DC short Kit: Aquila Grande

[giheli]

Anyone here have experience building the Dream Catcher Hobbies' Aquila Grande short kit? This is the classic 3-channel Airtronics bird. My understanding is the that the kit is basically the wing ribs. Are there other pieces I might have a problem obtaining-shaped leading trailing edges? Spars? ect?? They also sell a hand-made glass fuselage so much of the work should be bypassed. This was the plane I drooled over for years, starting back in the 7th grade when I first started hopping thermals. Never stopped wanting one. Now when I finally have the time and can afford the kit, its too late and airtronics is out of the wood plane business. Yes, there are many other, better performing kits, but there was always something about the lines and the way this bird would carve out turns. Gotta have one!

Thanks in advanced

--Gi

[ramair]

hello gi,, i know the plane well and there is a lot of work and you are right those LE can be a pain to get a hold of. i know what you mean about,,,gotta have one but if i was you i would settle with the AQUILA XL its a DC full kit and is very similar,in fact its better because of the extra squares!! check it out,,its got a better wing platform with the same fuse!!
ramair

[giheli]

Thanks. will do!

Gi

[Keith Watson]

I purchased the short kit. It has laser cut ribs (balsa and plywood), full size plans, and an instruction book. I also purchased the fuselage, canopy, bellcrank (elevator), a tow hook and some pushrods.

I sent Dream Catcher Hobbies a nice note when my order arrived in a double box. It makes for very sturdy shipping.

[giheli]

K,
Thanks!

Do the plans or instruction book offer a manifest of wood that accompanied the kit? This would make it real easy.

--Gi

[Keith Watson]

There isn't a parts required list. I wonder if DCH has one...

[ejett]

I bought the same short kit and other parts that Keith did and am looking around for sources for all the other parts. I also have an original kit I just purchased for the Aquila.

Interestingly, the DC short kit for the Grande uses an airfoil with a decided Phillips entry whereas the old Airtronics Aquila kit has a flat bottom airfoil.

The most troubling thing about the short kit to me is that "preshaped" spruce leading edge stock. In my mind this should have been part of the short kit, DC offers this in some of their other short kits. Right now, I do not know if I can get it from them or not. If not, I will probably have to come up with some kind of substitute which will most likely require significant elbow grease.

Anyway, I am still working on a BOM for the balance of the materials to build this plane.

I saw and Aquila hanging in the hobby shop in Bossier City, LA several years ago. I thought it was the most beautiful RC sailplane I had ever seen. I finally have decided that I will have to build one. I may, before it is all said and done, build all three sizes.

Good luck to both of you on your projects. - Ed Jett

[giheli]

I remember the first time I saw one also hanging in a Hobby shop in Brea CA circa 1982. It has beautiful lines and is still the prettiest kit I have seen. That is why I want one!! I could get a fancy glass and obechi bird, but thats not why I fly. Wait till you see it fly! An awesome kit. I owned a saggita 600 from airtronics and it also flew on rails. I do recall that the Aguila Grande a flat bottom in original form. I wonder who, when, and why was been altered. I have been busy flying my Helis and have been stalling on the decision between the Agila Grande and the Aguila Grande XL.

--Gi