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RC at the top of the world

Model Airplane News, Jun 2001 by Revel, Guy

FINAL APPROACH

As I write this, a group of modelers is experiencing a fantastic adventure in the Himalayan mountains. In an email from Nepal, aeronautics/space scientist Dr. Wolfgang Schaeper provided these photos and details about some extreme use of electric-powered models for scientific research.

He writes, "About a year ago, the University of Munich asked me whether it was possible to fly at high altitude under stormy conditions to record meteorological data in mountain valleys. They knew about my solar altitude record of 2,065 meters in May 1999 and thought I could do such a job every day during a six-week expedition to the Himalayas, piloting from ground, of course. (They did not know that I had piloted my solar model from a hot-air balloon that was at the same altitude as the model for the entire flight.)

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"The meteorologists required a maximum altitude of 1,500 meters (5,000 feet) from the ground, which was defined as up to 3,900 meters (13,000 feet) above sea level. Using head-mounted binoculars with 3x magnification, I would be able to pilot a model that was flying 2,000m from the ground.

"I agreed to develop a model for that purpose. Key elements were a gyro to stabilize the model in high-altitude winds and specially trimmed Robbe/Futaba RC gear.

"The meteorological payload (to measure pressure, altitude, temperature and humidity) was developed by Dieter Wuertenberger. Fortunately, the payload, ineluding its power supply, weighs only 85 grams (3 ounces), which is negligible compared with the model's airborne weight of more than 3 kilograms (7 pounds).

"The drive system uses the benefits of the latest Hacker brushless motors, the ceramic-bearing Maxon 4.4:1 reduction gear and Panasonic's new 3000mAh NiMH cells.

"In the fall of 2000, after more than 40 flights, I felt secure enough to try to reach the world altitude record for an electric RC model-2,026 meters. This record had been held by Russian Anatoly Dubinetsky for more than nine years.

"The flight was very similar to many of the test flights. Launch was in calm air. Wind speed above 400 meters was 10 to 12 meters per second; only slightly less than the flight speed of the model, which was 12.8 meters per second during climb. I headed the model into the wind. Major turns were not necessary. While I piloted the model, judges observed the model using binoculars. The Friedrichshafen Airport tower, about 10km away, had cleared the air traffic during my flight.

"I cut off the motor after 7 minutes of continuous climb, believing that the record altitude had been reached; I did not want to climb too high only to lose the model. After flying 18 minutes, we landed the model. The onboard altimeter showed that the model had flown 2,205 meters above ground-nearly 200 meters higher than the existing world record! Our request for official recognition of this German [national] and world record is under way."

By the end of January 2001, 11 wings and fuselages had been built. All models are equipped with RC components, six of them with complete drive sets. So far, the team has flown to Nepal and farther on into the Kali Gandaki Valley under the famed Annapurna peak, then hiked many miles over 14,000-foot-high passes toward the Tibetan border. The team will now hike down the valley, flying at various locations.

When Dr. Schaeper returns, he will be able to report fully on an exciting expedition to places where no one has ever thought about flying electric models-or any type of models, for that matter. Stay tuned for more information about this RC journey to the top of the world.

SPECIFICATIONS

Model name: Kali 1

Wingspan: 207cm (81.5 in.)

Length: 129.5cm (51 in.)

Wing area: 60.4 sq. dm.1936.2 sq. in.)

Weight: 3kg (7 lb.)

Battery: 14 Panasonic HHR300SC (NiMH)

Motor: Hacker brushless H50 26-S with Maxon ceramic 4.4:1 gear

Prop: carbon Aeronaut CAM 16x10

ESC: Simprop Magic Control

RC gear: Robbe/Futaba FC-28 PCM with Robbe FS 500 servos

Gyro: Ikarus Wing Gyro

RC at the top of the world

Model Airplane News, Jun 2001 by Revel, Guy

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