bferrell

You could check out Sky3D, a Velocity guy that makes GoPro mounts (and potentially 3D software).  I have this mounts.

Sky 3-d

http://sky-3d.com/

 

My velo

http://velocityxl.com/content.php?1716-Installing-GoPro-Hero2-cameras-and-the-Sky-3D-system

 

It helps, and people do it, although many Velocitys now have the "toe-brake" upgrade, inteconnecting the rudder pedals, and so cannot use this technique any more.  In fact Velocity will tell you the rudder is really only a drag device, slowing one wing down and causing the airplane to yaw that way, and in training point out that when slow, as in the pattern, it's easier to just use the rudder for turns and keep the stick basically level, and to even use the opposite rudder to raise a dropping wing on final as the ailerons are very sluggish (on the Velocity) at those speeds.

On 11/4/2014 at 8:47 AM, Jon Matcho said:

The Velocity Twin was also in the news yesterday via AvWeb.  

Unfortunately the first statement in the video there is incorrect:  

Although Rutan-inspired, the Velocity was not a Burt Rutan design.

Correct, Danny Maher designed it after flying his Long EZ (/s-he built 2) for many years.  Odd that they could make such a basic mistake.

B

On 10/24/2014 at 1:08 PM, Jon Matcho said:

Mentioned in the first post was Velocity Aircraft, a canard kit manufacturer in business since 1984. Velocity has shown a gradual and continual improvement to their models, with the latest being a twin-pusher. Although only one has been built, several other models remain available today.

This isn't true anymore, there are several, in fact one of the non-factory airplanes recently had an accident at Sebastian.

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/single-engine-aircraft-slid-runway-sebastian

Marc,

 

I think we're all aware of your expertise, and your winglet study, and surely none of us wants to have a winglet depart in flight. Having had an emergency already, I take safety fairly personally.

 

In fact, I don't plan to have my aircraft on the ramp much, and I don't think temperature in flight is an issue as the airflow will cool the surfaces. I also think that the issue is mitigated somewhat by the surfaces being vertical, so portions will often be shaded, and the yellow checkerboarding. However, I think I'll have winglet "socks" made by Bruce or one of the custom cover folks so that my winglets are protected when she is on the ramp, and so the only exposed surfaces are white (I find that these types of covers are pretty effective in reflecting solar heating).

 

So, net, I think that these are reasonable precautions for me. And, although I don't encourage anyone to use dark colors, I will offer that there are a number of flying examples (a few pictures attached, there are many more) with colored winglets, and I'm not aware of any issues due to this. In fact, if I recall correctly, the incident long-ez had colored winglets, and I don't recall your pointing out this being contributory to the failure.

 

B

Great point Marc, thanks for bringing that to my attention.

 

B

Getting close to reassembling Victor Fox...

I've begun to update the Rough River website, and would like to get folks thoughts on what they would like to see there, and how they like some of the changes. One of the main new features is under the Pictures section, where I've included People and Planes categories. For each, I've attached picture of some prominent people from the canard community who've attended Rough River, and planes that have flown in. Hopefully this will help folk's put names to faces, and associate them with the aircraft they fly.

 

http://www.roughriver.org/

 

Brett

For those sending pictures, it's helpful to know what year they were taken, and who is in the pictures where people are included...

Yea, but it depends on how many folks have, if there's not a ton, email is fine, if folks have a bunch I'll give them ftp access to upload them directly, but I know several folks have Flikr or Picasa or Photobucket accounts where I can just grab them if they give me permission to use them.

 

Brett

Hey guys, I'm going to be updating the Rough River website and would like to flesh out the pictures section a bit. I didn't make it in 2008, ahem, for reasons already discussed, but I'd like to flesh out the pictures section some additional pictures in general, and I don't have any for 2008. Please let me know if you'd be willing to let me use some of your pictures.

 

Brett

Totally agree, makes installing the panel child's play (or changing it, like we did this year)....

 

B

For those that don't follow my site, our paint is coming along nicely, we're just moving the fuselage out of the hangar so we can put the blue on the winglets.

 

Here is the scheme an a couple of shots.

 

 

Brett

n44vf.com

I try to keep up-to-date on my wiki, but I haven't checked up on the dates recently so I might be a little behind....

