Video: Seriously Awesome RC XC-142 VTOL (Must See!)
Thursday, May 1, 2014 at 07:23AM
If you're short on time and just need an under-a-minute avgeek experience, you'll wanna go here instead of watching the video above... but if you like awesome, cool, and truly amazing examples of modern tech being used to make extremely difficult aircraft designs fly great in model form, then please take 15 minutes to watch this.
The real XC-142 was a remarkably successful VTOL design from the early 1960's. However, even tho it proved capable of vertical takeoffs and landings along with over 400mph maximum speed, mechanical complexities and aerodynamic problems in certain phases of flight prevented it from moving beyond the prototype stage. Five XC-142's were built, and the only remaining example is the one turned over to NASA in 1966. It's on display at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force and I have spend quite a lot of time looking this unique aircraft over on each trip I've made to Dayton.
The December 2013 video above of the all-electric RC model XC-142 begins with northern California builder and pilot Ran D. St. Clair explaining a little about the design, then sharing some details on the open-source OpenAero2 flight controller software, and then showing the wing pivot process and interconnect with the horizontal tail. The first of the flying begins at the 3:10 mark. The flying footage is very impressive.
As the inflight pic above shows, this model is extremely well built, but the really impressive work is how well the programming has been done to create a very controlled VTOL flying machine. Transitions from vertical to slow-forward-flight and then full-forward-flight and then back to vertical for landing are done with relative ease. The video is also very well done which gives you a really great opportunity to see this remarkable little model at its best.
And in case you think that little vertical prop in the rear is a nod to the pitch-control tail rotor found on modern electric toy helicopters, think again... the real XC-142 has one there too for pitch control when in vertical mode.
Bravo Ran D. St. Clair for some very impressive work!
Like this post? Tell your friends... use the 'share' or 'email' article links below - thanx : )
Reader Comments (4)
Nice work. I've had a framed artists concept drawing of this aircraft on my office wall for years. Always fantasied about making it an RC.
Thanks for posting this, Martt. I had the pleasure of watching a full-scale XC-142 hover at the Grand Prairie LTV plant in Texas many years ago. It made a lot of noise! LOL Great job on the model, programming, and piloting! Wow!
John J- It's a truly fascinating aircraft... have you checked it out at the Air Force Museum?
Gary Jones- Wow! How cool that you actually saw the full-scale XC-142 fly! #awesome
For those interested in the build thread, or even plans, they are available here.
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2008164
The Thread for the OpenAero2-VTOL firmware which works with an off the shelf KK2 flight controller is here:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1972686
I would caution anyone who wants to build this model, it is an advanced aircraft. There are better designs for a first attempt at VTOL including the VTOL-FunCub which is here:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1958738
Or the VTOL-Trainer which is here:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1814667