Custom Tip Weights

PatONeal

Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2003
Messages
50
Location
West Monroe, Louisiana 71291
Question for Mike Boyette

Would it be possible to get different tip weights on Dragon Wings depending on the machine they would go on.

For instance, if building an ultralight an extra half pound in each blade tip would be considerably more efficient in relation to weight than adding a prerotator, and I assume would make spin up eaiser. Is this a correct assumption?

Seems like a simple(?) way to make it eaiser to meet weight requirements and reduce the need for a prerotator. If this is a stupid question,(as KJ would say) nevermind.

Pat O'Neal
 
Pat, no question is stupid. Most blades have a methos to add weight at the end of the blades, but typically just enough to getting side to side weihght correct. Anyone can add larger solid weighted end caps to change the way the blades perform. Prerotators are great for getting the blades spinning for short take off distances. I rarely prerotate much past 70-80 RRPM, though my prerotator will go 150-170 RRPM. It just tends to beat the parts up more than necessary. Tip weights do effect the way the baldes spin up, and also spin down on final landing. No tip weight in the world is going to help the blades from a dead stop. Hand starting is just another tiring distraction that I rather not deal with if I can avoid it. It is still very important to learn the hand starting technique even if you machine is equipped with a prerotator.

Scott Heger, Laguna Niguel, Ca SportCopter N86SH
 
Pat,

Tip weight has virtually nothing to do with spin-up. Ease of hand-starting is a function of blade pitch or, in the case of DWs, the blade twist. 90-95% of today's gyros use a prerotator, so "ease of spinup" is not an issue.

Ralph
 
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