BackPack FT 22

by BackPackModels | August 31, 2014 | (6) Posted in Projects

Most of the „standard“ BackPack planes are capable of taking the wings off and maybe splitting them in two pieces but this F22 can even be separated in four of them! It fits into the smallest BackPack you have and all modifications weigh 7 grams in total … don not worry about them. Have fun at reading the build log and see the video below.

Use common materials and build your own BackPack fighter or convert an old plane in less than an hour.
I started with the big wing plate included in every kit or easy to cut out from the plans. Additionally some small 3mm carbon-fiber spars and aluminum channels are needed. If you want to go cheap, replace them with barbecue skewers and drinking straws. You will need four spars and 8 or 12 channels.

Mark the locations for the reinforcement above and underneath the motor location, it does not have to be too precise…

Cut the spars in length and do so with the aluminum. By taking out the center section of the longer parts the construction gets at least a little lighter but the loss of weight and stability is minimal.

Open up small slots and glue in the spar and the channel on the short inner side. On the outside, only the channels itself shall be fastened so you can pull out the wing later.

Repeat all steps four times and finally glue a small piece of another barbecue skewer onto the top and bottom of the trailing edge to lock the wing in place.

As the very last step, cut the wings out but leave at least 1cm (0.5inch) of space to the open area of the motor. The side plates will give back the stability for the body part but there will be needed some foam to glue on…

To fix the wings back on, two small straps of velcro on the wings and body give a strong connection. As you will see in the video, the wings always stay in place but in a crash they might rip off and safe you from greater damage.

The nose can easily be left in the original setup. Reinforce the corners like you can see in the video and do not use any glue. Fix it like a powerpod and it will never come loose in flight!

 

COMMENTS

Bellows on September 13, 2014
I really like the back pack idea. What kind of foam are you using here? I doesn't look like dollar tree foam to me.I built this plane out of dollar tree foam (not backpack setup) and it was very nose heavy.
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BackPackModels on September 14, 2014
I am using 6mm depron because there is no foamboard in germany. With a 30g motor my CG fits nicely when shifting the lipo as far back in the nose as I can. Depron is a little lighter than paper covered foam, maybe that's the reason for it...
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Redazrael on September 13, 2014
Excellent idea and execution!!! I really admire how you think!!! And thank you for sharing my FT-22 article
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BackPackModels on September 14, 2014
Thanks! Your F22 thumbnail picture with the lights on it is just too pretty not to share it ;)
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Graywolf on September 11, 2014
Great idea for a great plane.
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Grearson on October 19, 2014
Hi there, coming from Germany as well, but i am still looking for some good sources for depron or some Foam. Right now i am using stuff like Klimaform from the local Hardware Store, it comes in 4, 5 and 7mm. the 4 and7mm ones have a paper backing and are made of grey foam, while the 5mm has no backing and is green foam. And the cost only around 10-12 € per 8 Sheets.... But i never had Depron in my hand, so i cant compare if its lighter or not, tough it IS kinda rigid.
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Flying Fox on November 20, 2014
Haha cool i wonder what would happen if you crashed it.
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BackPack FT 22