 

http://wiki.velocityxl.com/index.php?title=Current_events

I took some video, which I'll post some of when I get back from a business trip, but unfortunately I didn't ever really get the exposure right once the sun came out, so it all looks a bit blown out and overexposed. ;-(

 

B

The delta hawk was mounted in a Velocity, at least 12 years ago when they were located at Kenosha Wi Airport.

 

Has that plane flown yet?

 

Look, I don't own stock in the company, and I know they're behind schedule, but I really don't understand the vitriol here. Yes, the Velocity has been flying for years, and look, here's a picture of it in flight! But, you probably don't believe that either... nope, just Photoshop. Now, where did I get that picture, oh yea, Sport Aviation June 2003...

 

http://wiki.velocityxl.com/index.php?title=Brooks_N211JP

 

Brett

I don't think they have sold any engines to anyone, let alone the military. I've been following them for years, there is pleanty of possible applications for this in the military but they haven't sold any. Please correct me if you have evidence otherwise though.

Well, I guess I can Google that for you....

http://dieselair.com/2005/10/why-deltahawk-diesel-engines-inc-will.html

 

DeltaHawk short term source of revenue is the UAV market. 6 UAV applications have been sold with success and Carl is expecting a strong business development on this market within next 6 months. Thanks to that market the business doesn’t face financial hurdles. Also, around 10 engines have been supplied to partners developing applications (STCs and OEMs), and the present backlog is of 40 engines.

 

Good enough rydogg? How about a little research, that wasn't really that hard?

 

http://www.deltahawkengines.com/uavflight.shtml

 

Brett

Will do. I don't plan on having in-aircraft viewing capability, it will just record to micro HCSD card, and I will record audio separately to a digital recorder from the intercom (the camera doesn't have an external mic connection), and combine and edit them separately. I'm not looking to monitor the recording in flight, nor check for fire, I just want to make videos/movies of our flights. This should be a pretty decent camera, but it (intentionally) doesn't have a bunch of connectivity options. I will mostly mount it between the front seat headrests, on the glareshield, maybe the strake.

 

Brett

My understanding is that they have sold engines (to the military for UAV's), they just haven't built any "production" engines - and that's where some of the money to keep them operating is coming from.

 

Brett

Yea, Rich's setup is cool, but one thing - his camera is not well suited for flying towards the sun, and it has a pretty large optical lens (at least from the shape of his covers). I'm picking up one of these cameras because they deal well with a lot of light without blowing out, and maintain good color.

 

http://www.vholdr.com/contourhd/helmetcam

 

Brett

n44vf.com

 

Rich's camera winglet

Looks like they claim 297 lbs dry.

 

http://www.franklinengines.com/6a.cfm

 

B

Rich,

 

I'm not an expert, but there are several flying, and some pretty recent additions, Velocity SEs with the Franklin. From listening to those guys talk it sounds like a pretty good little motor, but parts and support can be a bit sketchy to obtain (though it seems like they always get what they need). I think one of our guys is a distributor or some such and can help get bits too. If you get real serious about the Franklin mention it here and I'll dig out some more info for you.

 

Here are some Velocity builder list posts that might be of interest

http://www.velocityxl.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=6357&highlight=franklin

http://www.velocityxl.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=6296&highlight=franklin

http://www.velocityxl.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=6148&highlight=franklin

http://www.velocityxl.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=6137&highlight=franklin

http://www.velocityxl.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=6125&highlight=franklin

http://www.velocityxl.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=5363&highlight=franklin

 

Brett

Has anyone heard any more about this crash? I heard a rumor that the airplane was seen inverted before it went down which seemed a little odd.

 

Brett

I didn't see the the "to me" in the original posting. Without it, it reads (to me) like it feels that way to everyone. I don't hear or see Velocity owners rushing off to change anything so it seems most folks are content with the factory cable solution.

 

B

They do work but they feel heavy and are not very sensitive. that may be why the velo feels like it needs bigger ailerons. slow to bank

Maybe that's why puppies aren't fun, they are too yappy. I like pudding. Insert other meaningless personal opinion stated as fact here.

 

 

Not everybody is a fan, and that's cool, but that doesn't mean it isn't right just because you don't like it.