The Pitchy Plane Project

bdhold · Post by **bdhold** » Mon Feb 20, 2012 8:18 am

glad you stayed on the ground, but maybe you should keep the next project below 12 mph

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Mon Feb 20, 2012 8:32 am

The lady with the camera got it right, you need a lot longer rope.

That was the guy driving the trucks wife, my wife was on the camera.
Oh i agree that a longer rope would of helped but i didn`t want to take any chances of going to high on the first attempt.
If we get some snow it`ll lift off but your right about no ailerons, that will be a problem.
Thanks guys.

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Fri Mar 02, 2012 3:33 pm

Hey Pitchy

Here's some inspiration for ya:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9P6NlFWmyM

Notice how much aileron input it takes to keep from crashing. Word.

Hope you're feeling well enough to resume your aviation pursuits soon.

Grizz

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Fri Mar 02, 2012 4:24 pm

And i was trying to talk the wife into being my wing walker, if it rolls one way she can run to the other end ect.......

Not sure what my next move is after i get teeth, might go back to the trainer idea.

FatJackDurham · Post by **FatJackDurham** » Fri Mar 02, 2012 5:16 pm

Pitchy wrote:
Grizz wrote:Getting too high isn't the problem.

The problem is getting towed behind a truck!
That kind of stuff can mess ya up!
Well how else am i gonna get airborne, i ain`t putting no prop on this thing.
If this thing don`t lift at under 30 mph the heck with it i`ll put it on a pedestal and make the trainer out of it.

Bungy cord catapult.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Fri Mar 02, 2012 5:53 pm

Hey i just thought of a way, put foldable wings on the Harley then get going 100 mph and let them down. Should lift and glide quite a ways.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 3:35 pm

Hey Griff, was trying to think f an easy way to mount the plane too that would be easy and work.
What do ya think of putting a pulley on a oak limb and run a rope down through the plane attached to the bottom. Then run the rope through another pully and hang some weight on it. The plane could then move in all directions huh?

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 3:42 pm

Runnin' the rope down to the bottom of the plane might make it want to lift that part faster'n the top part... Even with the fever, sniffles and cold remedy, I seem to recall the adage that one wants to keep the upper part upper... and lower part lower. Aerobatics is for later in your flight career, not earlier! At least wait until you get the "taking off" and "landing" parts down fairly pat!

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 3:46 pm

The problem is the wing might not support my weight if the rope is attached to the center.
That`s why i thought running something to the bottom would lift the whole thing.
I like the idea of hanging it by a rope because it can turn into the wind easy.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 5:51 pm

Griff i think ya mis understood me, i only meant attaching the rope to the bottom frame then up through the top where it would be attached also.
The pivot point would still be on top.
Will be doing that soon.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 6:44 pm

Ah! The light goes on.

jazman · Post by **jazman** » Thu Mar 08, 2012 6:26 pm

Pitchy wrote:And i was trying to talk the wife into being my wing walker, if it rolls one way she can run to the other end ect.......

Not sure what my next move is after i get teeth, might go back to the trainer idea.

Heck, I was thinkin the only time to do this is when you DON'T have teeth, nothing to get knocked out!

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Thu Mar 08, 2012 6:41 pm

Well we had lift-off, empty

but lift-off regardless.
About a 30 mile an hour wind.
Junk, i`m giving up on this crate before i stub my toe.

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Thu Mar 08, 2012 6:52 pm

The most intelligent move you have made since the start of this ill fated affair.

JerryB · Post by **JerryB** » Thu Mar 08, 2012 7:06 pm

Praise the Lord Pitchy proud to hear you still got a little sense, not to sure about wings on the Harley either.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Thu Mar 08, 2012 7:08 pm

I think your right

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Thu Mar 08, 2012 8:27 pm

that looks GREAT. did you try the elevator to see if you could level out in the pitch axis?

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Thu Mar 08, 2012 9:20 pm

Grizz wrote:that looks GREAT. did you try the elevator to see if you could level out in the pitch axis?

