R&D Blog
- 28/02/08 Prototype 04
After sometime the fourth prototype of the OzPrey has been developed. The plane has been made with the help of Pete from Wowings.
One of the main changes with the new prototype is the pre-cut spar channel. In the build I used a fibreglass 10mm tube, which has eliminated the flex. I thought the 10mm channel might be over the top but it was worked out extremely well. Using a tube rod still makes the plane light with hardly any flex. The flex has been something that I wanted to rid in previous prototypes.
There have also been a number of changes with the airfoil. The leading edge is sharper (less rounded) while the span of the tips of the wings are shorter. Another slight change is that the bottom face has a reduced curve to the airfoil. I also redrew the fuselage and made the curves slightly smoother.
I have had a great opportunity to compare the new prototype to the old cut. Andrew (thevon) recently built one of the previous cuts and last weekend we were making comparisons with our side by side flying. I’m pleased that the flight characteristics are so similar. The new cut seems to fly cleaner (less dull) through the air compared to previous prototypes. I’m also really happy with its lift performance, which is outstanding in light and breezy conditions.