Big Genie, Genie Pro or LT/S, build which?
This is a FAQ. I thought, with the building season arriving, I should prepare something about these three scratch-buildable birds designed for competition. It will give something to think about after Visalia.S
We're looking at material costs on the order of $350-$400 for airframes comparable in performance to ARF's costing to 3-5 times as much. With the bundle you'll save, you can get set up for life with the tools and other things needed to do your own eye-catching, highly competitive airframes.
http://genie.rchomepage.com/ details construction, but the available CD presently includes several refinements.
SIMILARITIES: These are 6 servo ships. Construction of all 3 is the same with same plans. A composite fuse will shortly be available for the LT/S, too. These are beautiful and superbly constructed by Keith Smith of Pacific Sailplanes from basswood plugs I provided. See file "The Composite Fuselages" under the heading "Composite Fuselage Option".
All 3 ships have rugged airframes that'll take a pounding and handle hard launches, including the extreme dip and zoom variety.
CNC cut wing cores, made from blue Dow Hi-load 60 foam, are available from Les Horvath, but if you cut your own, planform and airfoil info are provided. Wings feature a Kevlar thread wrapped spar system with top/bottom, double tapered CF spars. Skins are overall 4.7 oz. ACP 80/20 unidirectional CF cloth, plus 1.4 oz. glass on a bias. These things make wings that are strong for flight and more resistance to dings than most.
Wings have minimum parasitic drag because the all-internal Rotary Driver System (File 6 in the website) is used to operate flaps and ailerons. All servos are in the center section with no wiring into the tips. Attachment of tips engages the aileron moving mechanics. Wings feature a pre-bagged, glassed-over wood LE so smooth that a glossy painted finish can be put on it. See the Fine Finishing file.
Tail pieces are simple, but rugged and very light Monokoted, built-up balsa structures. See File 2. The now detachable rudder is knuckle-hinged.
For costs and other things available to help, see "Costs" , "Materials List" and "What's Available?" files in the website.
DIFFERENCES: The big Genie has a span of 145" with a 59" center and 43" tips. Wing area is 8.75 sq. feet. It's a big airplane, easy to range way out with and still see. The all up flying weight, using the composite fuse, is on the order of 83 oz. with a big 5 cell 8.2 oz. battery in the nose for balancing out. On the typical winch used at thermal events, it does a zoom comparable to other well designed larger birds. Due to benefits of scale, Its L/D is the best of the three ships. Its ability to thermal in light lift is uncanny. It just hangs and hangs. Trimmed to not gain more altitude in lift, it gets to airspeeds that are downright unnerving. The adrenaline rush leaves the heart pounding! It readily handles more wing loading .A ballasting provision can add about 1-1/2" pounds.
The Genie Pro has a newly designed 130" span wing with 52" center and 39" tips. It's a bit lighter and with less induced drag, the speed on tow gets higher for a fine zoom. If you like the handling and performance of the Icon, you'll like the Genie Pro, especially since the most you can get into it is about $400.
The Genie LT/S (light and smallest version) has 120" span with a 48" center and 36" tips. Flying weights on those built have been a little as 60 oz. With the composite fuse, 56-58 is expected. High speed possible on tow will result in zooms on the spectacular side. It cruises fast to cover a lot of sky. Yet it slows very nicely for spot landings, too, as do the others.
Visit the web pages for extensive information on these ships. Gather materials and supplies. BUILD one of these well-proven airframes, SAVE MONEY and get a lLIBERAL EDUCATION about how to create fine airframes.
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