It`s real tail heavy without me in it and too heavy all around with me in it

It would have to go 50 mph to get off the ground and with no way to control roll it would be disastrous.
It was fun and gave you guys something to chuckle about so it wasn`t a total failure.
I know what needs to be done to glide just off the ground, a wide light wing with a lot of curve on top. Something i can lay on and use the wing warp method and have some half circle rims under the wing tips so it can`t roll to far.
Don`t know if i`ll pursue it any further but thanks for all the replies.

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Thu Mar 08, 2012 9:25 pm

Please do not, we have had enough bad news for 1 month.

markinalpine · Post by **markinalpine** » Thu Mar 08, 2012 9:29 pm

How about a bi-plane version?

Mark

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Thu Mar 08, 2012 9:34 pm

How about a rocket, straight up then parachute down.

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Thu Mar 08, 2012 10:12 pm

Pitchy wrote:How about a rocket, straight up then parachute down.

And use what, blackpowder for a fuel?

Old Ranger · Post by **Old Ranger** » Thu Mar 08, 2012 10:28 pm

A biplane would be just right. We could call you "The Grey Baron"!

Salute to you, Baron Von Pitchmeister!

Wade

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Thu Mar 08, 2012 10:39 pm

I'm going to sound like your mother, but I'm glad your through with this. I was about to have a heart attack.

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Thu Mar 08, 2012 10:50 pm

Thank you Kim,
I dreaded every post,
being a DAR, every time I looked at that thing, I had horrible visions.

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Fri Mar 09, 2012 12:23 am

well, disappointing for flying aficionados; I'm pulling for ya Pitchy.

you can get a long ways toward the goal with model aircraft. building and flying them entails everything that enables full size aircraft to fly. and can be scaled up to carry you.

You can do it, I'm sure of it. At least treat yourself to a sailplane ride with an instructor, you deserve the pleasure of the flight.

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Fri Mar 09, 2012 1:30 am

YES,
Do as Grizz recommends, much easier on all of our overtaxed heaarts.

adirondakjack · Post by **adirondakjack** » Fri Mar 09, 2012 3:41 am

The shape of the leading edge and top of a wing is critical. A nice "D" shaped nose about 3" ( a piece of light pvc drain pipe split down the middle would work dandy as a leading edge, or even pool noodle with plastic stretched tight over it to make it slippery) and a gentle humped top with the highest point about 30-35 % from front to back, flaring to a flat surface from there back. Then ya got something. Yers looked more like an extra wide snow shovel turned upside down. It'd fly on horsepower, but just barely. But you know that now

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Fri Mar 09, 2012 7:54 am

Will you guys stop encourging his abberant behavior, going to get the poor guy killed.

Gobblerforge · Post by **Gobblerforge** » Fri Mar 09, 2012 7:56 am

Did someone say rockets?

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Fri Mar 09, 2012 8:55 am

Thanks guys, wait till spring when i can get outside and really make something.

Old Ranger · Post by **Old Ranger** » Fri Mar 09, 2012 10:17 am

What next Pitchy, a U-Boat?? An Ironclad, with working guns??? Or will it be a land device...a 1/2 scale Sherman tank?? Whatever it is, we'll be watching your progress with open eyes!

Wade

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Fri Mar 09, 2012 10:23 am

Ya just never know pard

Check this same minded feller out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnohn3uK ... re=related

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Fri Mar 09, 2012 10:43 am

Here it is fellers, weeeeeeeeee

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLygZUrL ... re=related

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Fri Mar 09, 2012 11:39 am

Pitchy wrote:Here it is fellers, weeeeeeeeee

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLygZUrL ... re=related

Don't make us come out there and tie you to a tree

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Fri Mar 09, 2012 11:55 am

Hey Pitch

don't listen to the naysayers. they tried to stop the wheel from replacing the squares on carts too..................

watch the video Goat3. it is the exact drawing of the Red Goat. it has everything going for it because it's designed RIGHT.

I like the spunk of the guy with the float...... thing. it wasn't actually flying.... well, not according to my Dad's instructions: "straighten out and fly right." He had some 28,000 hours airborn so I give him credit that's due.

