|
Another original plan from Florent Baecke. Thanks, Florent, for being generous with your designs. This one is based on an article in the "Flying and Glider Manual" of 1931. There was a series of these "how-to-do-it" manuals back in the 1930's, available now from the Experimental Aircraft Association. They sell for $6.95 each. Go to Google with "Flying and Glider Manual" for complete info. The text accompanying the plan states that the author "turned it over to the Army Air Corps for acceptance." It is doubtful that the poorly-funded Air Corps of that day, when pilots sometimes had to pay for their own gas, would be enthusiastic about acquiring a potential taxi cab or sport plane for its personnel. The wing had no struts, an unusual feature for a home-built, but was covered with 3/64" thick plywood. Note that the fuselage has a triangular cross-section aft of the cabin. Florent has added an instructive note at the bottom of the plan. Typically, we modelers don't read the instructions until we get stuck; read the note, follow it, and sail smoothly ahead. Since this was a home-built, no specific color scheme exists, but the photos show a light-colored finish and a numeric I.D. that suggests the Air Corps might have bought at least one plane. The model's wingspan of 24" should result in a reliable, easy-to-trim model. The balsa sizes are relatively small for a model of this size but a good medium-weight balsa should be OK and will provide a competitively stable, light weight flyer; note the fairly long tail moment. Prop and motor size are not shown but an 8" Peck prop and four strands of 1/8" rubber should suffice. Prop/rubber combinations are variable among modelers and best left to experience and/or expectations. The landing gear is relatively short, however, and will have to be lengthened considerably if ROG flying is contemplated. Good luck to one and all!
|