Jim built this unusual airplane in less than a week using Model Builder plans of the "Floppy Disc" as a basis. The construction is primarily of "CoraPlast", a plastic material used in the sign industry that is available in many colors (including pumpkin-orange).

The 24 inch diameter disc is powered by a motor from a Futaba Chipmunk, and swings a Simprop 9x5 prop using a Master Airscrew 2.5:1 reduction gearbox. Jim uses a 6 cell 1700 SCRC nicad pack for over 5 minutes of continuous power. All up weight is 37 oz. Jim is using the Futaba Attack-E radio system with a combined receiver/speed control unit.

The model is capable of loops and rolls and has adequate power for "decent" climb outs, according to the owner.

Jim's email address is jimjager(at)juno.com.

Kevin Cox sent in these intriguing photos of his ducted fan airplanes. Both planes are hand launched and are close to scale in dimensions. The planes are both about 40" long with approx. 26-27" wingspans. The F-4 Phantom is powered by the WeMo Tech 400 with a AP29 motor on 8 cells, it has approx. 270sq inches of wing area,and weighs 29.5 oz. The F-15 is powered by the WeMo Tech 480 fan with a Speed 480 Race motor on 8 cells, it has approx. 260 sq. inches of wing area, and weighs 26 oz.

The controls on the F-4 are ailerons,all flying horizontal, and speed controller. The F-15 features TAILERONS ( horizontal fins controls both roll and pitch via mixing) and speed controller. The paint scheme for both planes are copied from the Air Guard based in St. Louis, Mo.

The F-15 performing a high-speed pass

Another shot of the F-15 in flight

Kevin has promised to keep us up-to-date on his experiments with small ducted fan airplanes. He can be contacted via email at KCox854272(at)aol.com.

Javier's four-motor ducted fan airplane has a wingspan of 1.8 meters, weighs 3 Kg, and is powered by four Speed 480 motors and Robbe fan units. Javier is using 14 and 16 cell packs to power his model and prefers the extra power provided by 16 cells. He reports that the appearance is impressive and realistic and encourages our readies to try a ducted fan model "at least once in your life".

Javier can be contacted at javier_alvarez(at)hp.com

Shown above is the "Wight Witch", a plan conversion of a glow design by Keith Humber.

Robert used a 7.2V Speed 600 coupled to a Ratpack Mk 1. prototype gearbox, geared at 2:1, driving a 12x8 folding Cam prop on a 7 cell pack of 1700 SCRC cells. The aircraft's wingspan is 42 inches and it has a wing loading of 20 oz/sq. ft. with the optional landing gear.

Robert's "Pioneer" is an electrified glow design from a Cambria kit. The plane used the same power system as the Wight Witch shown above, but has a 58 inch wingspan and an all up flying weight of 67 ounces for a wing loading of 17 oz/sq. ft. Robert is currently planning to perform a rebuild of this plane with a target weight of 57 ounces on a 10 cell power system for better performance and duration.