Earthstar Forums

Hi Guys
I just found a picture of a Thundergull with folding wings and in the back ground I think there is a Laughing Gull.
The picture is in the "All things of Interest" photo album.
Fred

In a message dated 3/10/2011 5:53:07 AM Pacific Standard Time,
gayford@golden.net writes:

Hi Guys
I just found a picture of a Thundergull with folding wings and in the back
ground I think there is a Laughing Gull.
The picture is in the "All things of Interest" photo album.
Fred




Hi Fred
Yes, you are right. 1987 The Thundergull F was only made for 1 year, the
next year I came out with the Thundergull J.
Happy Flying
Mark

Mark,
Thanks so much for being on an aviation chat site where like minded people love flying your design. As I listen to my buddies talk about how great their bigger and more powerful copy cat airplanes, and have to smile, because it all started with your 28hp Thundergull that was faster, and better handling than anything around in it's weight class. The Hiperlight was about as fast and crisp, but tender little planes that got broke easy by newbies.
And the best part for us loyal flyers is to keep learning and sharing ideas and tips. My goal is to try and get as much speed as I can out of the 503. I'm just finally installing my side static ports to get the AIS as close as I can, then due some calibration runs again. I can bury the 120 AIS now, but also have about an 8mph error that I'm trying to minimize before I spend the money for a 140-150mph one. But, you know what, me and some of my buddies will be at Sun-n-Fun this year, and we will be cruising the fly markets and vendor specials, and maybe I will find a deal!
Speaking of continuing to streamline the Gull, I'm working on wheel pants too, with a brake cover fairing. I wound up finding a nice looking pant from Aircraft Spruce, for $116, and it's got a nice aero look to it, and my hangar mate gave me a smaller one off a Chaos that he had once, for the nose wheel that looks very similar, and they all look similar to ones the copy-cat airplane guys sell for $300 each. I'm going to make a copy of the bigger for the other main, and the smaller ones needs to filled back up on one side. I just posted pictures in my folder of them being tried.
After all this, I would like to pick your brain, and see if there is anything else I can do to slick it up. I would like to stay up with the 912 and Jabiru guys on 52hp, as they are still draggy in the engine area and wing root, but have wheel pants. Can I stay with them do you think??

kb

In a message dated 3/12/2011 11:53:43 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
kessb@wavecable.com writes:

Thanks so much for being on an aviation chat site where like minded people
love flying your design. As I listen to my buddies talk about how great
their bigger and more powerful copy cat airplanes, and have to smile, because
it all started with your 28hp Thundergull that was faster, and better
handling than anything around in it's weight class. The Hiperlight was about as
fast and crisp, but tender little planes that got broke easy by newbies.
And the best part for us loyal flyers is to keep learning and sharing
ideas and tips. My goal is to try and get as much speed as I can out of the
503. I'm just finally installing my side static ports to get the AIS as close
as I can, then due some calibration runs again. I can bury the 120 AIS now,
but also have about an 8mph error that I'm trying to minimize before I
spend the money for a 140-150mph one. But, you know what, me and some of my
buddies will be at Sun-n-Fun this year, and we will be cruising the fly
markets and vendor specials, and maybe I will find a deal!
Speaking of continuing to streamline the Gull, I'm working on wheel pants
too, with a brake cover fairing. I wound up finding a nice looking pant
from Aircraft Spruce, for $116, and it's got a nice aero look to it, and my
hangar mate gave me a smaller one off a Chaos that he had once, for the nose
wheel that looks very similar, and they all look similar to ones the
copy-cat airplane guys sell for $300 each. I'm going to make a copy of the bigger
for the other main, and the smaller ones needs to filled back up on one
side. I just posted pictures in my folder of them being tried.
After all this, I would like to pick your brain, and see if there is
anything else I can do to slick it up. I would like to stay up with the 912 and
Jabiru guys on 52hp, as they are still draggy in the engine area and wing
root, but have wheel pants. Can I stay with them do you think??

kb



Hi Kess
I think you have a worthy cause. You are learning about were the drag is
coning from and how to smooth it out. You will go faster if you use a cockpit
adjustable prop. You can do tuft tests to see were the airflow separations
are and than add vortex generators or change the local shape.
Happy flying
Mark

But be aware that in-flight adjustable props are not allowed on LSA
aircraft....but I think they are ok on an E-AB.

Blade.

> You will go faster if you use a cockpit
> adjustable prop.

Hi Mark
I did re-install the electric prop after I had Ivo rebuild it, and your right, the gull goes into overdrive with a couple of clicks of the switch. I checked my optimum fixed pitch for a reference before I re-installed it. My best compromise had been 14.5 degrees, and when I re-installed the electric drive and rechecked the range, I found the range to be 12.5 degrees to 24 degrees. Full pitch does bog the motor, but who needs full pitch? Now for the speeds runs when the monsoons go away. We've had non-stop rain here for weeks. I guess that's the price we pay for many days of sun in January and February.

kb

Sshhh, I aint tellin!

Its easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission!
I will get an adjustable prop when the time comes for a different engine.
Don't let the Tree Huggers rule everything!
Fred

Kess! Here's a speed mod just for you, 15-20% more thrust. http://www.sunflightcraft.com/en/coaxp.php

wonder if you'll also need a 150mph+ ASI to go with it.
then we'll name it "precious gull" or something like that ;)

rc

They are probably getting the 15-20% more thrust value on the counter rotating prop by measuring static thrust, which is appropriate for powered parachutes, which fly very slow, about 30 mph or so. Probably has less advantage for the trikes, which are faster. As for the gull, guessing that the advantage may go away or even become more drag at over 120 MPH.



Not saying don’t try it, but I at least would be pretty surprised if it helped your top end.



Looking at history, the typical application of a counter rotating prop is to get more power into a prop disc with limited diameter. First you add more blades, and when you get to 4 or 5 and still need more you go to counter rotating. Think Fairey Gannet or a Bear…



Do you have enough climb that you can give us some of it for a prop with more pitch? If you have a ground adjustable, try it and see, it’s cheap…



Bruce Markle