Indholdsfortegnelse for March/April 2024 i Model Airplane News

The first successful radio-controlled airplane is widely considered to be the Big Guff, built and flown by twin brothers Walter and Bill Good in 1937. It had a wingspan of eight feet, weighed eight and a half pounds, and was powered by a small gas engine. Lead-acid batteries provided the power to the control surface actuators (pseudo servos), and the transmitter was so heavy that the electronics and batteries sat on the ground while a cable-connected control box was held by the pilot. This historic RC airplane now permanently resides in the Smithsonian Institution. If you’re a history buff, head to ModelAirplaneNews.com/BigGuff to check out “Walt and Bill Good: The Pioneers of Radio Control Aeromodeling.” The video is definitely worth the 25-minute watch. In the late 1930s, the Big Guff…

The Maule M7 is built for Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) and can be equipped with large, bush-style wheels for flying from rough landing strips or with the included floats for water operations. The big Lycoming engine and large flaps means it can be airborne quickly and land slowly. The Maule is constructed of injection-molded EPO foam and includes everything you need to get in the air except for a 3S LiPo flight battery and a receiver for your radio system of choice. Both the bush tire style landing gear and the float kit are included along with a detailed printed instruction manual. Construction also includes plastic pieces where additional strength is warranted or where screws attach. The Maule lends itself to intermediate pilots but can be assembled by anyone…

MODEL Airplane NEWS MEMBERSHIP SAVE $30 Model Airplane News covers the whole spectrum of RC and gives you the inspiration to advance your RC flying and building skills. We want to make sure you aren’t missing out on all the ways you can enjoy the content you are passionate about. Become a member of the brand-new Model Airplane News All-Access Membership and get exclusive stories and late-breaking product reviews, unlimited access to all our online content, the archives, and the print magazine. All from the best editors and photographers in RC. Join now for just $49.95 ($79.95 retail price) and enjoy all the benefits! Current Subscribers Can Easily Upgrade Go to https://membership.modelairplanenews.com and join today!…

FREE PLAN! In 1989 I had the opportunity to see the first two Russian Sukhois fly at the EAA AirVenture airshow in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. That day I fell in love with this plane. I have designed two RC models of the Sukhoi, the first was published in Model Aviation in 1994 and the second was published in Model Airplane News in July 1996. I am now flying electric so it seems natural that my next design would be an e-powered Su-26. I have been flying models in the 3-pound range using my trusty Hacker A30 10L V4 motor, so that is the motor that I designed the plane around. The finished weight of this model came in at 3 lb., 8 oz., ready to fly. It is built mostly of…

Called the "M4," or Multi-Modal Mobility Morphobot, this high-tech robot can drive, fly, crawl, and stand upright! With NASA fielding candidates for next-generation Mars rovers, researchers at the California Institute of Technology and Northeastern University have been busy designing the M4. This transformer can move like any four-wheel-drive vehicle but then quickly extend its wheels, which also house propellers, to become a quadcopter that can reach speeds up to 40 mph. It can even balance itself on two wheels and use two thrusters to propel itself forward! The M4 has eight modes: fly, roll, crawl, crouch, balance, tumble, scout, and loco-manipulate. It can climb steep slopes of up to 45 degrees and go into balance mode when traversing rough terrain with large obstacles. This robot uses artificial intelligence to scout…

EMAIL ENTRIES TO: MAN@AIRAGE.COM PILOT PROJECT OF THE MONTH FW-190 A3 Eduardo Roesch, Antigua, Guatemala Warbird lovers will like this Focke-Wulf 190 that Eduardo constructed from a House of Balsa kit. The fuselage is covered with epoxy glass and the wings are covered with Sig Koverall filled with dope. The model was painted using polyurethane automotive paint and a clear satin finish. The “Wulf” uses a flight stabilization system and is powered by an electric power system with a 1450-kv motor and 3-cell LiPo battery. The model weighs in at 29 ounces. We bet it looks great in the air! TUCANO Tony Leigh, Little Whinging, England This “cartoon scale” Tucano, which the RAF uses as a primary trainer, was built by Tony from a West Wings kit that is made…

Anyone flying a variety of aircraft needs to have a good charger on hand that can handle a variety of battery chemistries and cell counts. Also, you want a charger that pushes enough watts to charge large packs in a timely manner, unless you want to spend your precious time at the field waiting on batteries to finish charging! Enter the Hitec RDX2 800 ($169.99) multi-chemistry charger dual-channel charger. The RDX2 800 is chock-full of features that enable maximum flexibility. It will take either a standard 110-volt AC input or a 12- to 24-volt DC input and includes the proper cables for both. Plug it into the wall or, for even more punch, connect it to a dedicated DC power supply. This is great for fields that have 12-volt battery…

