Large Red Kite (milvus milvus)

Description

Animatronic replica of a large red kite (milvus milvus)

Plan closeup of gearbox and gearcrank mechanism

Specification

Wingspan: 180cm Length; 77cm Motor; D2826 Brushless Motor outrunner 1000kv Gears; 21t0.5Mpinion- 72t0.5MspurGear,10t0.5Mpinionwwire-92t0.5MaluminiumMainGear Battery; 450mah 3S lipo Control; 2x DS-843MG Digital High Torque Micro Servo 4.8kg Receiver; 4CH FLYSKY receiver

Video

Enjoy some flights:

Development Log

2020-07-11 — Large Redkite Maiden flight 10.07.2020 — Maiden flight of new large red kite ornithopter. wing is too loose, hence the resulting flapping amplitude was too small for strong flight. length: 77cm wingspan: 180cm motor: D2826 Brushless Motor outrunner 1000kv gears: 21t0.5Mpinion- 72t0.5MspurGear,10t0.5Mpinionwwire-92t0.5MaluminiumMainGear battery: 450mah 3S lipo control: 2x DS-843MG Digital High Torque Micro Servo 4.8kg receiver: 4CH FLYSKY receiver
2020-07-14 — Large Red Kite (Rotmilan, MilvusMilvus) Testflights 27.07.2020 — length: 77cm wingspan: 180cm motor: D2826 Brushless Motor outrunner 1000kv gears: 21t0.5Mpinion- 72t0.5MspurGear,10t0.5Mpinionwwire-92t0.5MaluminiumMainGear battery: 450mah 3S lipo control: 2x DS-843MG Digital High Torque Micro Servo 4.8kg receiver: 4CH FLYSKY receiver
2020-07-15 — Large Red Kite (Rotmilan/Milvus Milvus) Testflight 15.07.2020 — painting of shell and wings done. i lowered the centre of flapping a little to improve lift and thrust length: 77cm wingspan: 180cm motor: D2826 Brushless Motor outrunner 1000kv gears: 21t0.5Mpinion- 72t0.5MspurGear,10t0.5Mpinionwwire-92t0.5MaluminiumMainGear battery: 450mah 3S lipo control: 2x DS-843MG Digital High Torque Micro Servo 4.8kg receiver: 4CH FLYSKY receiver
2020-07-18 — Large Redkite (Rotmilan, milvus milvus) Testflights 18.07.2020
2020-07-26 — Large Red Kite (Rotmilan, milvus milvus) Testflight 25.07.20 — testing new steel ball joints and glide mode. control was a bit unsufficient especially for a little bit windy weather. video by maike. specification: length: 77cm wingspan: 180cm motor: D2826 Brushless Motor outrunner 1000kv gears: 21t0.5Mpinion- 72t0.5MspurGear,10t0.5Mpinionwwire-92t0.5MaluminiumMainGear battery: 450mah 3S lipo control: 2x DS-843MG Digital High Torque Micro Servo 4.8kg receiver: 4CH FLYSKY receiver
2021-09-02 — Large Red Kite (Rotmilan/Milvus Milvus) test flight 02.09.21 — motor stopped because the ESC cable melted by too thin wires length: 77cm wingspan: 180cm motor: D2826 Brushless Motor outrunner 1000kv gears: 21t0.5Mpinion-72t0.5MspurGear,10t0.5Mpinionwwire-92t0.5MaluminiumMainGear battery: 450mah 4S lipo control: 2x DS-843MG Digital High Torque Micro Servo 4.8kg receiver: 4CH FLYSKY receiver
2021-09-03 — Large Red Kite (Rotmilan/Milvus Milvus) Test Flight 03.09.21 — gliding works good and control is better while gliding than at flapping (this is due to gull wing angle and downwash of wingtips), and i am getting a better feel for the model in flight. it seems only at a certain flap speed and AoA it can climb well, otherwise it seems to stall easily when loosing speed, especially during turns it is picky. flight ended too soon because a part of loose glide lock got stuck in the main gear …. length: 77cm wingspan: 180cm motor: D2826 Brushless Motor outrunner 1000kv gears: 21t0.5Mpinion-72t0.5MspurGear,10t0.5Mpinionwwire-92t0.5MaluminiumMainGear battery: 450mah 4S lipo control: 2x DS-843MG Digital High Torque Micro Servo 4.8kg receiver: 4CH FLYSKY receiver
2024-07-23 — Large red kite TestFlights with improved wing 22.07.24
2024-08-09 — Large Redkite TestFlight 07.08.24 — this time using a smaller battery the model can climb easier. before used 3S 2200mah and now 4S 600mah has less than half weight and only gets slightly warm. however motor is still overheating so probably the model also needs a smaller pinion gear.
2024-08-09 — Large Redkite TestFlight 29.07.24
2024-08-18 — Large Redkite TestFlight 17.08.24 slow flapping — front pinion feathers have been strengthened slightly and also a simple hinge was introduced so that the two front pinion feather may bend upwards more so they are in line and in correct angle to the rest of the pinions. by this the air stream over the wing has improved which increased the efficiency allowing the model to fly with more ease and stay aloft by a bit less flapping.