Profile Bell X-2 rocketplane

[Ambivalence]

I built this X-2 from plans that I found on RCGroups. Some slight modifications were made for the sake of scale accuracy. 3 Hitec HS-55 servos, Spektrum receiver. 700 mAh 3S Li-Po with a Castle UBEC for radio power.

It is mostly 6mm Depron foam with carbon fiber rods for reinforcement.

Amazingly, AMain Hobby had one 24mm Aerotech R/C case left on sale for $19. Perfect! I also have some E6 reloads on order.

I really wanted to fly it at Metra tomorrow, but the site is rained out and a reschedule is TBD.

I also might try some Estes E9-6's with the ejection charge removed.

[aerostadt]

Cool looking plane! Let us know how it does. There was a fellow named Frank Burkel who was posting stuff like this on RP about 2 and 1/2 years ago. He did both electric props and LPR. He had quite a variety of models. I copied his X-15 stuff, but he told me that it was pretty difficult to fly. I watched his videos and his models (foamies) were zipping all over the place.

[Ambivalence]

Cool looking plane! Let us know how it does. There was a fellow named Frank Burkel who was posting stuff like this on RP about 2 and 1/2 years ago. He did both electric props and LPR. He had quite a variety of models. I copied his X-15 stuff, but he told me that it was pretty difficult to fly. I watched his videos and his models (foamies) were zipping all over the place.

Thanks! And yes, this is one of Frank's plans. I was torn between this and the X-15 but I just love the X-2. Maybe the Bachem Natter next...

[Ambivalence]

Flew the X-2 thrice today and it flew awesome! The AeroTech E6 burns for 8 seconds so you really get to fly it around even under power. Pardon the overcast sky...it doesn't make for great video with a white plane.

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[Ambivalence]

More.

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[Ambivalence]

Last flight of the day.

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[aerostadt]

Looks great! I think I liked the first and third videos the best. The X-2 plane tended to get lost in the overcast clouds in the videos, but at lower levels the large wing span shows up pretty good. Off hand, I don't recall the AT E6 motor. Is this the motor sold by Apogee? If so, how did you handle the ejection charge? Your flights look casual enough that I think maybe a novice R/C person might be able to handle the controls. I remember Frank's flights were zipping all over the place.

[Ambivalence]

Looks great! I think I liked the first and third videos the best. The X-2 plane tended to get lost in the overcast clouds in the videos, but at lower levels the large wing span shows up pretty good. Off hand, I don't recall the AT E6 motor. Is this the motor sold by Apogee? If so, how did you handle the ejection charge? Your flights look casual enough that I think maybe a novice R/C person might be able to handle the controls. I remember Frank's flights were zipping all over the place.

Thank you. The AT E6 reload uses their 24mm R/C casing with is plugged at the end. The reloads don't include a delay or ejection charge. Apogee does not carry these; I got the reloads at redarrowhobbies.com.

The X-2 is rather easy to fly, but due to the wing sweep and flat-plate airfoil I don't think I would recommend it as a first venture into R/C.

[aerostadt]

Would this be a good model for a beginning R/C experience?

www.ejf.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=71_120&products_id=866

[Ambivalence]

I have not built or flown that model, but I will tell you (and I have been flying R/C for 20 years) that it will likely not be good for a beginner. You have very little wing area on the shuttle and that translates to higher stall speeds and a generally unforgiving model. You would also need a radio capable of elevon mixing for the shuttle.

If you have never flown R/C the first thing I always recommend is a simulator (RealFlight, Phoenix or similar). It may cost you around $200 to get the sim, but crashed models add up fast.

Something good for a beginner will look more like this (http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=EFL2725). A high wing airplane with self-correcting tendencies. Also having someone with flying experience teaching you helps a lot.

[cvause]

I built this X-2 from plans that I found on RCGroups.

Can you link to the plans? Im having no luck in the search.

[Ambivalence]

The X-2 (and all of this guy's other plans) can be found here (http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=979395#post11284823).

[cvause]

Many thanks

[burkefj]

Nice job on the plane, I'm glad some people are getting some use out of my plans. I get almost zero feedback, so I'm glad to see one in the sky, and the detailing looks great. It is pretty docile to fly if you are already comfortable with RC.

I really like the areotech 24mm E reloads, a good long burn time and a docile boost. I think they fit into a sweet spot of RC boost gliders with the profile depron construction in this size plane.

Please post if you build any of the others.

Frank

[Ambivalence]

Nice job on the plane, I'm glad some people are getting some use out of my plans. I get almost zero feedback, so I'm glad to see one in the sky, and the detailing looks great. It is pretty docile to fly if you are already comfortable with RC.

I really like the areotech 24mm E reloads, a good long burn time and a docile boost. I think they fit into a sweet spot of RC boost gliders with the profile depron construction in this size plane.

Please post if you build any of the others.

Frank

Thanks for your compliment, and thanks for the plan! I do plan on building more of your plans and will be sure to post them here (or RCU).

Yes, the E6 is great for the X-2. I wonder how it would handle the E12 reload?

I'm working on a Hobby Labs SR-71 too...I wonder if the E6 is enough?

[BBrown]

Thanks for your compliment, and thanks for the plan! I do plan on building more of your plans and will be sure to post them here (or RCU).

Yes, the E6 is great for the X-2. I wonder how it would handle the E12 reload?

I'm working on a Hobby Labs SR-71 too...I wonder if the E6 is enough?

I have a Hobby Labs SR-71 and have flown it several times on the E6. The motor does not produce enough thrust to launch the SR-71 vertically so I end up using three launch rods, one for the lug and one each under each wing. I stick them in the ground and launch on about a 45 degree angle.

Here's a hint with the HL SR-71, don't try to fly it on the Aerotech G12. Not only is it extremely tail heavy, it's easy to fly out of radio range with the long burn! Don't ask me how I know!

Bob

[Ambivalence]

How about the E12 reload? It has a whole pound more of thrust, but not the duration of the E6.

And I'm not worried about range, I'm using 2.4GHz radio gear.

[burkefj]

I flew my Hobbylab SR-71 only on E-15's and the thrust profile of that was ok, it boosted fairly quickly and you had to be fairly gentle and quick on the sticks to prevent any roll, it got pretty high, and given the small profile and black color you had to make sure you knew which direction it was pointed.

Frank

[BBrown]

I flew my Hobbylab SR-71 only on E-15's and the thrust profile of that was ok, it boosted fairly quickly and you had to be fairly gentle and quick on the sticks to prevent any roll, it got pretty high, and given the small profile and black color you had to make sure you knew which direction it was pointed.

Frank

Frank,

Roger that on the small profile and black color!

I put a length of yellow electrical tape down the belly of my SR-71 so that I can tell right side up at altitude. You would think you should be able to see the twin tail fins!

Bob