Tandem Fan
THERE IS little doubt that ducted fans are rapidly becoming a standard and accepted part of model aviation. The WRAMS and Toledo Shows earlier this year saw the introduction of a number of aircraft kits designed around ducted fan power-plants of various sizes and types. The scratch builders haven't been forgotten, as more fan projects are showing up in the model press. The ducted fans will not be every modeler's bag-not only is there some complexity, but good engine operation knowledge is required, and attention must be paid to mechanical details. For those who are willing to do this, the rewards can be great-a scale jet model flying across the sky without a non-scale prop in the nose is a glorious sight.
T.C. TWO
If the sound of a twin engine turns you on as it does us, you will find this CL sport stunter of special interest. It's profile, and goes together quickly. Uses two .20 engines. The T.C. Two's trim lines are especially evident in this view. Prop spinners add to the semi-scale illusion as does the tricycle landing gear and simulated canopy.
Mini-F-16
AN .049 ducted-fan model? You must be kidding. In many cases this is the first reaction to my mini F-16; but this is a good flying, practical sport airplane. Midwest's smallest ducted-fan unit, the RK-049, has been on the market for about a year now and is the smallest ducted-fan system available. Prior to this, most ducted fans had been designed around hot pylon racing .40s and .45s for high rpms and maximum power. I was intrigued by the possibility of a small, light fan model and so designed this F-16 styled model to see just what an .049 fan would do.
The Jetster
Developed from scratch on M.A.'s assignment, this airplane is designed for the Pattern/Sport flier as a relatively easy way to try ducted fan power. Is it maneuverable - or a flying brick? How does knife-edge flight grab you? It is apparent that practical ducted fan power units are now available for the modeler who wishes to simulate jet-powered flight. Most of the pioneering effort has been done by scale modelers, looking for realistic jet aircraft projects. The Jetster was designed for the pattern and/or sports flier as a relatively easy way to try ducted-fan power systems; I wanted to see if such a system was suitable for a non-scale, fun flying aircraft. This model has been flown from grass fields and in windy weather; it has an effective muffler and it does fly very well. There is no denying the extra complexity of a ducted fan; but they do work, performance is good, and you can have that jet-age appearance. Ducted fans are not new; Berkeley (a long gone kit manufacturer) had ducted fan kits on the market back in the 1950s. As I recall, the fan was simply stamped from sheet aluminum with twisted blades, intended for use on .049 engines. The aircraft structures were stick-and-tissue for light weight, and the models were flown as free flights. Over the years many ducted fan projects have appeared in the magazines with a wide variety of fan and duct designs; structures usually aimed for light weight as very little fan thrust was available.
Sportster 40
THIS PROJECT was started by some conversation with the editor who had several ideas about features he felt should be in a 40-size sport flier-not a trainer, but a model to be considered an intermediate airplane, or a plane for fairly relaxed, non-contest activity. We felt such a model should be capable of most maneuvers, but still be docile enough for easy handling; easy takeoffs and landings, stable enough to relax with while flying. And, as a scratch-built project the construction should be as simple as possible, with as few parts as possible. The engine would be 35 to 40. In this range there are many economical types to pick from. You don't need the latest ported, piped, pumped powerhouse for a sport machine.
