My goal was to have a plane capable of flying in the gym which means accomplishing the challenge of keeping it slow enough. The fan is an EDF-30 with a EDF-1220x6 fan and brushless motor. It comes assembled from Radicalrc I added the 1015 brushless motor and cut the fan to three blades. My first static test gave 34grams free air. Later after adding a tapered tube initial thrust pushed up to 40grams. An XP-7A esc has been hardwired to the motor and I used a AR6400 brick.

I looked for a design that offered a more plane-like planform with plenty of wing area. Delta jets seemed to be faster and not as easy for gym flying. The SAAB J-29 looks nice and at the appropriate scale offers wing area similar to the micro T-28 while providing a large enough fuselage to swallow the fan.

Carved blue foam for the fuselage, depron for the surfaces, elevator and ailerons for controls, no landing gear.

The plane was a success with easy flight characteristics and flyable in the gym. Two basketball courts is better but one is doable. Three is relaxing. Loops and rolls (no rudder) nicely.

Saab J-29.AVI (1 min 7 sec)

I downloaded a plan for the Short Skyvan drawn by Roger Jones for twin 600's that I scaled to my 24 inch target (http://plans.rcmodell.hu/planelect.html). I also used 3-views and pictures for references. Roger had some interesting comments on the plane. I quote:

“Built by Short Brothers in Northern Ireland in the 60's, the Skyvan was powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney PT6 turboprops. It had a high-aspect ratio wing which was fully flapped and slotted for short field performance. It was built to be rugged and require little maintenance for use in remote areas. There are several still flying, now mostly owned by parachute clubs for which the rear doors (which can be opened in flight) are especially useful. “

I built it with mixed construction: dollar tree foam for the fus. and stab/elevator, depron for the wing and fin/rudders. Balsa for the “wheel mount”. I also cheated slightly and increased the chord by 20% over scale. Other than that all surfaces are scale.

An AR6400 for controls and two Champ motor/gearboxes now with two three bladed 5030's props cut down to 4 1/8 inch diameter and the built in esc.
This prop size brought the amperage load down so that I could stay with the built in esc and provided the needed clearance to the fuselage. I used the steerable nose wheel from the T-28. My set up is reversed in regards to the aileron and rudder due to the use of an outboard servo on the rudders and the limitations of the Dx6i. This does not disturb me but...Continue Reading

I scaled up the Chris O'Riley micro Pitts plane from a 12 inch span to a 16 inch span. I used an AP-05 motor with a made up 2cell 240 mah battery (11 grams) and a XP-7A esc, and a 6400L spektrum. The construction is 1 and 2 mm depron. AUW is 65 grams with the battery in-place. Wing area is 0.6 sq.ft. so the wing loading is 3.87oz/sq.ft. It flies great! Have only flown it indoors so far. And I have difficulty opening up to full throttle for more than a moment. Good slow flight.

Video:

Pitts aerobatic microRC (2 min 0 sec)

Bristol MC-1 racer configuration. 22 inch span built-up construction, laminated wing one piece leading/trailing/tips, homemade wheels.

A 16 inch span Falco using spektrum gear, depron build. Having a great time flying it indoors. Which is good considering that here in Connecticut I would need cross country skis to fly outdoors right now. The fus is carved and hollowed blue foam. The AUW is 35 grams with a 160mah cell.

I have always admired the lines of the Falco, a kit built plane designed by Stelio Frati. It has the sexiest lines of any plane I know.

Video

Falco.AVI (1 min 49 sec)