Piglets XB-35 flight model update.

[warchild]

A lots happened over the last couple months. I've also learned a lot ..
Top speed remains above 400 mph, cruising speed ( where you can actually fly a good distance ) remains 180 mph. The propeller shaft housings now act more accordingly with the way they were designed and actively reduce yaw. however, sideslip is still there and some amount of skill is required. The plane however is well, controllable and landable.
Thrust angle is correct, and pitch due to thrust is getting close. real close..
the plane assumes a nose high attitude on takeoff which reduces the speed to near stall. Thats actually normal in the real plane. you need to relax and push the nose down a little to level out and gain speed. The autopilot, a bone of contention in the real plane, requires up to four minutes to stabilize. thats what the bone of contention was. It used to make crews nauseus with the roller coaster ride. ours is slightly milder for your enjoyment though. You shouldnt get too sick.. it now takes more effort to get the nose down than it does to get it up. Thats because in the real plane, not only were the props, shaft housing and prop shafts behind the CG, so was much of the fuel, and in a stall, the plane could easily go void of path and flip its nose straight up, which is what happened to Glen Edwards plane ( which he wasnt piloting at the time, but was a passenger on it ). Of course, that was a jet.
Empty weight CG is exactly the same as the NACA's at 27% MAC. Of course when you add fuel, that goes back to 37% mac. it makes for an interesting ride.
Paul and I are sparing no expense in time to make sure that this flight model is as accurate as it can be made. It'll take a little getting accustomed too, but its a fun plane, and quite enjoyable. I promise you all that Neither Paul nor i will treat you all like your five year olds with this model. Its not going to be the easiest plane to fly, but then, theres nothing in there purposely designed to be difficult. Its just a demanding aircraft..
Hopefully, after i send it to Piglet, it'll inspire him to continue on this incredible monstrosity, and we'll be able to get it out too you all..
Pam

 

[CWOJackson]

Sounds as if the computer modeling is mirroring the original development process in many ways.

 

[warchild]

Welll, both the physical model and the flight model are quite complex. Three men stuffed in a little room, surrounded by dials levers and other much complained about obstacles.. the flight model is almost as non standard as the su-37s. we even have the propellers set at an offset angle messing up the pitch acceleration ( on the real plane )its like, take a bowl, and push downwards and fowards on the back of it. the front edge pitches up, but getting it to pitch downward is very very interesting.. fortunately we only have half that problem so far..