A bit of 6mm plywood, some blind nuts, thumb screws, Walmart arrow shafts, and some Velcro....less than $10.
Drawing is on 36x24 D-size paper plotted 1:1

Forgot to post these on my blog:

Pedro (1 min 56 sec)

Little Plank (3 min 24 sec)

...Continue Reading

What can I say ??? The Tiger jumped off the ground in less than 15 feet....AND WENT STRAIGHT UP! I'd say we have a winner. She's well behaved in flight and will slow down to land.

Flying Tiger 2 (2 min 20 sec)

I've spent the last 5 months helping (4) senior engineering students with their senior project which was to design, build, and fly a radio controlled model airplane that would satisfy (3) mission profiles dreamed up by Ratheon. They will compete in the fly-off in mid-April. I can't be more pleased with their efforts. What they lacked in experience and skill, they more than made up for it with enthusiasm, attention to detail, a willingness to learn, and just plain ol' good manners.

Here's the finished bird. Maiden will be next weekend, weather permitting.

I got tired of having to clamp stops and fences to my band saw, so I made this, based on the cam lock compression fence on my table saw. 6mm birch ply throughout.

Here's the dimensional drawing that fits my saw....yours might be a bit different.

Down to (2) push rods, (2) control horns...and programming the transmitter

Wing area as built = 680 sq in.

AUW = 36 oz Flight Ready

Wing Loading = 7.62 oz/sq ft

And she balances right where she's supposed to.....2" back from the leading edge

I'm participating in a theme build over on the Vintage forum....VRoG 1st Half of 2024. this is my second entry, the 56" Little Plank Glider, but with a motor and folding prop.

Here's a link to the build log, and a pic of the first dry fit....

https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...6-Little-Plank

It finally looks like the weather is going to cooperate today and I'll get the chance to maiden Pedro and re-maiden The Bullit ...Video here if successful. Stay tuned. I feel like I ought to spend some time on a sim because it's been so long since I've had the chance to fly...wish me luck

Here's the video of Bullit III:

Bullit Mk III (1 min 43 sec)

One of my students at work building the fuselage.

I've been advising a group of (5) Mech Engr students at the University of Memphis since September for their senior design project and the AIAA DBF Challenge. We finally teased out an airframe that satisfies all the requirements (sometimes silly) of the contest. While I was still practicing as an engineer, I always asked the team to think outside the box, especially when the box didn't fit. Well, these kids have shown their ingenuity and resourcefulness at every turn. It's been a joy watching them find solutions to a myriad of problems.

Here's what they came up with: A 60" max WS, heavy lift (8 lbs), STOL (20 ft) that has to fit in a 30" parking spot.

Now all they have to do is build it !

AUW = 40 oz.......just like I planned.......However, she won't fly for a while......wind and rain for the next few days, and then temps in the single digits....I'll get a video as soon as feasible

Here's some progress pictures of the build...there's (25)...Continue Reading

Coming right along

Merry Christmas all !

I'm going to participate in the "Build theme for first half of 2024" over on the Vintage Forum....The vintage glider and or rubber powered free flight won the theme poll.....I found a slope soarer from 1974 that I'll build as a powered glider (we don't have many slopes here in West Tennessee and the Tennessee Highway Patrol frowns on us when we try to fly from the off ramps on I-40) with the thought that I can convert it to a hotliner in the future. It's also not practical to set up a high start on the runway because we have so many club members that would object.

We can't start building until Jan 1, but I've got a lot of drawing work to do in preparation for cutting this thing out on my CNC machine. Still have to check all parts for fit, but I think I'm pretty close.

Contest build log is here: https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...alf-2024-Pedro

Finished it in time for Christmas !

I know you guys are probably weary of the Bullit, but this one is a Christmas present for a good friend that's not doing well. Hopefully I can finish her before Christmas and we'll have enough time to fly ours together......

Finished the new fuse and feathers last week.....flew her Sunday but no video..this weekend is a washout..Rain and wind....I'll get video soon, I hope

Warning......please do not order anything from AliExpress.....they will take your money, they will promise delivery, but they won't do a goshdamn thing to help you..........FLUCK THEM

Ready to cover

The good news is that the wing survived intact as did the electrics......so I'll build a new fuselage/fin/and stab tomorrow and Friday...

I turned the throws down a little too much..Duh !