Modified FT-Flyer & Flights

Bought the 3 planes kit but decided only to use the kits as a guide.
I laser cut the poster board pieces myself and assembled the plane using my own materials.

I revised the original FT Flyer 4 times.The video above shows the 3rd revision of the Flyer.

Revision 1:

I did not like how draggy the leading edges of the wings were, so I added tape to minimize drag, and the added color also helprf with orientation. I used the tape to strengthen the control surface joints as well, it does a great job!

I also strengened the landing gear with the BBQ bamboo skewers, and more rubberbands to prevent it from collapsing during hard landings to protect the prop.

Revision 2:

I wanted to add ailerons on the Flyer, so I modified the plans, but the small sized ailerons on the 2nd revision did not hold enough power...
The batteries are now all the way in the front of the nose, but inside the powerpod instead of outside. Very tight fit, but much better aerodynamics. This called for a naca duct seen in the FT 3D episode to cool the crammed space. (Beat up, 1st revision plane in the back, yes it got wet too :()

Revision 3:

The plane from the video in the begining of the post. A great success!
Ailerons spanning the whole wing length now.

Later addidions included LED lights for nigh time flying, and a Voltage sensor.

Draggy Wiring....
This one died from a full speed vertical collision into brick ground during a windy day, breaking the motor shaft.

Revision 4:

Only thing changed from revision 3 is the servos. Using 2 individual servos to control the now flaperons.

Added an LED Strip now, much brighter then the other revision LED lights and a better wiring solution.

This one lived a short life due to flaperon experimentation, and a dying battery, and bad quality foam. (For some reason, the white paper covered foam is much more durable then the black paper covered foam, which tends to peel off quite easily ... but offers better contrast in the sky.

Overall I was pretty happy with the FT Flyer. The only downsides where that the battery needed to be heavy enough and all the way in the front, as close to the firewall as possible, to ensure the proper CG location. Also a flat plate airfoil meant that the plane needed to be flown at an angle to get any lift which is a bit triky to do for a beginner. However this plane behaved much better then the FT Delta for a beginner.