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CA-4 Dolphin

1,027 CriticalAir  3.4 years ago
29 downloads

Tailsitter Twin VTOL - First tailsitter that I could get to work fairly well. Empennage is mounted on tail section, wing and front fuselage pivot for horizontal flight. This lets you snap to a vertical attitude when landing without gaining a lot of altitude. Gyroscope is on AG3 (it is not automatically on, green lights flash when it is on). VTOL controls fuselage rotator, this goes slightly over center giving nose down control force, needs to be backed off slightly for level flight. The fuselage bend can be used for trim. It can be difficult to get a good camera view in chase plane mode, but you can use global view (F3) or custom camera 1 (F5). Custom camera 1 is a view at the bottom from between the skids. Generally 60-70% throttle the a/c sinks...

For takeoff:
1. Check out custom camera 1 (F5) (I think this sets the orientation of the camera otherwise it can be upside down)
2.Activate gyroscope (AG3).
3. Full throttle.
4. As you start to lift off rotate fuselage full (VTOL).
5. Keep flying straight with nose down stick and appropriate rudder until 150 mph or so.
6. Quickly de-activate gyroscope (AG3) and straighten fuselage (VTOL; you can even trim it nose up a little).

For landing:
1. Approach in straight line, powered back to 160 mph or so.
2. Switch to custom camera 1 (F5)
3. When close to landing site, quickly re-activate gyroscope (AG3), go to landing fuselage bend (VTOL), and go to 100% throttle.
4. Eyes on altimeter, stabilize altitude, start with coarse throttle adjustments +-5% or more, and then smaller adjustments as it gets under control.
5. Pitching forward will increase forward speed, but increase sink. Pitching backwards will decrease speed and also increase sink.
6. Try for minimum speed and minimum sink, but the landing gear is fairly robust, so if you bounce just cut throttle and you'll probably stick it.

Switching from vertical to horizontal flight and landing can be hard, but if approached methodically, it's not bad.

General Characteristics

  • Created On Windows
  • Wingspan 30.9ft (9.4m)
  • Length 13.4ft (4.1m)
  • Height 12.2ft (3.7m)
  • Empty Weight 3,863lbs (1,752kg)
  • Loaded Weight 4,044lbs (1,834kg)

Performance

  • Horse Power/Weight Ratio 0.247
  • Wing Loading 35.1lbs/ft2 (171.5kg/m2)
  • Wing Area 115.1ft2 (10.7m2)
  • Drag Points 4189

Parts

  • Number of Parts 45
  • Control Surfaces 6
  • Performance Cost 212