The float plane was in stall mode from the beginning, the balance was off, it took too much elevator to get it to pop free, the floats need a step do break the vaccuum, and he DIDN'T HAVE PROPER AILERON CONTROL. Sound familiar?

You can do this if you start with a proven design and then work out your customizations from there. There are planes that do fly, and those that don't.

I think I'm your biggest fan, you go dude! I want to see you fly.

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Fri Mar 09, 2012 1:58 pm

Next thing ya know, the FAA will be out there with the SWAT team....A terrorist glider, no doubt

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Fri Mar 09, 2012 2:01 pm

Agree Grizz and told the wife that when we watched it, from the beginning with the wright brothers they didn`t understand lift or that you had to have a certain amount of air going over the control surfaces to make them work.
I understand what needs to be done i just don`t want to spend any money on such a project.
This crate we built was intended to go on a pedestal as a trainer which the weight of the plane and pilot could be removed by using a weight.
Then this wing would of lifted and if i put ailerons and a rudder on it would of worked.
Not sure what the next move will be yet, have to ponder it for a while.

Your probably right Blaine

marlinman93 · Post by **marlinman93** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 11:10 pm

Almost hate to encourage you Pitchy, but here goes! The wing needs to have some shape, so the bottom side is concave and will effect more lift. Then a longer tow rope to allow you to be farther back so the tow vehicle isn't blocking most of the air needed to create lift. And finally a flatter field or takeoff area to get smoother liftoff.
And last but not least; get a kid to pilot that thing! We need you around to keep things lively here!

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 11:45 pm

The device is not structurelly sound, period.
This model needs to be abandoned.
No good can come of it.

Gobblerforge · Post by **Gobblerforge** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 6:55 am

Watching the video of the plane on water has convinced me that the crashes, even at slow speed and low altitude, on ground, are gonna hurt. However the video of the guy with the hang glider on his motor bike says, "OH Yea".

Gobbler

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 7:55 am

Mescalero wrote:The device is not structurelly sound, period.
This model needs to be abandoned.
No good can come of it.

What!!!!!! hey now we put a lot of work into that plane.

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 8:57 am

And I tried to disuade you from the start.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 9:08 am

Ya gotta go back to the start of this thread and see that the construction of this plane was intended for it to be mounted on a pedestal as a trainer.
I never once said i built it to actually fly more than a foot off the ground by pulling it across the field.
I spent a few years in the AF as a crew chief on F4`s so i know what it takes for a airplane to fly.
If i wanted to put the time and money into building a glider that would fly i could do it, and i also have enough coman sense not to try and fly something unsafe.
As far as not structurally sound either were some of the first gliders that the Wright brothers put together and crashed. But their inventive spirits as mine kept them going.
I hope this hasn`t turned into some thinking i`m a idiot that doesn`t know what he`s doing.
I know where i`m at with this project and am just having fun.

Tom Richardson · Post by **Tom Richardson** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 9:24 am

There are always those that think they have to take care of you, and it is not always the government.

Have at it, and if you go down in flames SO BE It.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 9:35 am

Tom Richardson wrote:There are always those that think they have to take care of you, and it is not always the government.

Have at it, and if you go down in flames SO BE It.

I appreciate everyones concerns bro and all these projects and everyones help and cares have been therapeutic for me.
Don`t worry i have enough pain with this denture thing i don`t need any broken bones too.
On the other hand i agree that there comes a point that if ya want it to happen ya gotta go for it.

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 10:09 am

I never said you should not go for it, I said don't go for it with that model.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 10:17 am

Mescalero wrote:I never said you should not go for it, I said don't go for it with that model.

No issue here bro, i have no intention of trying to flying this crate, it`s just been a fun project.
Appreciate your and everyones imput and don`t worry if the day comes that i glide i`ll post a video of it.

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 10:34 am

If you want to build a real glider, I will help.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 12:21 pm

Mescalero wrote:If you want to build a real glider, I will help.

Thanks but i have no interest in anything modern, if i glide across my field it will be on something crude like the Wright brothers made.
I`ve found that if i keep trying i can accomplish just about anything and gliding is something i haven`t done yet, not counting the times i jumped off the barn roof with my super man costume on.