hi there, this is a project which I have been working on. It began as a feasibility study to see if it is possible to drive a scale model Bluebird with a ducted fan. As people were saying, the air intake required for the fan to perform at 100% and larger than the ones available on the scale Bluebird. That is why you see on certain videos and in model magazines, a stand-off style Bluebird, with a very large/over scaled air intake.

So, this was my assignment. I achieved it - I would say by 97%.

I overcame the airflow intake problem by manufacturing the canopy from some aluminium mesh and also either side of the canopy on the deck there are 2 openings which are covered in mesh. This seems to give me sufficient airflow for the fan. The fan is 80 mm diameter running on 22 volts and the model is 1/8 scale. It has been clocked by the satellite GPS (which is fitted onboard) at 31 mph which is quite acceptable in my books.

John