Last Update: 07.11.2020
[⇑ Overview] | [2. Concepts ⇒]
Kit Content
I ordered the Standard Kit priced at EUR 749.00 plus the Servo-Set Aurora TT for EUR 192.00. This is what I got:
- wing
- launc peg
- fuselage, incl. canopy
- vertical stabilizer (rudder)
- horizontal stabilizer (elevator)
- horizontal stabilizer mount
- 4 servos KST X08H
- servo frame for 4 servos
- control horns for ailerons, rudder and elevator
- 2 torsion springs for rudder and elevator
- 2 metres of steel string, some crimp sleeves plus some tubing
Features & Key Figures
- Wingspan: 1.500 mm
- Wing area: 20,4 dm²
- Wing Aspect Ratio: 11
- Airfoil thickness: 5,8 %
- Center of gravity: 68 mm
- Flight weight: from 220 gr
- Wing loading: 10,8 gr/dm²
Weights
| wing | 115g |
| fuselage, canopy | 32g |
| vertical stabilizer | 6g |
| horizontal stabilizer | 8g |
| small parts | 18g |
| subtotal kit | 179g |
| receiver | 6g |
| servos | 36g |
| battery | 22g |
| wiring, consumables, auxiliaries | 5g |
| expected flight weight | 248g |
Full Carbon
The guys at Composite RC Gliders are serious about using carbon fibre meterial. Each and every part of the glider sport the notorious and warmly welcomed spread tow pattern. Even the bright green cockpit canopy turns out to be painted carbon rather than cheap deep-drawn or injected plastic as I suspected. This is perfect for saving weight and adding rigidity and longevity to the construction.
On the other hand, there is no such thing as a 2.4GHz-friendly fuselage allowing for internal antennae. A Faraday’s cage right from the textbook to be dealt with. The manufacturers proposal seems to be this (picture taken form CRG’s home page):
Holy moly! – Never am I going to spoil Aurora’s sleek lines with T-rex dinosaur claws like those!
Servo Installation
All four servos go to the cockpit area of the fuselage. This is great as it keeps the wing clean. On the other hand, care must be taken to avoid an awkward aileron steering linkage that might drive you nuts every time you have to join the wing to the fuselage at the airfield.
As the fuselage is quite flat, servos will have to be installed in lying position. A servo frame for four KST X08H comes with the kit. It is a rather square and crude piece of 3D printing artwork not really matching the fuselage’s shape.
Honestly, at first sight, I’m not sure how exactly this part is supposed to be used. Either it is a simple collective servo frame to be glued to the floor of the fuselage with the servos lying on the floor as well. In this case it will need some sensible sanding to mate it to the curved floor. Or it is some kind of cantilever structure holding the servos a millimetre or so above the floor. In that case some enhancements are needed as the seats of the servos in the frame are not as tight as one should expect.
However, the arrangement of the components as proposed by the manufacturer has the potential for a clean and low-fuss layout of the cockpit area.
Quality
The surfaces are simply outstanding!
Left-Hander vs. Right-Hander
You don’t order your Aurora TT specifically for right-hand or left-hand launch.
The vertical fin with the rudder is symmetric. I can be flipped upside down to serve both launch arms. Be aware that the broad rudder-fin gap and the rudder control horn go to the outside of the throw, whereas the smooth hinged side faces towards the pilot. This is important if you plan to stick with the string and spring rudder control assembly. I sometimes prefer a 0.5mm steel wire push and pull setup for more rigidity at the price of a small weight penalty. But I don’t know yet what it’s going to be this time.
The launch peg, however, is not symmetric to any axle or plane. Some rework will be required anyway to satisfy the demanding pilot, be it lefty or righty.
Building Instructions
The kit comes without any paperwork. But there is an „Assembly instructions / Manual“ link on Composite RC Gliders Aurora page providing a comprehensive photo series of an Aurora TT build. That will be sufficient. However, it did not help to clarify the issue of the right- or left-hand layout nor the one about the recommended antennae position.
Artwork
Just in case you were wondering where the name comes from: It’s the polar light or aurora borealis on the northern hemisphere, as the astronomists say in latin. Knowing this you will be able to tell what the flashing white and green patterns on the wing are depicting.
The paintwork came in a bit fiddly at first sight, but I like it. A successful attempt to bring name and appearance together.
The quality of the letterings falls a bit short of the paintwork with some blurry edges and the with colour not covering the black carbon surfaces too well. But never mind as this adds to the impression of a hand-crafted high-quality product.
[⇑ Overview] | [2. Concepts ⇒]