Models: MiniOptima
The Mini Optima kit was produced by LS model co. I managed to get it in semi finished parts - fiberglass fuselage, three wing parts and a balsa elevator. You can see the latest versions of this small and speedy electro glider these days- Mega Optima and Optima. I used this model to gain some experience with electrified gliders since it was my first one. Today I use it as a slope glider since the engine was used in a different model. Therefore, it is used for testing (unknown terrain, etc.) and for worse conditions.
Wing:
The wing is as one piece assembled of three parts. Ailerons are controlled by Hitec HS80 servos with metal gear since the plastic gear didn't last very long. The servos are completely fitted inside the wing. The ailerons are mounted on a strong foil which is then covered by a regular colored iron on foil. The wing is coated with Solarfilm iron on foil what I found left over at home. The coating of the upper and lower part of the wing is different.
Fuselage:
I call it a case for the engine, batteries and receiver. There isn't much space to fit all the equipment so I had to make some adjustments under the wing part which weakened the fuselage. The thinnest part of the fuselage - just before the keel and rudder - is strengthened with kevlar. Even after flying on the slope I found out that the fuselage can take more than I thought. But I managed to break it anyway just before leaving for the camp at Rana. After the repair work it held together till now. The elevator is made of balsa wood and is attached to the fiberglass keel/rudder with plastic bolts. It is controlled by a 9 gram servo NARO.
Engine:
I started with a Mabuchi 540 engine with a 230/120 prop. The engine wasn't powerful enough so I switched to Palicka 24/12. The best prop was Graupner Camprop 230/120 and the last engine I used was Mega Mini 7E with a 7 cell Sanyo 1700SCR battery pack. I also witnessed one type using a Mega Mini 7 engine with a 1:3 gearing and a 10 cell Sanyo 1000SCR pack. The climb was, however, almost 90 degrees in this case.
Parameters:
| Wingspan: | 1500 mm |
| Length: | 900 mm |
| Weight: | 1000 g - glider version 1400 g - VM24/12 + 7x1700 SCR |
| Airfoil: | RG32 |
| Servos: | 2x HS80 + 1x Naro 9G |
| First flight: | 7.9.1997 |
Characteristics:
Very maneuverable and it is necessary to keep him at high speed. Thanks to effective ailerons I have always managed to pick it up from a dive after stall. It is very easy and controllable at higher speeds. It takes sensitive control to manage a low speed flight. This was fatal for one of my colleagues who after turning off the engine did not manage to keep it steady during the glide and crashed due to stall.
