Bird of Future Build on yahoo groups

[RX7MARK]

I just wanted to mention that I have started a build log with pictures on the yahoo group "baslasailplanes" for a Bird of the Future build.

This is Tony Estep's design form the yahoo forum. Plans are available in the data section as well as a lazer cut kit for the ribs and shear webs. Its basically an updated Bird of Time wing with a 3 piece full carbon spar wing with AG3 series airfoils.

This has been discussed several times, do a search on BOF.

As far as I can tell, nobody has ever reported finishing one of these.

So I may be the first. I am having a great time with the build, this is the first balsa, well partially balsa anyway, sailplane I have built in 15 years.

Flight report will be in the spring, I've got a ways to go, and its wet and cold here in the NW.

Mark

[tonyestep]

"As far as I can tell, nobody has ever reported finishing one of these..."
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If anyone has, I have never seen pix. When Mark finishes, he'll have a one-of-a-kind plane, at least until his example motivates others.

The BOF is meant to look like a Bird of Time, but it has a modified Drela airfoil and a carbon-spar designed to withstand a full-tilt-boogie winch launch. You can have the feeling of flying a Nostalgia plane with the performance of a modern ship. The mods to the Drela airfoil, which were done with Xfoil, were to thicken it slightly and slightly increase the l.e. radius. This should make the plane pull a bit harder on the winch and float a little slower, at a slight penalty to performance at very low CL, i..e. at fast speeds.

I started to build one after I published the plans, but we moved to a different house and the project never made it to completion. Over the years, many guys have emailed me announcing their intent to build one, but so far no finished copies. So I'm very excited about Mark's effort!

[Phoebusflyer]

Tony, are plans and B.O.M.'s available?

[tonyestep]

The group Mark is referring to is called balsasailplanes, at groups.yahoo.com. The plans are in the Files section. Mark's first post about his build is #5292, from October of this year. He is using the laser cut ribs and the carbon spar system as described in the plans. You can see pictures of how to build and install the spar at:
http://mvsaclub.com/mvsa/docs/darkstar/dark_star2.htm