Flight using Lego

[anton1678]

The sad part is that Lego will never release a fly ready motor, because if it is fast and powerful enough it can become a circular saw. Not very child friendly. It will never release a battery powerful enough because that poses electrical/fire hazard risks. Even a proper propeller may prove too sharp and dangerous. So pure Lego will never ever flight.

So the real question is not if Lego can fly, it can´t. What is the bare minimum non Lego needed to achieve flight? I'd say propellers to achieve some hovering with ground batteries and motors for a real flight. Batteries can be ok with AA LiFePo cells and old style boxes.

Science: crushing dreams one by one since.. well ever. On the other hand dreams can't make Lego fly, science can. So I'd say thanks Blackbird for the sanity check.

Maybe the rotor could be in a cage, like on a fan

Do remember it was absolutely 100% proven using all the well established formulas that it was impossible for a bumble bee to fly, because its wings were too small to generate the required lift. Just as well no one could tell the bee...

That claim is based on the miscalculations of a French physicist, who did not realise that a bumblebee twists it's wings while they go up, like oars

[Bob De Quatre]

Do we know what is really lacking? Is it a powerfull motor or efficients blades?

If it's the blades, I'm sure Efferman could design some...

[Zerobricks]

Do we know what is really lacking? Is it a powerfull motor or efficients blades?

If it's the blades, I'm sure Efferman could design some...

The point of these whole topic is to use NON-MODIFIED original Lego pieces...

[Heppeng]

I had an Eureka moment last night. I have in my head a design for a very large (2m span) wing, thats ultra lightweight - at least for lego, strong, and can be made in to an aerofoil design, specifically for creating high lift at low speed. I am hoping that when I get home at the weekend I may be able to put together a proof of concept design. However, since I did not anticipate entering in to the world of brick aviation this week, its quite possible that I might not have all the parts I need....

[anton1678]

I had an Eureka moment last night. I have in my head a design for a very large (2m span) wing, thats ultra lightweight - at least for lego, strong, and can be made in to an aerofoil design, specifically for creating high lift at low speed. I am hoping that when I get home at the weekend I may be able to put together a proof of concept design. However, since I did not anticipate entering in to the world of brick aviation this week, its quite possible that I might not have all the parts I need....

I'm going to make a concept for a 'safe' Lego helicopter part, I'll send it to TLG or something, hopefully they can commission some sort of limited-edition flight kit

[Heppeng]

From your comment I am not sure if you understand me, my wing uses existing readily available and common parts...

[piterx]

what about plastic wrap?

if you want it completely lego i could be the plastic from lego bags XD

[Heppeng]

Nope. this wing uses only lego that came out of an injection mold, and some lego string.

[Silcantar]

I doubt it's possible to make an all-Lego helicopter work, but I'd bet that it wouldn't be that hard to make a fixed-wing craft. This part would make excellent wings, and with the blades Zblj has been using for this copters you could make a pretty good propeller. The tricky part would be controlling it.

[anton1678]

I doubt it's possible to make an all-Lego helicopter work, but I'd bet that it wouldn't be that hard to make a fixed-wing craft. This part would make excellent wings, and with the blades Zblj has been using for this copters you could make a pretty good propeller. The tricky part would be controlling it.

zblj already made a kite powered by his motors, it kind of flew, but fell when it reached the end of it's wire.

We'll need a longer wire for that

[Heppeng]

I doubt it's possible to make an all-Lego helicopter work, but I'd bet that it wouldn't be that hard to make a fixed-wing craft. This part would make excellent wings, and with the blades Zblj has been using for this copters you could make a pretty good propeller. The tricky part would be controlling it.

I think fixed wing is the way to go, Unfortunately I don't think it would make a good wing. Its too small on its own, and the amount of lego required to hold multiples of them together would add weight and increase drag. There also only appears to be 3 of them on bricklink at the moment. However, I have not at the moment got a solution I am happy with for a tail plane on my aircraft, and they might fit the bill for that, but I have to establish the viability of the main wing before I get that far!

[anton1678]

I think fixed wing is the way to go, Unfortunately I don't think it would make a good wing. Its too small on its own, and the amount of lego required to hold multiples of them together would add weight and increase drag. There also only appears to be 3 of them on bricklink at the moment. However, I have not at the moment got a solution I am happy with for a tail plane on my aircraft, and they might fit the bill for that, but I have to establish the viability of the main wing before I get that far!

I think that part would be kind of heavy, let's use soemthing lighter

[Heppeng]

Why? Its a very thin sheet of plastic with some holes in it. If you know of any lighter lego please tell us. If not, then please do not make uninformed suggestions!

[1974]

Thousands of these + string and PF :

http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?G=balloon2

Cheers,

Ole

[Heppeng]

Nice try! Yes I suppose it is lighter, but unfortunately it is too light and the resulting complete model is not heavier than air, and is floating as opposed to flying, but I suppose it is technically airborne lego!!

[anton1678]

Thousands of these + string and PF :

http://www.bricklink....asp?G=balloon2

Cheers,

Ole

Well that's just a balloon, no lifting gas included

It won't work

Edited June 26, 2014 by anton1678

[1974]

Blimps are manuverable, hence the PF

If I get the air from Billund, is it LEGO enough for ya?

With the right balance between balloons/air and powered propellers it shoud be able to lift, fly, steer and land

I mean it's not like the Hindenburg failed

[anton1678]

Blimps are manuverable, hence the PF

If I get the air from Billund, is it LEGO enough for ya?

With the right balance between balloons/air and powered propellers it shoud be able to lift, fly, steer and land

I mean it's not like the Hindenburg failed

AIR DOES NOT FLOAT

AIR DOES NOT FLOAT

AIR DOES NOT FLOAT

[Zerobricks]

AIR DOES NOT FLOAT

AIR DOES NOT FLOAT

AIR DOES NOT FLOAT

Relax guys

[1974]

True that. Can't seem to find helium at BL though

Edit : 'Cept _hot_ air of course. But that's not possbile with LEGO either

Edited June 26, 2014 by 1974

[D3K]

Non-LEGO ® Helium could probably be used, seeing as non-LEGO ® batteries are accepted!

[zux]

AIR DOES NOT FLOAT

AIR DOES NOT FLOAT

AIR DOES NOT FLOAT

LEGO DON'T FLY

LEGO DON'T FLY

LEGO DON'T FLY

sorry, couldn't resist

[1974]

Allright, how about making a big wing with whatever plastic sails are available, framed with 75cXX rigid hoses and a few connectors powered by a windup motor and that large propeller? _Maybe_ that could sustain flight?

Does air float in space btw?

[Zerobricks]

No offense but all i see is talk...someone actually try building something?

[D3K]

I would try to build the quadcopter I posted earlier, but I am missing the white rotor blades as well as the LiPo battery box

Edited June 26, 2014 by D3K