Electric-Powered Jetco Shark 15 C/L Airplane ("E−Shark 15")

E−Shark 15 ready for its maiden flight - Airplanes and Rockets

E−Shark 15 ready for its maiden flight.

E−Shark 15 framed up and ready for electric power component mounting - Airplanes and Rockets

E−Shark 15 framed up and ready for electric power component mounting.

Underside of the E−Shark 15 - Airplanes and Rockets

Underside of the E−Shark 15. 

I have been wanting to build another Jetco Shark 15 control line model airplane for a long time and finally decided to take the dive into the project. Having sold all of my glow fuel engine support equipment (power panel, fuel pump, electric starter, etc.) in exchange for electric power equipment, it would be necessary to modify the airframe to accommodate a brushless outrunner motor, an electronic speed controller (ESC), a motor timer, and a LiPo battery. I dubbed it the "E-Shark 15." Without a whole lot of engineering calculations, I settled on one of the two ElectriFly Rimfire .10 motors I purchased to power my Douglas DC−3 / C−47 twin engine control line models. A 30 A ESC with a 3-cell (3S), 1300 mAH LiPo completed the package.

Since a Fox .15 engine mounts radially in the nose of the fuselage, a modification was needed to create a firewall upon which to mount the Rimfire .10. Furthermore, in order for the center of gravity to fall within the specified range, it was necessary to build a battery box into the underside of the outboard (right) wing. All the components are added to the right side in order to give the radial balance a bias toward the outboard side, thereby assuring a tendency for the model to bank away from the center of the flying circle rather than toward it if the lines go slack.

E−Shark 15 battery box - Airplanes and Rockets

E−Shark 15 battery box construction (left).

Side note: If you are interested, see my short write-up on how to assemble eyelets onto the ends of the leadout wires.

Other than the noted modifications for electric power, the E-Shark 15 was built per Jetco plans. Wingspan is 36-1/2", wing area is 270 in2, length is 27". The fuselage was covered with Silkspan and dope, while the wings and horizontal stabilizer and elevator were covered with Monokote. Making the landing gear wire from 3.32" music wire was a mistake since it bent way too easily (couldn't be from my less-than-smooth landings). If I build another, I'll use 1/8" music wire.

The E-Shark 15 had her maiden flight on September 25, 2016. Power was set for 70% for 2 minutes using the programmable timer. I had determined that the setting would be enough to lift the model vertically starting from zero speed. It turns out that the 70% power level was plenty to facilitate all the aerobatic maneuvers I am capable of (loops, figure eights, wingovers - that's about it), and should handle even a cloverleaf.

 

 

Posted July 27, 2019