I stand corrected, Van's motorglider is obviously not the RV-5.
Thundergull
- Thread starter aerogant
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Since you wear one of those funky hats when you fly, VB, you probavly were thinking of an F rather than a V.
BJC
Oh yeah... I would LOVE to own an RF-5 !
Well, it’s certainly not an ultralight either. What a weird little airplane, Rotax twin and all.
thjakits
Well-Known Member
I wonder if a Thundergull would fly on 4 RC model airplane turbines?
jedi
Well-Known Member
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
Well-Known Member
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
Banned
Four RC turbines would likely require a name change, to 'Harpy'.
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
Well-Known Member
$$$$$$ Mucho dinero. Demasiado. $$$
And more $$ $$$. $$$$ for continuing operations.
Note: Something is f#€h omg with my post. Free speech is no longer possible with AI interventions.
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Remember the ads for the AI themed movie Westworld with Yul Brynner?
"Westworld: where nothing can go worng...."
"Westworld: where nothing can go worng...."
jedi
Well-Known Member
I think we have arrived. have arrived. have arrived. have arrived. have arrived.
pictsidhe
Banned
That statement is full of bugs.
TFF
Well-Known Member
There are turboprop RC engines. All it takes is some cash.
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.
turb.aero
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.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.
BJC
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Speedboat100
Well-Known Member
The RV-5 is not the motorglider project.
BJC
BJC
Speedboat100
Well-Known Member
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.
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.
