Mark’s Rocket Plane
Joe Mannino submitted photos of an unusual aircraft that was built by Mark Rudes, a newer member of Joe’s club, the Palm Beach Radio Control Association. The club flies at the West Delray Regional Park in Delray Beach, Florida. Joe wrote:
“Over the last few years, Mark has designed and built many unusual aircraft, and for the most part, they were made of foam board, cardboard, and parts from various planes that have expired while learning to fly.
“Mark calls this one his ‘Rocket Plane,’ as it can take off vertically in light winds. Flying with a Spektrum DX8 transmitter bound to an Orange receiver and a 1,300 mAh 3S 40C LiPo battery and ESC, [it is] constructed with two sheets of standard foam board from the dollar store, cut so [that] the two pieces are interlocked and held in place using brown Gorilla Glue. [It is] powered by an 1,100 Kv or similar motor [and] uses a folding glider prop (Flyzone 9 x 5mm). It has only two control servos acting as both elevator and aileron—elevons.
“It took seven test flights before [Mark] was able to properly locate the center of gravity, and several more flights to learn how to fly this remarkably versatile aircraft.”
A YouTube video of the test flight can be seen at http://youtu.be/gh-YvIbRwzs.
Do you have a high-quality/high-resolution airplane, helicopter, or multirotor photo that you are proud of, or a model aviation-related photo with a great story behind it? Email your “Viewfinder” photo and a description about it to jennifer@modelaircraft.org, or submit it online at www.ModelAviation.com/viewfinder.
