Bug HLG

Archive of the Yahoo! Groups mailing list for the Bug hand-launch glider 2002-2018

From: "Dan" <danstrider@...>
Date: Tuesday, October 1, 2002 2:24 PM
Subject: Re: 1/8" great size
John, I bought a 1/8" micro carbon tube from Aerospace Composite Products (TU-0002). According to the ACP website (www.acp-composites): "GRAPHITE TUBES - Graphite tubes are the ultimate push rods since they contain 95% unidirectional carbon fiber running longitudinally and are covered with a light glass scrim. This design offers a high stiffness to weight ratio and makes these tubes ideal for 1/4 scale aircraft pushrods, and slope soarer and helicopter tail booms." For lack of a gram scale, the boom deflects approximately 5/16" with four US quarters placed 13 5/8" from the fixed end. I have 14 5/8" boom from the end of the pod. With my convential tail (plans in carbon bug phots), the hinge line of the elevator is +1/2" from the end of the boom. I have photos in the "Dan E." album. Best of luck and sorry about your last 1/8" boom. Dan --- In BugHLG@y..., "John Gospodarek" <John.Gospodarek@i...> wrote: > Maybe you have a thicker wall 1/8th inch tube. I am glad to here of > your luck with the 1/8th inch tubes. I will have to try again. I fly > kites and I know that you can get CF tubes of the same size with > different deflection rates. Mine was real floppy (lots of > deflection) and did not work well at the standard Bug length. Do you > know the manufacture of the tube you used? Also was it a Pultruded > or CF Raped or straight CF? Thanks. > > > > --- In BugHLG@y..., "Dan" <danstrider@a...> wrote: > > I must disagree about the 1/8" booms. > > > > I have an extended 1/8" boom, around 14.5" inches out of the > > fuselage with cruciform feathers, and I can easily hit 50 feet > > during launches. In fact, I went to the Down East Soaring Society > > thermal duration contest and consistently outlaunched a Taboo > ($400 > > foam & fg hlg). Granted, this was an open class contest and it > was > > just four of us messing with hlg's afterwards. My launches are > full- > > discus as hard as I can throw. The Bug tracks straight up with no > > elevator preset, and tracks supurb with a hair down and right > rudder > > launch preset. > > > > Yes, the boom is somewhat flimsier than the 3/16" HOWEVER, only > > during launches does the tail see enough air to deflect the boom. > > Most flights do not produce enough force on the tail to deflect > the > > 1/8" boom. I still have enough control authority to pull loops, > > another high-force on the tail manover. > > > > Indeed, the decreased weight has helped too. My times have > > definitely increased. I flew a 3:23 after the DESS contest, > second > > flight of the day. My best time of 4:30 was also done with the > 1/8" > > tail and cruciform setup. > > > > Remember to keep the tail light! With the extra long moment arm, > > weight becomes an issue. > > > > Just my two cents' worth. I feel an obiligtory need to defend the > > 1/8" boom with my successes. > > > > Dan