Depron Heinkel HE162

A little voice in my heads says "If it actually flew with the big over scale fins is it wise to change to the smaller ones even with rudders added?"
So big fins with rudders.

The rudder area is 40% bigger as well.
They are a direct replacement. The existing rudder mechanism and push rods will be unchanged.

A very short video of the big fins and rudders being tested.

The big rudders also have substantial travel so hopefully the 10% travel allowance of the gyro will have some authority.
The only issue I can see is that the gyro may be so effective that rather than just bank and yank I might have to actually fly it properly. :woohoo:

Blazing hot today, well it is for the NW UK, with little wind although there were a few mild gusts from thermal activity.

Anyway I did fly the HE 162. despite having moved the battery even a bit further forward it is not the nicest thing to fly.
No real problem flying in a straight line but it behaves oddly in a turn. Aileron & positive turn rudder works well but then a bit of down elevator is necessary to keep the speed up otherwise it quickly slows down into a sort of banked stall.
I am pretty sure the substantial side area of the top mounted jet nacelle blanks a fin in any sort of yaw which virtually eliminates the lateral stability. The only remedy is nose down and/or more power.

Also the high thrust line and fat fuselage makes it a bit of a pig to hand launch. At full power you do not have enough grip to stop it pitching over before you even get to release it.
It actually fell out of my hand on the first launch and dived into the ground damaging the nose cone.
The damage did not effect the second launch and flight. The smooth belly landing was by far the easiest bit.