Indholdsfortegnelse for July 2022 i Model Airplane News

[Editor’s note: first published in 1992, this classic MAN article is just as relevant for today’s pilots.] All RC fliers have gotten that “I can’t tell which way it’s going” feeling when learning to fly. Several simple color trimming steps can help you fly your airplane better, whether you are a beginner or top dog in Pattern. Most planes, especially ARFs, are covered or painted to look good in the store or pits. But in the air, it’s a different story. The situation is very simple: If you can’t see it, you can’t fly it. To successfully fly an RC aircraft, the pilot must have good orientation and distance perception. The human eye/brain estimates aircraft orientation based on the perceived position of the model’s outer edges and the relationship of…

A good instructor is a true advantage when you learn how to fly an RC plane. But what if you don’t live near an RC club or don’t have access to an RC mentor? Fortunately, today’s Ready To Fly RC aircraft and flight simulator technology make it easier than ever to earn your wings on your own. We hope these steps will help to make your first flights successful. 1 VIRTUAL FLIGHT SCHOOL The most risk-free way to sharpen your flight skills is with a simulator. They all feature trainer aircraft, and many even have virtual flight instructors and “gameified” programs and challenges to help you progress. Here are 10 tips to keep in mind: • Most flight sims are designed for PC based hardware, so if you use a Mac,…

Sooner or later, every giant-scale pilot will encounter a situation where something within fails during flight. Even though the builder/pilot may not be able to predict all types of malfunctions, it is important to know some common problems and how to react when a malfunction occurs. Let’s explore some unknowns: electrical and structural failures, pre-flight problems and common engine issues. While not every situation can be prevented, it is best to be ready for when, and if, they do arise. ELECTRICAL FAILURES It is important to always use good-quality equipment. Manufacturers usually list the components they recommend for their specific airframe. These can include heavy-duty switches, redundant battery systems, voltage regulators, and so forth. This is a good place to start but if you have any doubts, seek the advice…

P-47 THUNDERBOLT Fazeel Khan, Oxford, Ohio Built from the Top Flite kit, Fazeel’s 61-inch-span warbird is powered by a Zenoah G20 turning a Xoar 16 x 8 prop. The model has Oratex covering and UniLight lights, and Fazeel notes that the model’s Electron retracts and Eurokitshop hydraulic struts operate flawlessly. He adds that his warbird “Lands smoothly with full flaps, but it’s necessary to keep some power applied till flare due to the large drag.” PETE E Mark Sirianni, Kane, Pennsylvania Named after Mark’s son, this 42-inch-span, scratch-built sport flyer is all built up balsa. It’s powered by an Axi 2217/16 motor turning an APC 11 x 5 propeller. Aluminum gear and Du-bro light wheels make grass-field takeoffs quick and easy. TIGER MOTH Denis Brazeau, Sarnia, Ontario Denis writes that…

AT A GLANCE Model: Habu SS (Super Sport) 70mm EDF Jet BNF Basic with SAFE Select and AS3X Manufacturer: E-flite (e-fliterc.com) Distributor: Horizon Hobby (horizonhobby.com) Wing Span: 40.5 in. Pilot skill level: Intermediate Time to assemble: 30 minutes Radio req’d: 6-channel Power req’d: 4S to 6S 3200 to 4000mAh Price: $299.99 (BNF Basic with SAFE Select and AS3X); $279.99 (PNP) Throughout the history of the hobby, jets have always been at the top of the food chain. They are exceedingly cool, go fast, and sound impressive. They also are (generally) more difficult to successfully master. Every beginner secretly or outwardly starts their training knowing they want to fly a jet sooner rather than later. Put a jet on the bench at the field, and it won’t be long before you’re…

When talking about Gee Bee Golden Age racers, many modelers envision the Granville Brothers’ big, round Model R-1—the fastest and deadliest plane of its day. Maybe a few would even know that Jimmy Doolittle flew it. Only a few diehard history buffs even know about the earlier Gee Bee versions. Many readers will be interested to know that back in the early days of aviation, there were several very successful female Gee Bee pilots, including Maude Tait. As the daughter of James Tait, the man who managed the Springfield, Massachusetts airport, Maude learned to fly in the late 1920s. She was introduced to the Granville Brothers when they set up shop at the airport. The Taits become major supporters for the small racing company and James Tait later became president…

