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GCL-23A "Sky Gondola"

35.8k Graingy  11 months ago

The GCL-23 "Sky Gondola" is a sightseeing aircraft recently prototyped by the Graingy aircraft company.
With its surround windscreen it provides an unparalleled view of the surrounding landscape for its two occupants. While not built for endurance, it can still provide plenty of time to take in the sights.
Fly-By-Wire systems allow all important control signals to be sent through virtually invisible wires, preventing even vital systems from getting in the way.

Despite the promise, this aircraft is still a prototype. Numerous critical control issues have made themselves known, especially during stalls and nose-down maneuvers. These issues are still being investigated.
Regardless, the GCL-23 line is looking like a promising follow-up to the classic C-BI biplanes.


(PS: Seriously, if you have a good grasp of SP physics I would love some advice on how to stop making planes that do this. Thank you)

Spotlights

General Characteristics

  • Successors 2 airplane(s) +42 bonus
  • Created On Mac
  • Wingspan 41.6ft (12.7m)
  • Length 22.4ft (6.8m)
  • Height 11.4ft (3.5m)
  • Empty Weight 2,810lbs (1,274kg)
  • Loaded Weight 4,582lbs (2,078kg)

Performance

  • Horse Power/Weight Ratio 0.087
  • Wing Loading 19.8lbs/ft2 (96.4kg/m2)
  • Wing Area 232.0ft2 (21.6m2)
  • Drag Points 1959

Parts

  • Number of Parts 62
  • Control Surfaces 12
  • Performance Cost 407
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    35.8k Graingy

    Modified version by gyros81.
    I haven’t had the chance to test it, but this was their go at improved it.

    Pinned 11 months ago
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    35.8k Graingy

    Holy heck it’s curated

    Pinned 11 months ago
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    35.8k Graingy

    911 indicated downloads.
    1/4/24

    7 months ago
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    Bubble plane

    9 months ago
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    35.8k Graingy

    It is done...
    Most downloaded craft.

    11 months ago
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    35.8k Graingy

    This thing is, according to the (apparently unreliable?) download counter, 9 downloads away from being my most upvoted craft.
    Feels undeserving tbh

    11 months ago
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    35.8k Graingy

    @EnglishGraden sky nuts and sky berries.
    Perhaps even sky oats and sky grains?

    11 months ago
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    for a sec I thought it said sky granola

    +1 11 months ago
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    35.8k Graingy

    10 upvotes! Yippee!
    (17/12/23)

    11 months ago
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    35.8k Graingy

    @Randomplayer NOT IMPORTANT!

    11 months ago
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    14.7k Randomplayer

    @Graingy huh

    +1 11 months ago
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    35.8k Graingy

    @Randomplayer I swear I had nothing to do with the explosive egg dropped on their headquarters

    11 months ago
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    14.7k Randomplayer

    Boeing’s been quite ever since this dropped

    +1 11 months ago
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    285 gyros81

    @Graingy I was impressed by this nice little flyer, but I didn't think it's vertical stability issues were all that catastrophic. I am by no means any kind of engineer, but I had a few ideas I thought might help.
    Respectfully, I have just uploaded a lightly modified version that I think manages to achieve stability by slightly reshaping and repositioning the wings, tail, and control surfaces as well as modifying the prop and engine. It's a nice, stable, sweet little observation cruiser. Very enjoyable to fly. I would be curious as to your thoughts.

    +1 11 months ago
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    285 gyros81

    @Rattlesnake With Repsect, I am not so certain about that. I believe it's an issue of CG/CM positioning. I just uploaded a lightly modified version that I think manages to achieve stability by slightly reshaping and repositioning the wings, tail, and control surfaces. It's a nice, stable, sweet little observation cruiser. Very enjoyable to fly. I would be curious as to your thoughts.

    +1 11 months ago
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    13.7k Talon7192

    @Graingy what I mean by shape is you need the fuselage to be longer but a bit less tall and it will fly a bit better if that doesn't fix it I'll try testing around with the shape

    11 months ago
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    35.8k Graingy

    @Rattlesnake “Shape” is a bit vague.
    Is it the fuselage causing drag?
    The COM and COL are decently close last I checked, but I don’t believe that always leads to these issues
    (Thx for feedback btw)

    11 months ago
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    13.7k Talon7192

    The reason its not that good at flying is the shape and weight make it lighter longer and not as tall

    +1 11 months ago
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    35.8k Graingy

    Oh and dated 2023.
    Today, specifically.
    14/12/23.

    11 months ago
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    35.8k Graingy

    Just realized that this might be the first craft I've made with some level of actual VR function, with the B-202 being a possible exception. That thing had a cockpit since it started development, before the VR update, however.

    11 months ago