H9's Sundowner

[mfuess]

I haven't seen any honest performance data on the Evo 35. But my BME 50 is lighter weight, much more HP, and turning bigger props at higher RPM. I have a considerably higher thrust ratio than the Evo 35 and Saito 1.80. I raced a Saito 1.80 yesterday and smoked him like a cheap cigar all the way around the track, especially in the turns. I'm only averaging 109.7... I can bank-turn and get up to 147.5 and leave the 1.80 waaaay back in the dust, but I have to travel a whole lot farther to the next pole. I'd really like to see some "real" data on the Evo 35.

[Sparky69]

Mfuess,
See my post #62 In flight RPM's on an APC propellers in a Sundowner. I'm not sure what more you would need. Note my testing method, I will hang my hat on the data posted. All this brain work and time would be better spent on a F1 GT and then come race with us.
Sparky

[mfuess]

Hi Sparky,

I went back and read post #62. That's exactly what I was looking for, and it confirms precisely what I already knew, but I couldn't prove it without valid data. I am generating considerably more prop energy, however the in-flight result is minimal (as expected to some degree). The drag coefficient of this aircraft is pounding me like a red-headed step child. I would have to resort to major airframe changes to minimize this drag... OR, I could simply resort to F1 GT to get a cleaner flight right out of the box. I'm sold.

[Sparky69]

Mfess,
We have a lot of racers in TX. Email me off line we can get you hooked up.
elmshoot@aol.com
Sparky

[rcplane]

Hay Sparky, what happened with the props you mentioned in this post shown below;

Sparky wrote;
Moki Update, I need one more flight with this configuration and then I will try the 16x14 if the plane survives that my testcard calls for a 16x16 then 17x12 (the Dominator prop) Then I want to check a Saito 1.80 a Moki 1.80 and the OS 1.6 when I get done my cowl and firewall will look like swiss cheese.
Sparky

Thanks Mike

[Sparky69]

What happened to the prop test? Please look at the weather channel. It will be -5 over the weekend. I flew some in Dec when it was a balmy 39 the moki is running fine I have tested the 16x12 and 16x14. I didn't see a huge speed jump but it is faster. Next is the 16x16 and 17x12 which is the prop we use on the Dominator.
Oh and I do have a job that takes me away from home. Next stop Dubai.
Sparky

[rcplane]

I don't know what the weather is like where you fly?
I apologize for asking.

I was just curious what the larger Dominator props would do.

[mfuess]

I tried 16x4, 16x16 props. And I didn't see much difference either. Maybe a few miles per hour faster. Then I tried an 18x12 carbon fiber. Much better accelleration right from the ground. No improvement in speed, but supreme thrust. I imagine a 17x12 will be similar.

[mfuess]

Here is the bottom line with my BME 50 powered Sundowner. I installed a velocity stack and full-length Tuned Pipe. I tuned the pipe to absolute PERFECTION spinning an APC 18x14 prop. It flies just a few tenths under 130 MPH on a level flight. However, the accelleration & thrust is incredable. That's all this bird is going do on the topend with THIS airframe & engine setup, and I can assure you I'm squeezing every speck of horsepower out of this engine, just short of using nitro.

It is without a doubt a killer sport plane. It's good looking, it flies on rails, and it does basic maneuvers surprizingly well. I'll have fun with it...

[rcplane]

Thats awesome mfuess.
I would like to see it at those speeds, with that acceleration mmm mmm good.

I flew mine last weekend and I agree it's a good sport plane.

Good Job.


Mike

[mfuess]

Thanks Mike,

I really spent a lot of time on my Sundowner, but it was worth it. I often get other airplanes mixed up as to what they are, but there's no mistaking this airplane. It has its own look... The thing I like most is, it will fly extremely well on just about any engine you put in it. 2 stroke, 4 stroke, gas or glow... And it attracts a lot of attention!

I certainly hope you enjoy flying yours as much as I do mine!

[rcplane]

As I have written I have the Evolution 35 in mine, everybody else around here has Saito 180s.
I like gas so I'm glad that way but altogether it weighs so much more that the ones with the Saito's I wont be able to beat them (unless they don't ever fly a good line!) then I have a chance.
Evolution has a radial motor mount that I can use instead of the heavy H-9 mount, then I would be able to remove the second metal bar in the back, the only problem with that is I would have to add weight to race it in a USRA race, which i hopped to do. It would put me at 13lbs, they are 11lbs and a couple oz.
I wouldn't be surprised though if the USRA changes the motor to the Moki 210, the Sundowner wasn't fast enough for them on a 1800' race course (it did seem to take a long time to complete a lap, but then so do the Dominator, Biplanes and AT-6s). If you look at the race results those four aren't that far from each other. The Sundowner did "look" to be awful sloooow though.

Last weekend when I was flying it a guy commented on how well it flew and he was right it does, guys are going to like this plane whether they race it or not.
Enjoy yours as well.

Mike