Regardless of the size of your airplane, routine maintenance should always be performed. Get into the habit of removing the engine cowling every 50 flights or so to perform an inspection on all engine bolts, muffler bolts, and so forth. I prefer to give my aircraft a brief visual inspection as I assemble the airplane for flight on each outing. For instance, I will ensure that all electrical components are properly secured (i.e. the flight batteries are attached using Velcro straps, all servo extensions are secured in position, etc.). While assembling the aircraft at the field, look at the wing and horizontal stabilizer and how they are secured to the fuselage. Similarly, ensure that no visible broken joints exist within the fuselage. While the list goes on, taking a few…

Based on the full-size Breitling Wingwalking Display Team, these 1/3-scale Stearmans and wingwalkers have performed at RC and full-size airshows across the UK for over a decade. Builder and pilot Richard Rawles and pilot Steve Holland fly the planes, and team member Sharon Stiles operates the animated wing walkers. The team’s show planes include four incredibly detailed Stearmans built from Balsa USA kits; two fly in formation at shows, and two are backups. Each aircraft is based on a different full-size Breitling show plane and is completely scaled out. To lighten the model aircraft, Richard laser-cut holes in the fuselage formers, the tailplane, fin and wing wherever possible. He also made the tails removable, with carbon-fiber joiners, to make the biplanes easier to transport. Because the Breitling team flies Super…

PERFECT RIBS For those of you that enjoy totally scratch building, here is a trick for making identical ribs for a wing. Cut balsa rectangles for the length and height of the rib, then use rubber cement down the middle of the balsa, not up to the edges. Put a weight on them over night. Trace your template on the top piece of balsa. Cut to size with a table jig or other, then sand to the exact shape you need, drill holes or cut out the middle according to your needs. Use a sharp knife to separate, and you can then just rub off the rubber cement and you are good to go. Lee Wick, Ypsilanti, Michigan AIR TANK SOLUTION I was trying to come up with a way…

It’s time to open the event season and it starts with Florida Jets! Florida Jets 2022 took flight March 3rd through 6th at Paradise Field in Lakeland, Florida. Paradise Field sits on the south side of the Lakeland Linder International Airport and features a 700-foot paved runway that runs east/west with the pilot stations on the south side of the flightline. This arrangement works great because most of the time the sun is at your back throughout the day. Large events like Florida Jets and Top Gun are a testament to what can be done when event organizers, Contest Directors, and airport authorities agree to work together to ensure the RC flights can take place while maintaining the safety of the airspace for everyone involved. With proper precautions taken on…

Few would know it, but if you were to ask the Granville Brothers which of their Gee Bee aircraft was the best they had ever produced, their reply would be, “the Model-Y Senior Sportster.” Not intended for racing, the Gee Bee Model-Y was a high-performance, two seat sport plane. It is ironic that it went on to win more races and prize money than any of the other race planes to come after its creation. It was an airplane that handled well and was praised by all the pilots lucky enough to have flown it. It was maneuverable and very fast and nothing in its horsepower class could keep up with it. Several race pilots flew the Model-Y and in 1929, one in particular, Maude Tait, set an unofficial women’s…

Last year, I flew a small uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) in Idaho. I’ll be the first to admit that doesn’t sound like much of an accomplishment, until you learn that I was 300 miles away in Portland, Oregon at the time. That same day, my Embry-Riddle colleagues in Florida, Texas, and Hawaii each took a turn at the controls. This was made possible by the Internet, of course, but also a type of flying called Remote-Split Operations (RSO). RSO is frequently employed by the military to conduct operations with its larger UAS, like the MQ-9 Reaper and the RQ-4 Global Hawk, but it remains relatively unknown among civilian UAS pilots. However, that is likely to change as RSO opens up new possibilities for students, researchers and others who need access…