Radio Control: Electrics
THIS is the inaugural "RC Electrics," and I am honored to have been asked by Model Aviation to write regularly. "RC Electrics" is basically intended to be a "how-to" column. As such, I'll try to offer useful and informative information each month to help make your Electric-powered modeling more successful and more enjoyable-with understanding. While there are a sizeable number of potential topics already lined up, I'd welcome inputs of the "how-to" nature from anyone willing to share their experience and accomplishments. I cannot say if, or when, any such offerings could be included here, but I'll do my best to accommodate as many as possible. Also, I'll probably be referencing various subjects in MA's 10-month Electric Series (September 1983-June 1984), so you may want to hang onto your copies.
Radio Control: Electrics
FROM our good neighbors to the north comes a first-time Electric success story by Vic Walpole of Ajax, Ontario. Vic visited the 1983 KRC Electric Fly, took lots of pictures, and returned home to try it for himself. The results are seen here in the accompanying photos. The plane is a Mark's Models Wanderer "99." Vic bought the model at an auction for $12 and proceeded to do some rework. He first outfitted it with an Astro 05 Cobalt geared 2 1/2:1, and a Geist new small prop-about 15 1/2-in. diameter by 8-in. pitch, I think. Energy storage was seven, 1.2 Ah cells with a drain of 19 amps. All-up weight was 4 1/2 lb., and Electric Elation was immediate-it flew right then!
Radio Control: Electrics
BEFORE we get into some Electric technical goodies, let's take a look at some photos I've received. These inputs came to me in recent weeks, and each is significant in its own special way. First, from Brian Bailie (Robbinsville, NJ), is an original glider design with a big difference-it's solar-powered! Now, we've all heard of solar-powered accomplishments before, but those were probably the ones with high-tech and big-dollar backing. Brian is a 16-year-old high school student, and the plane got him a first in the Greater Trenton Science Fair. What I'm wondering is what the plane is gonna get him in the "All Up, Last Down" event at the 1984 Electric Fly!
Radio Control: Electrics
JUNE is almost ended, and there are some unusual Electric projects both on the beach and in the air-creations of some of my fellow fliers. Two of these are pictured herein, and both are expected to be operational at the 1984 Electric Fly. By far the largest Electric undertaking I've ever beheld has to be seen to be believed! I'm purposely not going to name the model or the builder (for now), because I'd like to see how many of you can identify the project. The plane (shown here as framework) was begun in January of this year, and this photo is from April. The body is 87 in. long, the stab span is 40 in., and the three-piece wing totals 114 in. The planned power installation is four Mabuchi motors in series-parallel and up to 32, 1.2 Ah cells! The expected gross weight is in the range of 9-10 pounds, for a wing loading of about 16 oz. Of course it's not going to be hand-launched! OK, who'll be the first to guess what it is?
Spectra
For the best of three worlds, build three wings for this RC Electric-the big for power-assisted soaring, the smaller with flat-bottom airfoil for sport flying, and the smaller with semi-symmetrical airfoil and ailerons for aerobatics. All versions use the same fuselage and tail surfaces with an 05-size direct-drive motor on six cells-three-channel operation for the Soar and Sport, four for the Stunt version. This design has already been proved highly successful when built and flown by a variety of modelers.
