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Forza Elecric is the next generation high performance 2.5 metre model from successful Aeroic designer, Dr. James Hammond. With a new and highly experienced manufacturer, and continuing technical development of previous designs which have gained him a worldwide following, Dr. James Hammond is very pleased to announce Aeroic’s latest entry into the high-end sports sailplane market; the Stormbird Forza 100”
James specifically designed the now very popular Forza Electric as a more modern, and higher performing replacement for the ever-popular Typhoon – arguably the best selling all–moulded 2M ever, that he designed over a decade ago. Now it has been stretched and optimized into the higher aspect ratio Forza. The proof of the Pudding – chuck it and see. From the very first flight the Forza has surprised us.
Armed and dangerous with its massive carbon joiner and a completely new and higher aspect ratio wing planform, newly smoothed aerofoils, and the game-changing sine wave spar, the new “Doc J” weapon is extremely fast - scary fast some have said - and like all Aeroic thoroughbreds its highly aerobatic but lands like a Gentle Lady. Its faster than its smaller brother in acceleration and top speed, slower in landing mode, and with its lower wing loading can fly in lighter winds than the original model.
Overall design:
James has always had an eye for a cool design – if not color – he admits to being “Chromatically” challenged. The Forza has a highly optimized wing and new and smoothing improved wind tunnel tested aerofoils. The layout has enough room to allow plenty of ballast in the fuse and has ballast tubes in the wings too. The slip on nosecone makes it all easily accessible
Aerofoils:
The sections used are the most developments from James’s highly successful original aerofoil designs: Dial in a millimeter of reflex and see what happens – but don’t forget the replace the battery in your pacemaker first, or drop the flaps to 80 degrees and find you are walking faster than your model.
Wings:
Completely different from the previous design, and made possible by the revolutionary Sine Wave Spar that is now a feature of all Aeroic planes, the optimized and now stretched wing planform has undergone a series of changes throughout the development and testing of the model resulting in the somewhat “radical” shape that we now see.
The reducing thickness, optimally cambered sections will let you go from really slow landing speeds with the flaps down to heart thudding passes with a little reflex, yet despite its ability to carry heavy ballast loads, the airframe will thermal with the best of them. Large ailerons, large flaps and the stretched wing planform each add to the overall performance of the airframe.
Horns are factory fitted with well thought out geometry to allow flush servo installation using 10mm servos for flaps and 8mm servos for the ailerons. Using conventional linkages, you can get a clean, practical and most importantly serviceable wing installation optimized to use full servo travel to give high torque and low slop. Ballast spaces in the wing allow approx 450 g (1lb) of lead to be carried.
Aeroic Sine Wave Spar:
Used in several military aircraft, (Doc J’s designer background) the Sine Wave Spar (SWS) has been adapted for the first time to make up the heart of a model sailplane wing, and has frankly amazed us with its low weight, and ultra high strength. Unlike a conventional “Box” spar the Sine Wave Spar adds terrific torsional stiffness and yet actually weighs considerably less than the older conventional spar types. Now used in all Aeroic airframes, the Sine Wave Spar is lighter and far stronger than “conventional” spars and raises the overall performance level another few notches.
Fuselage:
The slim and curvaceous fuse is strong, light, and stiff with Carbon/Kevlar reinforcement and gives far more strength to the boom than most models. Electronics area is 2.4 GHz friendly with access to the radio and ballast through a slip-on nose cone. The long nose area accentuates the rakish lines but also provides plenty of space to easily balance the model without resorting to shoehorning lead in every available crevice!
Snakes (not supplied) and/or rear mounted direct servos can be used for Rudder/Elevator control. Wing stub fairings with location dowel holes finish the fuselage with recesses for “green” Multiplex type connectors to connect the electronics pre-routed.
Tailplane:
As normal the aerofoils were specifically designed for Aeroic sailplanes and optimized for maximum control response with minimum deflection. At 10%, the tail aerofoil section is thicker than is the norm but the infinitesimal increase in drag is easily offset by the increased control response for less deflection. To further increase the efficiency, pitch control is accomplished by using an elevator not a wobbly all-moving tailplane. The elevator is directly driven by a servo placed in a hatch in the fin to give solid elevator control.
Joiner:
Like all Aeroic planes, the Forza has an impressive joiner. Massive is the only way to describe this part. Measuring 35 x 12mm, the length has also been increased by over 100mm (4”). It’s as big if not bigger than those used in most 3m competition airframes!
Production:
The Stormbird Forza has been designed with far greater capability potential than any average sports model, and this, coupled with the fact that like all Aeroic sailplanes the pre-production models underwent thorough testing, not only in flying performance, but also in making the installation straightforward and practical, leads to an airframe that is a snip to fit out, and flies like the true thoroughbred it is. It is supplied with a wiring harness, plastic servo frames for 10mm thick servos and some control linkage hardware.
Layup OptionsL = Light = Lowest weight, reduced strength
S = Sport = medium strength & weight
SS = Super Sport = strongest strength & higher weight
Spinner diameter: 40mm
Forza Specifications (glider version) |
Wing span |
2.50 m |
100 in |
Wing area |
44.7 dm2 |
723 sq in |
Length |
123 cm |
48.4 in |
Flying weight from |
1800 g |
63 oz |
Aspect ratio |
14 |
Wing airfoil |
JH3680, JH3575, JH3670 |
EDA (dihedral) |
1.7º |
Centre of Gravity |
85 - 100 mm from wing leading edge |
Controls |
Rudder, elevator, ailerons, flap, throttle |
Recommended RC |
Rudder & Elevator (in tail) |
KST X08H, KST A08H, MKS DS75K-R, MKS HV75K-R, MKS HS75 |
Flap (servo max 10 mm thick) |
MKS HV6130, MKS HV6120, KST DS125, KST X10, CHA HV85H |
Aileron (servo max 8 mm thick) |
MKS HV6120, KST HS08A, KST X08H Plus, KST X08H, KST A08H, CHA HV85H |
Receiver |
7 channel rx to match your transmitter |
Servo frames, if supplied, fit KST DS125 and X10 sized servos.
Forza 100 Glider Typical Weights |
Fuselage inc pushrods |
286 g |
10.1 oz |
Left wing |
450 g |
16 oz |
Right wing |
450 g |
16 oz |
Tailplane |
55 g |
1.9 oz |
Wing joiner |
137 g |
4.8 oz |
Ballast tube |
40 g |
1.4 oz |
Accessories |
60 g |
2.1 oz |
Total structure |
1318 g |
46.5 oz |
Wiring |
20 g |
0.7 oz |
Pushrods |
12 g |
0.4 oz |
Receiver |
8 g |
0.3 oz |
Rudder servo |
11 g |
0.4 oz |
Elevator servo |
11 g |
0.4 oz |
Wing servos (4) |
70 g |
2.5 oz |
Battery |
150 g |
5.3 oz |
Flying weight |
1800 g |
56.4 oz |