HET Me-163!

[akent]

A few months ago, I built up a HET Me-163. It is a strange looking thing!
I found a bunch of history on it on Youtube. If you search for the ME-163, then you'll find some history.
It was a rocket powered plane from WWII. In a straight line, it could reach over 550mph and in a dive in the low 600's.
The rocket motor burned for about 12-15 minutes, and once the fuel ran out, it would glide home, where the Allied fighters did a number on many.
These only shot down a few bombers, as they were too fast! They had two 30mm cannons. One pilot said it was so fast that the bombers would fly between the rounds!
The tiny prop on the front of the full scale is for the on board generator.
These things took off on a carriage and landed on a skid. How bizarre.

Here's the plane. It's only 100 bucks.
www.shop.turbofanelectrics.com/product.sc?productId=268&categoryId=35

I built mine with the following:
Motor: HET 2w25 (2700kv)
ESC: Castle ICE 100
Prop: APC 5x5E
Servos: Hitec HS-65MG
Battery: Turnigy 5s 2200 40c
Watts: About 1,600
RPM: About 40,000
Pitch speed: About 190mph

I couldn't get a real speed reading, but I did get a castle log. I'll attach that next.

I also never got any pictures or video, as it didn't live long enough for that.
It's flight data:
Flight 1: Crash on throw. Right in the ground. Reglassed the nose.
Flight 2: Barely launched. Flew incredibly fast! Was really hard to maintain orientation as the whole thing is just red.
Flight 3: Good launch. Flew fast and low! Ran REALLY HOT! Cut ventilation holes.
Flight 4: Good launch. Flew fast and low!! Folks estimated 150+mph.
Flight 5: Tried a WOT launch. Bad idea. The thing leaped out of my hand, curved over and smacked in going FAST! I couldn't get my hand back on the sticks fast enough. It's toast.

There is something to say about foamies. This thing had a fiberglass fuse and built up wings. It was a Crunchie!

It was fun while it lasted.
Kent

Attachments:

[akent]

Here is the castle log from the ESC.

I can't decide whether to get another one. Mine was really hard to launch and the fuse is so wide you really need big hands to throw it with.

If I do, then I think I'll rig up a bungee hook somehow...

I think mine was faster than the Funjet!!
Kent

Attachments:

[19000rpm]

Jul 19, 2011 10:56:35 GMT -6 akent said:

A few months ago, I built up a HET Me-163. It is a strange looking thing!
I found a bunch of history on it on Youtube. If you search for the ME-163, then you'll find some history.
It was a rocket powered plane from WWII. In a straight line, it could reach over 550mph and in a dive in the low 600's.
The rocket motor burned for about 12-15 minutes, and once the fuel ran out, it would glide home, where the Allied fighters did a number on many.
These only shot down a few bombers, as they were too fast! They had two 30mm cannons. One pilot said it was so fast that the bombers would fly between the rounds!
The tiny prop on the front of the full scale is for the on board generator.
These things took off on a carriage and landed on a skid. How bizarre.

Here's the plane. It's only 100 bucks.
www.shop.turbofanelectrics.com/product.sc?productId=268&categoryId=35

I built mine with the following:
Motor: HET 2w25 (2700kv)
ESC: Castle ICE 100
Prop: APC 5x5E
Servos: Hitec HS-65MG
Battery: Turnigy 5s 2200 40c
Watts: About 1,600
RPM: About 40,000
Pitch speed: About 190mph

I couldn't get a real speed reading, but I did get a castle log. I'll attach that next.

I also never got any pictures or video, as it didn't live long enough for that.
It's flight data:
Flight 1: Crash on throw. Right in the ground. Reglassed the nose.
Flight 2: Barely launched. Flew incredibly fast! Was really hard to maintain orientation as the whole thing is just red.
Flight 3: Good launch. Flew fast and low! Ran REALLY HOT! Cut ventilation holes.
Flight 4: Good launch. Flew fast and low!! Folks estimated 150+mph.
Flight 5: Tried a WOT launch. Bad idea. The thing leaped out of my hand, curved over and smacked in going FAST! I couldn't get my hand back on the sticks fast enough. It's toast.

There is something to say about foamies. This thing had a fiberglass fuse and built up wings. It was a Crunchie!

It was fun while it lasted.
Kent

I can see why that thing would be hard to hand launch. Fiberglass is not a hand launch friendly material.

Heck, at least 1/3 of my EDF hand launches barely make it or end up in the grass.

I wonder if you could make dolly to launch it. I think that's what they did on the real ones.

[r/c basher]

You know they invented rc cars for a reason...

Buy a stampede and brushless system, and program two extra channels in to your fancy radio. And use that for your launch pad. lol

[akent]

19k, I did glue some sandpaper to the bottom sides where you grab the thing. Without that, it was far too slick.
A dolly would perhaps bee a good plan, if you could somehow drive it with the rudder channel until it gets in the air.

I like your idea, Basher! You could just get someone else to drive it until it gets in the air, then they could just drive the dolly (car) back to the pits!!

The folks flying these things claim 260kmh (about 160mph) in the ads with a 2w20 motor. I was running about 500 MORE watts than that! I sure wish I knew how fast it was.

Mine was AT LEAST as fast as in this video from Turbo Fan Electrics. I sure wish I could have launched mine as well. My launches were never this smooth!


This is more like how mine looked and sounded...

Kent

[19000rpm]

Wow, that thing rips. Very cool. I don't think I could keep orientation.

Basher's idea is great. Although, you wouldn't need brushless since the brushed one hits at least 30mph and that's plenty to get it in the air.

Maybe a gyro too on the roll axis for assisted take offs. That would help to keep the wings level. I don't think that would interfere with the elevator on the delta mix.

I think they also used a rail system and drop away gear on the real ones too. I believe it depended on where they were launched from. A dedicated installation used the rail, the field installation used a dolly and on an airstrip they used a drop away gear.

You talk about a "One way trip." I bet about as many ME-163 pilots survived a mission as Kamikaze pilots did.

As I was leaving I happened to notice that the History Channel had an episode of "Dog Fights" "Secret Weapons" . And guess what was featured? The ME-163.

I watched the ME-163 progam this aftrnoon. The only gear system they showed was an ejectable main. They flew to 200 ft and then released the gear. If they made it through their 8 min. powered raid on the bombers they glided back to base for a belly landing. OUCH! Lots of other good stuff too. Catch this progam if you can.

[Gabe]

Cool!

I'm a fan of the Bungie launchers now Kent! I'll never hand launch something like that just for those reasons. Sounds like one heck of a plane though!

[akent]

Yep, and if I had used a bungee, that ME163 might still be alive.
Oh well. It is toast from a WOT launch.
I don't think at this point that I'll build up another one.
Kent

[Gabe]

Been there - know the feeling.