The Marske Pioneer IID

windows media (xp) video clip of the launching of the Pioneer IId november 2002.

On our computer using explorer we do not get good results for the videos. when using netscape we get very good results... but they do take a long time to download.

Mpeg Video of thePioneer on tow July 2003

Windows Media File of Pioneer in flight

Pioneeer In slow flight (07/30/03) no airspeed registering
Windows Media File

Stall and Spin entry attempt: 03/28/04 in windows Media. 446 kb Takes a long time to load at low bandwidth but reasonable quality

Our story follows:

March 28, 2004. OK the sun is out and we hurrying along to get the Pioneer redone!

	Mike patiently making the mold for the canopy frame.
	Mike tests out the sight lines with the new instrument panel... looked fine so on to casting the canopy frame.
	New instrument panel installed and starting of new deck in foam for casting of the deck. Note that the panel is slanted.
	Making the new instrument panel plug.
	Making the canopy rail mold
	A new rail is added on the inside of the cockpit. Mike cut this on his new CNC hot wire machine.

March 14, 2004
We have certainly taken on a lot of work but a lot of waht we are doing will help those builders currently buidling the Pioneer IID. So we have a new canopy to make... a sliding weight system, new tire.... nose release.... actually just about anything!

	coating the plug with cabosil and epoxy resin.
	placing the 45 degree cloth around the mold.
	The cured mold.
	A part cast from the mold epoxied on the nose of the glider.
	And the rear part of the canopy base epoxied in postion.

Mar 8, 2004.
Well we have the fillets well underway... now a new canopy ... and sliding weight... new tail wheel... we are getting busy!

	We have removed a buildup around the canopy.....and made a more modern design.
	The plug for the front of the canopy

Mar 1, 2004
Well it has been a long winter and time now to get on with a few improvements to the Pioneer IId.

	Jim has started the new wing fillets... that should improve the turbulence in the wing root area.

September 29, 2003.

	Dave rolling out after a 2 plus hour flight
	"That was fun!"

Dave Welles, test pilot for Schwizers, competition pilot and engineer for Schwizers from Elmira NY came and test flew the Pioneer. His full report will follow in a few days. He confirms all of our findings, especially the high speed cruise phenomena.

A quote from Dave's initial report:

"This was followed by some higher speed flight ( 100 - 120 MPH). The glide performance at these speeds was most surprising and made me think I was flying a Ventus or something with double the wing loading of what I was actually in."

Dave Also confirmed my feeling of the excellent climb rate:

A more effective thermalling turn for staying in the core of the thermal seemed to be to fly at 45 MPH with quite a steep angle of bank estimated at 50 degrees. There was no opportunity to fly with anyone else but I felt that this sailplane would do very well (climbing) against any of the current crop of high performance sailplanes.

Dave also found evidence of separation starting at the wing root which we had been thinking about for some time and will probably result in a fillet at the fuselage/ wing root junction on the upper surface. Not a serious problem but it would help in our low speed sink rate.

Our newly designed and built ailerons performed well but on the 120 mph plus run they experienced flutter, so we will mass balance them in the winter months.Lucily we experienced only minor damage to the wing.

Dave feels we have some serious possibilities for a very competitive competition glider

Past history of the Pioneer rebuild

RETURN TO: MARSKE FLYINGS WINGS HOMEPAGE

Designer:
Jim Marske

Phone :(740)-223-3550
Marske Flying Wings
c/o Marion Industrial Center
3007 Harding Higway East
Marion ,OH, 43302