Swift S1 - 2.88m

[Phil.Taylor]

Thanks guys. Sorry, no video this time, but there will be in the future !

Phil.

[Phil.Taylor]

2 years on - and just 2x flying sessions done - time to finally get some colour on it !

Something plausibly scale whilst also aiding visibility / orientation

and - finally added the nose tow release mechanism - very simple small-hole-with-wire-across

and - the first aerotow for it yesterday at the Devon Glider day - great fun seeing it flying high over a flat-field.  The release worked great - especially on an emergency when things didn't go quite right - lesson learned - don't use a take-off dolly with a low set tail - wing lifted off the dolly but not enough & the dolly wing uprights got tangled in the tail - not good but minimal tail damage.

Phil.

[ferincr]

Hello,

I understand that this thread is many years old but since I haven't found much info about this brand's models I'll give it a try.

I don't know if you can tell me if there is any sort of internal spar in these wings? I have a couple of Royal Models ASx gliders with the same kind of wing construction (obechi over foam) and they do not have spars.

I wonder how resilient these wings could be to high Gs manouvers,

I read you said the fuse being a bit weak for slope flying and I wonder about the wings . All in all the price is very atractive but would it be worth at the end or is one of those cases of "you get what you paid"?

Thanks!,

Fernando

[Phil.Taylor]

Hi Fernando

Not sure about a spar, but there is certainly carbon/glass reinforcement under the veneer - shown on a construction "plan" that came with it. Probably a similar structure to an Alpina 4001 etc.

If you really want to do very high speed, very high G manouvers - I would recommend going to one of the fully moulded Swifts - there are several to choose from

If you are happy doing general aerobatics in a scale-like manner, this model is ideal - video attached.

Phil.

 

[ferincr]

Hi Phil thanks for replying!!!!! I had zero hopes that anyone would still monitored this thread so this was a surprise!

My favorite acro glider is the Valenta L-213 (small) last year I got a molded Fox (from Valenta too) but even though I only put two flights on it it doesn't seem to fly as fast as the L213 so I was considering this.

Yes, I'm aware of the molded Swifts but they are a bit over my $1000 rule to throw into the abyss .

Great video!!!!

Fernando

[Big Si]

Having had the Top Model 3.14m the Discus 4.5m and the Fox 4m they all have a slab of carbon reinforcing along the wing top and bottom and there is a spar in-between them as well and the weak link has been the wing joiner as had to get a stainless steel one for the Swift and the Fox ,Fox one yet to try as the dam thing is 2.3lb so i actually have a 20mm and 18mm carbon tube coming today to glue together to try as that will be way lighter as the carbon/kevlar one supplied bends like no ones business and terrifies me every time i fly it as its so bendy so i would assume that this Swifts wings will be pretty much the same inside as probably made in the same place . wings on the Swift were solid and i never got them to bend , time will tell on the Fox as not flown it much yet but i do love it so far 

[Phil.Taylor]

Carbon tube for a wing joiner? - thats a very bad idea - it can shatter without warning - been there, done that. Solid carbon rod is ok - but still watch out for any nicks in the surface that could cause trouble. My Swift came with a solid steel joiner - replaced with solid carbon to save weight.

Phil.

[Big Si]

a solid 20mm carbon bar is not that easy to find hence why a 20mm and 18mm glued together as the model comes with a carbon bar wrapped in kevlar but it bends even on just a bit of a pull and when i asked them they just said get a stainless one but its so so heavy , the Tomahawk Fox is 4.5m and that just has a carbon tube and its not very thick walled and the couple that mates have fly them very hard as they are electric as well and they haven't had ant issues . i was very surprised when i built one for a mate and it was just a carbon tube . will give them a try once i have cut them to length and glued them together