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The
Draco is a flying wing SPAD design by a chap from South Africa called Igenius,
the plans allow for various wingspan versions from 72" to 40". I am
going to build this in a 48" span configuration, I'm hoping that this will
give me a fast flying and quick turning combat plane, with a foot more wingspan
than the Derelict, it should help with catching a streamer, this has become
difficult with the Derelict, it flies great but I'm starting to feel that its a
little to quick and a little narrow in the wing. If the Draco is a success I
will try a 72" version next for SSC.
Most of the articles below have
more pictures and information that can be accessed by clicking the
Article's title or the " Read more.." link
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 Building the Spar. I got hold of some 28mm x 4mm timber from the usual DIY outlets and cut it 48" long and trimmed it down as shown in the plan, I had to use the conversion software available in the Download Section to figure out the dimensions in millimeters, as the plan uses imperial fractions.
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 Wing skins are made in two halves, larger than required, the leading edge crease is made and the wing skin folded in half and pressed down so it is dead flat. The wing shape is then marked out and cut. Elevons are glued to the bottom trailing edge of the wing, make sure you make a left and a right hand set!!. |
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 There's not much room for the radio gear, everything needs to be kept as close to the spar as possible because of the decrease in available height as the wing section tapers off towards the trailing edge. I eventually decide to mount the throttle servo inside the wing as shown below, next time I will make the tail boom mount a little wider. The battery is zip tied to the carbon tail rod and a drop of CA is added to the zip tie to stop it sliding along the rod. The switch is mounted through the top of the wing skin.
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 After confidently gluing the wing skins down, thinking that I would not see the radio gear again until the Draco suffered a mid air or other fatal mishap, I decide to switch on and test the servo arm movement, What the !!!!! no movement from the throttle servo ????? it was working fine before I glued down the wing £$%*
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 The Draco plan has small 'winglets' at each wingtip, I guess with a larger fin you could get away without these, but they look good so I'm going to fit them.
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 The ply I used for the engine mount didn't seem up to the job on its own so I decided to brace it up a bit, also there isn't anything to hold on to when hand launching so I thought I better make some sort of 'grab handle'.
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 A bit of Fablon to aid orientation and the control linkages set up and all we need is a good day for a test flight, The CofG on the plan is 2" to 2 1/4" back from the leading edge at the wing root, for the first flight I would rather set this at the most forward position until I know how twitchy its gonna be, but as my Draco is constructed it balances at the 2 1/4" position and I hate adding weight when it doesn't do anything, so I'm going to risk it ! I have set up triple rates on my Tx, these range from about 1/4" travel right up to barn door, so hopefully it should be ok.
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 A nice bright afternoon only spoilt by a slight blustery wind from the direction of the trees at our patch which usually means bumpy air, I checked the C of G again, it is 2 1/4" from the leading edge at the root, I decided to use a low control movement for the first flight, with two higher rates available if required, the low rate is elevator 10mm up and down and ailerons 15mm up and down.
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 A video of the second test flight with Derek flying the Draco can be downloaded HERE
Derek is taking it easy during this flight, just getting a feel for things, dont let this fool you, the Draco really moves when the rates are eased off . |
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 After sorting out the flutter problem it was time for a trip up the field on a Sunday afternoon to see how the Draco faired against the combat planes we have been using up to now.
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