Been working on the drawings for awhile now, and am finally at the point where I can build the Highlander. Being a STOL type, this one needs to stay light, which won't be a problem due to the minimal structure involved. It's a simple airplane, but looks like it's going to be a terrific flyer.

The model is a 60" span and will be powered by a Suppo 2217 Outrunner with 5 ch. control.

The vertical and horizontal stabilizers are the standard flat plate type, so nothing fancy here. They will be double braced, so no problem with strength in this area.

The fuselage is the typical stick framed sides that are joined at the landing gear beams and a couple of formers at the top of the cabin. The wing attachment is a little out of the ordinary on this one, with the root ribs extended away from the fuselage side. The wing will plug in in the usual way, but will stand off a bit from the cabin side.

The firewall was too wide to cut in one piece, so it was split in the middle and braced with 1/8 sq. balsa top and bottom. The instrument panel is wide also, so was laminated from two 1/16 parts with the front section cut away to keep things stiff, but light.

The tail post was glued together and then the remaining formers were added. From there, the cabin side formes and the stringers were added to prett well button up the basic frame. The landing gears was set up next, and since this is a rough field airplane, several gussets were added to the landing gear beams to keep it all in place. Since the model is intended to fly light, only a minimal amount of added strength will be needed.

Since the cowl is BIG, doing a plastic section is going to create all kinds of problems for shipping, so the main cowl section is built up Former and Stringer style. The nose bowl can be carved from soft balsa, or in this case, blue foam. The main section was trued up and glued together, then the stringers were added. The motor mount was assembled and glued in place. The cowl is aligned with 4, 1/8" dowl pins and will be held in place with magnets.

The boot cowl was made up from file folder paper and glued in place with canopy 560 glue. The cabain brace was done using Fondu Sticks.

At thias point the fuselage is about wrapped up, so it's off to the wings next.

PAT

I have a birthday coming up Pat.

Troy Woodland, the founder of Just Aircraft is a very good guy. He gave me all kinds of patient help when he was working at Flying K and I was working on a Flying K Skyraider I. He is a real gentleman. No one on the model field flight line will ever say, "O, it's only another Just Aircraft Highlander. Yawn."

Eventually the Pat's J-3 Kitten short kit I bought will morph into a Skyraider I.

Nice choice of weird and wonderful Pat.

Robert

Nope, they'll look at it and say, "That's a Husky!"

Originally Posted by portablevcb

Nope, they'll look at it and say, "That's a Husky!"

Haha, probably.

Looks great, Pat! Keep us posted!

I'm watching, like I do with every new plane Pat builds!

Looking at this video, I suppose it's a natural for a model airplane flying field.

Highlander Does Demo (6 min 45 sec)

OK Pat. There is a GOOD panel shot in the above video. Interior on this one too??? Just a thought............................

TTFN The Yank

Great Project - I own the full size one ! Just bought it. I can help with pictures if you like. Here is my Highlander. AMAZING aircraft.