Your wing may look something like mine, from a Top Flite Fw 190 ARF. The engine quit soon after takeoff (likely to carburetor problems) and although I got it back to the field, the electric retracts were slow as Christmas in coming up! After I ran out of ideas, altitude, and airspeed, she hit the hay field and dragged the partially retracted right gear, causing the left half of the wing to take the most damage. The problem here, of course, is having to cover the control surfaces that are still hinged to the wing and tail. Removing the ailerons/flaps/elevators/rudder/hinges is a job you do not want to do as it makes the mess you already have even bigger mess. Stay with it as she sits and begin covering, in…

I’m often asked what makes flying jets, particularly turbine jets, different from other models. We have talked about several subjects related to turbine jets, including radio system setup, power systems, and even obtaining your turbine waiver, now we are going to discuss what makes flying jets different than other model aircraft. THE PREFLIGHT Before the flying even starts, the first key to success with flying jets (or any model) is a proper pre-flight inspection. You want to get into the ingrained habit of doing the same process each and every time you prepare to fly. This prevents issues such as taking off with discharged batteries, a partial tank of fuel, missed radio connections, or the dreaded missing wing bolt. This might mean politely asking the person leaning over you asking…

Foam board is an affordable and easy to use product that can be employed to build a wide range of RC model aircraft. Let’s discuss a few techniques to get you started with building your first foam board RC airplane! FOAM BOARD BASICS You’ll first need to find a supply and type of foam board that works for you. Foam board is available from a variety of art and craft stores, such as Michaels and Hobby Lobby. I have had good results with Royal and Langnickel 20 x 30-inch sheets that are 3/16-inch thick (available through Amazon.) These sheets typically have a white (and sometimes black) paper covering that accepts paint with good results. I have learned from experience that it is a good idea to keep the paper covering…

WHEEL COLLAR MARKING There’s nothing good about losing a wheel during a landing and having it roll down the runway. Here’s an easy fix. After you install the wheel, install the outer wheel collar but tighten it just enough so that you can rotate it. This will leave a small mark on the axle. Remove the wheel collar and wheel and use a round file or hand grinder to make a flat spot on the axle. This flat spot will help keep the wheel collar setscrew seated so that it won’t come loose. Reinstall the wheel and wheel collar, making sure that the setscrew is aligned at the flat spot, and tighten. Mike Johns, Anaheim, California SPILL-PROOF EPOXY CUPS Nothing makes a bigger mess than a cup of epoxy that…

A favorite at scale events, Dean Copeland’s MC-15 Cri-Cri is a 50% scale version of the world’s smallest man-carrying, twin-engine aircraft. Designed in the early ’70s, the full-scale Cri-Cri’s engines are close to its centerline, so if one goes out the aircraft just makes a gentle turn. Dean built his electric-powered model after scaling down full-size plans, so his version is an exact replica of its bigger brother. The unusual model has a detailed, functional cockpit, so it’s as interesting to look at on the flightline as it is when it’s airborne. In this interview, Dean shares more about his journey in RC building, talks about what inspired his Cri-Cri project, and provides insight on its special features. Model Airplane News: How did you get started in radio control and…

Jets are cool! They’re fast, maneuverable, and look as good on the flightline as they do in the air. Like their full-size counterparts, they’re also more technical and require advanced building and piloting skills. Whether you’re interested in sport flying or serious scale competition, there are several RC jets out there that will suit your needs. For this article, we chose 10 jets for modelers interested in switching over to the fast lane. If you have a need for speed, read on! Our top picks range from smaller, electric-powered, EPO foam models to giant, fire-breathing, turbine-powered fiberglass models. There’s something on this list for everyone! NORTH AMERICAN AVIATION F-86 SABRE The F-86 Sabre, a classic American fighter jet, made its mark during the Korean War as an iconic adversary to…

As you become more proficient in your aerobatic ability, you will naturally begin to combine elements of different maneuvers within a single figure. One such maneuver is called the Cobra Roll with a Half-Roll Up and a Positive Snap Down. For new and experienced aerobatic pilots alike, this figure is demanding. It not only combines different orientations of the aircraft with upright and inverted flight but also requires you to focus on flying a triangular shape while performing a half-roll within the first half of the maneuver and a positive snap roll on the second. BEFORE WE BEGIN It is beneficial to start with the control surface deflection amounts, exponential settings, and the center of gravity recommended by the manufacturer of a given aircraft. To precisely perform the feature of…