| Hardware | Comments | |
|---|---|---|
| Type: | Powered glider | |
| Source: | AeroFred | |
| Material: | Balsa | |
| Wingspan: | 1900 mm | |
| Length: | 1072 mm | |
| Take off weight: | 1436 g | |
| Controls: | Ailerons, Elevator, Throttle, Rudder | |
| Receiver: | Radiomaster ER8GV - ELRS | |
| ESC: | 35A | |
| Motors: | Typhoon Micro 6/3d | |
| Battery: | 3S LiPo. 2200mAH | |
| Propeller: | 9 X 6 folding | |
| HD Camera: | None | |
| FPV Camera | N/A | |
| Landing gear | None |
The Eclipse powered glider is now complete.
I'm looking forward to better weather so that I can see how it flies.
The Build pack of the Laser cutter files and Arduino sketch is available in the downloads section of this website. A link to the AeroFred plan page for the original plan and manual is on the Eclipse page.
Eclipse is now about 80% complete. All that needs done now is for the starboard wing end to be finished off and attached to the wing, the starboard LEDs attached and the whole wing covered.
Once that is done it will be a matter of finishing the LED programming, adding my CAA Operators ID, getting the CoG balanced corectly, and then maiden and test flights.
I encountered a few challenges along the way with this build. Eclipse was originally designed for three channel operation: Elevator, Rudder and a servo that pressed a switch for the motor. This build will use seven channels:
The wing ends have been adapted to include ailerons. Time will tell if the adaption has been successful or not.
The mountiing of the wing LEDs also brought it's own problems. The tip of each wing has a short strip of 8 LEDs glued to it and connected to the BEC and Arduino. Inside each wing there are also 39 LEDs. These are in strips of three (one inbetween each wing rib) connected by 3 core ribbon wire. In the centre section of the wing, the LED strips are glued (cyano) to the sheer webs. There are no sheer webs in the wing ends to attach the LED strips to, so they are floating between the wing ribs, The ribbon wire has been cyano glued to the wing ribs so hopefully this will stop the LEDs from moving around.
Eclipse is my Winter 2023 project. A 2m wingspan powered glider.
Originally designed for a Mabuchi 550S brushed motor, I have converted this to use a Typhoon Micro 6/3D that I have in my parts box. This should give plenty of power, especially without the weight of the 55S motor and all the NiCd battery packs.
I will probably run this on a 3S 1800 mAH battery or even a 2S.