This video details the ambitious conversion of an FMS Futura 80mm EDF RC jet into an amphibious aircraft, culminating in the integration and testing of a novel PCB hydrofoil. Initially, the jet's powerful yet challenging flight characteristics highlighted the need for water-based operations due to limited suitable land areas. The conversion involved significant modifications: removing retractable landing gear for weight reduction, waterproofing all electronics, fabricating foam pontoons for buoyancy and a main hydroplaning ski, and implementing thrust vectoring for water steering. Early water tests confirmed the jet's ability to float and take off, though initial balance issues and continued stall sensitivity were noted. The core innovation, a custom-designed PCB hydrofoil, aimed to provide both submerged lift and high-speed planing. Despite concerns about hydrofoil-aircraft compatibility, its integration proved surprisingly effective in assisting takeoffs, although the jet exhibited "skipping" behavior at speed. The project successfully demonstrates the feasibility of an amphibious jet, albeit with ongoing challenges related to its inherent volatility. A bonus segment reveals the creator's separate 3-year journey developing a unique RGB LED lamp designed to create psychedelic colored shadows.
Summarizing the Amphibious RC Jet Project:
0:00 Project Introduction: The video introduces a project to convert an RC jet into an amphibious aircraft, specifically by adding a hydrofoil.
0:05 Jet Introduction & Initial Flight: The FMS Futura 80mm EDF jet is presented. Its first flight reveals it's a fast, challenging aircraft requiring constant focus, but it demonstrates a gentle stall characteristic.
1:14 Motivation for Water Conversion: Due to insufficient space at local parks, the creator decides to modify the jet for water takeoffs and landings, inspired by a Navy jet with water skis.
1:41 Landing Gear Removal & Weight Reduction: Retractable landing gear is removed, reducing the jet's weight by 240g (0.6 lbs) to facilitate water operations.
1:57 Electronics Waterproofing: All servos are treated with Corrosion X for water resistance, and former landing gear holes are filled with insulation foam.
2:24 Pontoons & Main Ski Fabrication: Foam wingtip pontoons are carved for buoyancy and to keep wings clear of water, alongside a large, flat-bottomed main "pontoon" ski designed for hydroplaning.
2:39 Air Intake Protection & Smoothness: Modifications are made to the air intakes to prevent water ingestion, and packing tape is applied to all planing surfaces for reduced friction.
3:23 Thrust Vectoring for Water Steering: A custom carbon plate is installed in the exhaust tube to provide thrust vectoring, enabling steering on water at low speeds.
4:09 First Water Tests & Balance Issues: Initial water tests confirm the jet's flotation and allow for early take-off attempts, but a significant tail-heavy balance issue is identified.
6:00 Initial Success & Stalling Tendency: With added nose weight (an Insta 360 Go camera), the water ski performs well, allowing takeoffs. However, the jet remains prone to stalling, necessitating high air speed.
8:53 Flap Experimentation: Flaps are found to aid in lower-speed takeoffs but also increase the aircraft's sensitivity to stalling immediately after takeoff.
9:26 Hydrofoil Concept Exploration: The creator delves into the challenges of combining hydrofoils and airplanes, aiming for a design that can operate submerged at low speeds and plane across the surface at higher speeds.
10:18 PCB Hydrofoil Design & Placement: A custom hydrofoil is fabricated from printed circuit boards (PCBs) with a flat bottom for improved planing. It is strategically placed slightly ahead of the center of gravity (CG) at a 3-4 degree angle, and an old rate gyro is added to the rudder for yaw stability.
11:18 Hydrofoil Test Success & Observations: The PCB hydrofoil proves remarkably effective during takeoffs, causing the jet to "pop right up" out of the water. However, it exhibits "porpoising" and "skippy" behavior at higher speeds.
13:29 Crash and Damage Assessment: A subsequent hard landing leads to a crash, resulting in minor damage including a lost wingtip, dislodged battery, and a lost canopy, though the main structure remains largely intact.
14:34 Future Outlook: The experiments are deemed a success, enabling jet flights at the lake. Future plans include exploring hydroplaning concepts on a less "volatile" (more stable) aircraft.
17:19 Bonus Project: RGB LED Lamp: The video concludes with the reveal of a separate 3-year project: a unique RGB LED lamp designed to create dynamic, psychedelic colored shadows, detailing its development and features as a wirelessly controlled, open-source product.