CHALLENGE! Build and Fly a copy of the Wright Flyer (Think its easy? Just try!)

[Probus]

CHALLENGE: Build and Fly a copy of the Wright Flyer. You can only use stock and Firespitter parts and you must have Ferram on.

No matter what I did, I could not get her to fly! She looked good, but no flight. Tried 3 different props, no dice. I think the engines are too heavy.

Do I have anyone who thinks they are up to the task?

[Hodo]

Every engine in game is to heavy. The Wright Flyer was really light.

[Darren9]

There's some structural wood/broom handles in Prof. Kerbenstien's Emporium that seem like they have to be used, and I've also experimented with a KAS winch pulling/twisting the airfoils like on the original. Not suggesting it will turn out to be at all viable but can we use a few extra parts?

[Probus]

Those sound reasonable. The real engine was around 77 kg plus props and belts (divide that in 2 for dual props.) and 12 horsepower. 8 foot propellers (like how I switch back and forth from english to metric )

[Kasuha]

Okay, I don't have FAR so this is not entry to your challenge. But it was still a bit of fun and in stock aerodynemics it flies nicely.

[Darren9]

I've got an approximation that sort of works, uses the 100Kg helicopter tail rotor (KAX version which is same as Firespitter) at about 10 thrusts for power. It's just up and down with the on/off keyboard and FAR won't let me reverse the Bi-Plane aileron so pitch controls are back to front.

[Probus]

Wow! That is really nice Darren! And to think, all you needed to do it was a stick from Prof. Kerbenstien! Does it still work if you don't use wheels but helicopter skids or something like that?

[Darren9]

Thanks. I couldn't make it work with skids or parts as landing gear, it just tips forward when you thrust if there's any resistance. In the end I edited the Bi-Plane skid to be able to toggle the brake off and used 4 of those, but that's cheating. It looks quite good with the wires on though.

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[SpenSpaceCorp]

Funny I should find this, I recently built one using only Stock and the electric motors from KAX. I brought the CoM more in front using thermometric generators, but it is still well behind the CoL, making it flip out frequently if you stray too far from the prograde vector.

(Sorry, it's not the best angle)

Edited June 9, 2014 by SpenSpaceCorp

[Koolkei]

i tried this a long time ago.... without FAR though, and stock parts only....

here's the link to the original post

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/72279-B-R-I-Xco-JOIN-NOW!!!?p=1028641&viewfull=1#post1028641

and nobody said i HAVE to use engines right? so i used RCS....

and to install FAR..... im too lazy to do so

[I_Killed_Jeb]

the main issue with a wright flyer replica is that it flew by wing warping, not ailerons, so we can never make a true replica =(

[Darren9]

the main issue with a wright flyer replica is that it flew by wing warping, not ailerons, so we can never make a true replica =(

It's possible by progressively twisting a wing made of several segments with a KAS winch to achieve the same effect. It just can't be small or lite enough to be in any way convincing.

[roarke]

First, it is a lie. The Wright Flyer 1, 2 and 3 was launched by a rail. Traian Vuia made the first plain that can take off the ground with a man made motor. Not helped by the wind, like Wright Flyers were, just planeur, not planes.

[url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traian_Vuia[/url]

[wumpus]

[quote name='I_Killed_Jeb']the main issue with a wright flyer replica is that it flew by wing warping, not ailerons, so we can never make a true replica =([/QUOTE]

That and as roarke points out, it needed a 25mph headwind or so to take off. One way to "cheat" is to use a much longer rail: since the Flyer was only powered by propeller, it would eventually make up the 25mph difference (although I have no data on the friction of the rail. The Flyer had quite a bit more power than they thought they needed, so there is a good chance to overcome that friction).

[Robet.G]

The gigantic elevators in the front makes the thing incredibly unstable unless you artificially add giant weights to the front.
[img]http://i.imgur.com/Hpi0Cqk.jpg[/img]

[SpaceplaneAddict]

Isn't this a necro-revived thread?

[roarke]

I was not calling Probus a liar. The situation is a lie. And it is not necro, if it is for science !

[SpaceplaneAddict]

[quote name='roarke']I was not calling Probus a liar. The situation is a lie. And it is not necro, if it is for science ![/QUOTE]
Kk, just askin

[inigma]

I never shared this here. I figure it applies!

 

Wright Glider:

 

Wright Flyer:

[ihtoit]

OK, 1: this thread is so necro it should just die, and 2. please don't post huge animated gifs, they kill browsers.