Radio Control: Electrics
LAST month, I mentioned all the regularly-featured Electric writing I knew of. What I didn't know at the time was that Model Airplane News is planning to add an Electric column. Bob Sliff will be the author. I don't know when this will begin, or what the format will me, but you can watch for it. "Attaboys" to both MAN and Bob. Two months ago, I mentioned that Leisure would be kitting the Wasp aerobatic model. It turns out they have been doing this for a while, but just haven't advertised it! The first kit run sold out quickly, and more are on the way. As I've said before, this design (by Jim Zarembski) is an excellent flier and is also available as a plan from RCM.
Radio Control: Electrics
FREQUENT QUESTION. I am often asked about the Leisure Playboy. It seems that many builders are not sure where the cabin version CG (center of gravity) should fall. I can tell you where mine is-my Playboy flies just great! It is 1 1/4 in. behind the main spar, which is about 4 1/4 in. from the leading edge of the wing. This comes out to about 45% of the chord. If this seems unusual to you, it's because it is-by "present-day" design; it is an Old-Timer-and it has a lifting stab-the tail carries a bigger part of the weight, hence the relatively aft CG location. Mine is so stable, so forgiving, I've handed the box to a young, totally inexperienced boy and he had a ball-with no great worries on my part. Do something nice for a boy in your neighborhood-the hobby needs youth.
KRC Electric Fly
PHENOMENAL! That's the word I, personally, used to describe the Fifth Annual KRC Electric Fly to my parents. The fun fly Electric meet was held on Saturday and Sunday, September 22 and 23, at the Keystone RC Club's flying field in Hatfield, PA. Hatfield is located about an hour's drive north of Philadelphia. This informal affair has been steadily growing since the first one in 1980, when three people participated, to this year's attendance from 17 states and Canada which brought 52 fliers and about 100 planes of all descriptions. Some attendees came great distances just to watch, such as one gentleman from Dallas, TX and another from Wisconsin. The weather for the weekend was super. Early morning temperatures encouraged light jackets both days, but this soon changed, and the warm fall air averaged in the 75-80º range. Saturday had very little wind though Sunday got just a bit airy-but with no real problems. In all, flying conditions were excellent, and it would be hard to find a better two-day combination.
Radio Control: Electrics
I HAD the opportunity to speak with Jeff Surgnier and Frank Heinrich of Robbe Modellsport at the recent KRC Electric Fly. They flew both days and did a nice job of it. In talking with them, I learned that Robbe is planning to promote more Electric products in this country in the near future. Both Jeff and his boss, Frank, have a very positive outlook on the future of Electric. Robbe already has a number of products available, and your local hobby dealer should be able to get them through normal distributor channels, so ask him! In the past, some Robbe products have reached dealer shelves with instructions in a foreign language. This was a slipup and will be corrected in the future. Anyone having such instructions may get some help by dropping a line to Jeff Surgnier, Suite 2D, The Office Center, Princeton Meadows, Plainsboro, NJ 08536. Tell Jeff ya read it in MA!
Radio Control: Electrics
THE PLAYBOY, again. Two months ago (January 1985 RC Electrics column), I described the 45%-of-chord CG (center of gravity) location on my Playboy. In some recent conversation with Roland Boucher of Leisure Electronics, I learned that the CG can actually be allowed to go back as far as 60%. While mine is gonna stay where it is, you now have some liberty with Playboys still under construction. You'll recall that this unusually aft CG location is permitted by the large, lifting stab of this popular OT (Old-Timer) design. Don't try this with contemporary designs, though: the results could be catastrophic!
