Thundergull

[Victor Bravo]

I stand corrected, Van's motorglider is obviously not the RV-5.

 

[BJC]

I stand corrected, Van's motorglider is obviously not the RV-5.

Since you wear one of those funky hats when you fly, VB, you probavly were thinking of an F rather than a V.


BJC

 

[Victor Bravo]

Oh yeah... I would LOVE to own an RF-5 !

 

[b7gwap]

I stand corrected, Van's motorglider is obviously not the RV-5.

Well, it’s certainly not an ultralight either. What a weird little airplane, Rotax twin and all.

 

[thjakits]

I wonder if a Thundergull would fly on 4 RC model airplane turbines?

 

[jedi]

I wonder if a Thundergull would fly on 4 RC model airplane turbines?

Yes but why?

Expensive.
Need excessive nose weight.
5 gal fuel limits flight to less than electric version.
Complex and noisy.
Cool, maybe? Photo shop artist needed.

 

[REVAN]

I wonder if a Thundergull would fly on 4 RC model airplane turbines?

Instead, just use one rc helicopter turbine engine to spin a decent size prop. I've seen free-turbine shaft drive rc helicopter engines in the low 20HP range. A 22HP engine would surely power a Thundergull, especially since the engine swap would probably knock about 20 pounds off the empty weight of the airplane. Also, I have not looked in a year or two. There may very well be more powerful engines available now than when I last looked.

 

[pictsidhe]

Four RC turbines would likely require a name change, to 'Harpy'.

 

[Victor Bravo]

I have also wondered why the larger R/C helicopter turboshaft systems were not used on small E-AB aircraft to run a propeller.

 

[jedi]

I have also wondered why the larger R/C helicopter turboshaft systems were not used on small E-AB aircraft to run a propeller.

$$$$$$ Mucho dinero. Demasiado. $$$
And more $$ $$$. $$$$ for continuing operations.

Note: Something is f#€h omg with my post. Free speech is no longer possible with AI interventions.

 

[Victor Bravo]

Remember the ads for the AI themed movie Westworld with Yul Brynner?
"Westworld: where nothing can go worng...."

 

[jedi]

Remember the ads for the AI themed movie Westworld with Yul Brynner?
"Westworld: where nothing can go worng...."

I think we have arrived. have arrived. have arrived. have arrived. have arrived.

 

[pictsidhe]

$$$$$$ Mucho dinero. Demasiado. $$$
And more $$ $$$. $$$$ for continuing operations.

That statement is full of bugs.

 

[TFF]

There are turboprop RC engines. All it takes is some cash.

 

[Cy V]

These guys are making turbines for light aircraft. The fuel consumption per hour is very close to piston engines. Too powerful for the Thundergull though.

Turboprop engine | TurbAero | Turbine power for your aircraft

TurbAero's 200hp turboprop engine for light aircraft delivers turbine power for the aviation enthusiast.

turb.aero

 

[BJC]

These guys are making turbines for light aircraft. The fuel consumption per hour is very close to piston engines. Too powerful for the Thundergull though.

Turboprop engine | TurbAero | Turbine power for your aircraft

TurbAero's 200hp turboprop engine for light aircraft delivers turbine power for the aviation enthusiast.

turb.aero

Yup. Dave is a participant here at HBA.


BJC

 

[Speedboat100]

My understanding is that the motorglider project (based on the HP-18) has been inactive for many years, and is likely to remain inactive.


BJC

20 ft spanning motorglider.

I like it a lot.

 

[BJC]

The RV-5 is not the motorglider project.


BJC

 

[Speedboat100]

The RV-5 is not the motorglider project.


BJC

Well...I like the idea of a 20 ft spanning motorglider anyway.

 

[Victor Bravo]

I agree, a 20 ft spanning motorglider would probably perform very well for an R/C model. You might be able to win numerous R/C model contests with it. Or you could have it piloted by a small Chihuahua or Rhesus Monkey, and it would achieve very good soaring performance.

I have actually once flown a 20 ft spanning motorglider myself, it was designed by the same aircraft engineer who designed the aircraft in the photos above. It had an unusual feature for motorgliding... after climb to gliding altitude, the propeller spinner departs from its mounting and strikes the propeller. This feature causes a very effective warning alarm, which reminds the pilot to shut down the self-launch engine. This results in approximately 45 seconds of memorable gliding flight.

It also provides a delightful souvenir of the gliding experience, the remaining portion of the (post-alarm) propeller, which is suitable for hanging on the wall of your living room.