirements. Let us know how you go. Shane

Great idea Amy. Not sure where you live but here in Australia, solar power is becoming very popular. There are many variations depending on your requirements. Simple 12volt supply from a couple of panels running some 12volt lights, maybe trickle charging a deep cycle battery so you have night time power. This would possibly be the cheapest and if you have a little bit of electrical knowledge you could probably install it yourself. More complex systems might include a couple of panels connected to an inverter that could potentially supply nearly all of your AC power needs for a shed but, you would most likely have to invest in a more substantial storage battery that could keep the power on at night and even the load out. You would also have to get someone who knows what they’re doing to install it. Have a look at the Tesla power wall as an example. It is a VERY good system but a little expensive. They even make roof tiles that are photovoltaic cells so no big square panels on your roof. Once again a little pricey but if you are building a shed from scratch it could be a viable option depending on your needs. so many choices and things to consider but I think it’s a brilliant idea. Good luck. Shane

Stall on downwind leg. Grumman Mallard. January 2017. unfortunately 2 people tragically lost their lives. This happened in front of thousands of people setting up for our “Australia Day” celebrations. **LINK**

Then there’s one of these. **LINK** Too expensive for my wallet though.

I know exactly the type you mean Chris. The new stands do look a bit not right but, yes I’m pretty sure that’s how it’s used. The little tin acts the same way as the wick type desoldering tape.

Chris I’m pretty sure it’s supposed to be like that when in use. The tip sits in a tin of curly fine copper that’s supposed to clean the tip between use. At least that’s my understanding of them.