Here is my quick mod to make it easier to fill up my Easy Star with all the gear. The lid will be held in place with 6 pair of magnets glued to the fuselage. I did the prototype with 3 mm balsa but the next version will be in 2 mm ply. I will probably make a box on top for the APM and better pockets for the XBee and GPS.
Comments
Well i am planning to fly it "Granny style" (nice and slow). The EZ usually does something like this when it goes down:
I noticed that the front was sturdier with my lid on. I am scrapping the magnets for holding the lid. i will use electrical tape and just wrap it together like in my preflight pic. I am making a new version in lightweight ply this weekend with a box or "coffin" running along the length of the lid for the APM, GPS and possibly a camera in front.
My understanding of it is, you should be right as long as the pitot tube is not affected by disturbed air flowing around the fuselage (or wing) of your plane. So keep it a little away from the plane's body wherever you put it. That's why its toward the front of the Easystar in that picture (or out a little from one of the wings on other models) - to get it out in clean air. I believe its less important for the static tube provided you don't put it somewhere like directly over the wing where the pressure is lower (provided you're flying of course :-) ).
Some questions:
Do the pitot need to be inserted as show on the last comment image, or can they be mounted on the wood?
Is their position important for the measures? can they be placed further back on the plane?