NOVICE Simple A-i glider designed son Robert corn petition contest-lively Taft area William H Langenberg TI-IF CONCEPTION simple model took place hot May day Taft Calif site 1973 USA FreeFlight Championships son Robert age 12 just experienced frustrating day competition failed place both junior gas favorite events seeming failure simply lack luck ie six perfect launches power patterns two light thermals 5 minutes maxes Two maxes six attempts Taft generally means forget prone shrug off days 12-year-old Robert reaction d need fly events small towline gliders look interesting competition doesnt look too sharp about helping admired spunk Furthermore right competition did look nearly tough gas events Upon return home however dis concerting discovery made could find no A-I glider kits seemed meet needs ie simplicity durability consistent performance decided design such model note Novice born limits A-I towline glider design few 279 sq maximum wing stab area minimum 508 ounces weight No pull-test towline required Almost total freedom other design features permitted Complying restrictions design Novice easy Among ob jectives simplicity design con struction durability consistency first two ruled out curved wing stab planforms built-up construction dictated use fiberglass rod tail boom Ample dihedral instead poly hedral used eliminate two wing joints wire wing joiners employed minimize folded wings tow com mon problem among inexperienced flyers towline events clockwork D-T timer employed instead fuse because local fire hazard regulations simple fuse dethermalizer would equally satis factory No gadgets kind used Consistency enhanced forward CG Center Gravity location positive wing incidence ample dihedral stable tow characteristics Construction Stabilizer Begin construction stabilizer since similar wing easier build Select piece 1/16 X 3 X 36 very light warp-free balsa Cut off piece 14 long sand smooth both sides apply coat dope under side Set aside dry Next cut out 1/16 bass rib template sand shape shown plan Using template cut out nine stab ribs 3/32 soft sheet balsa pin together sand shape Note ribs longer stab chord done reason Pin ribs plan through overhang end Next carefully glue / 16 X 14 ecut balsa sheet doped surface down ribs sure pin carefully ribs true airfoil shape obtained dry remove stab building board add DT rubber band hooks DT string wire reinforc ing members under leading trailing edge stab Cut off excess leading trailing edges sand entire stab shape Apply three coats dope sand ing upper surface smooth after set aside stab dry season Rudder rudder cut same piece soft 1/16 X 3 sheet balsa produced stab 2 long Sand both sides smooth apply coat dope Next cut off movable rudder rejoin fin cloth hinges shown plan Add 1/16 hard balsa rudder stops both sides Cement rubber band auto-rudder hooks place give entire assembly two coats dope Wing Start wing selecting two sheets soft 3/16 x 3 X 36 1/16 36 sheet balsa Cut 24 lengths Dope side Next pin two 3/16 sheets workbench doped side down glue 1/8 sq spruce leading edges place drying cut out 1/16 bass rib tem plate sand carefully shape shown plan As stab tem plate wing template longer chord ribs can easily pinned 34 Model Aviation Clean functional lines Below OT timer detail Note external OT auto-rudder strings Fuse DT equally good fire regulations permit Right Auto-rudder release detail Heavy monofilament line tied tow hook provides flexible release Novice place during construction Using template cut out 30 wing ribs soft 3/32 sheet pin together sand carefully shape Now remove 3/16 sheets building board bevel top rear edge shown plan 1/16 thickness Rough carve leading edges shape also time Scribe rib locations underside 3/16 sheets Pin upside down building board glue ribs place structures have thoroughly dried remove board pin down again time right side up using excess rib lengths purpose Glue 1/16 sheet after-surface wing doped side down making sure proper airfoil shape maintained After drying remove wing halves board cut off excess rib leading trailing edges sand wing final airfoil shape install wing joiners notch root ribs shown plan glue 1/16 X 3/16 balsa fillers undersides wings Next glue 1/16 ID inside diameter aluminum tubing place fill remainder notches 1/16 X 3/16 balsa flush bottom surface ribs Add t bevel joints end wing sand smooth /4 sheet should beveled allow 5/2 dihedral under wing tip As last step cut 1/16 music wire wing joiners length bend shape shown plan carefully epoxy 1/16 ID tubing left wing ensuring proper alignment Fuselage key simple durable fuselage fiberglass rod tail boom available several commer cial sources advertised model maga zines fishing equipment stores Select warp-free boom light possible sand smooth Saw 29 length Next cut fuselage core 3/s bass jigsaw notching rear accept boom Also cut timer ballast holes core Now epoxy boom fuselage core ensuring alignment correct Glue 3/16 sheet balsa fuselage side pieces place fi nally epoxy 3/16 bass cheek right side nose Now cut stab trailing edge stop 3/16 sq balsa glue together lead ing edge platform Make wing platform 3/16 sheet unners end Epoxy stab leading trailing edge platforms fuselage together wire D-T hook Glue rudder place add external aluminum tubing D-T auto-rudder line guides shown plan together auto-rudder tube assembly has dried lay fuselage its right side melt lead ballast compartment until balance point about /s aft CG location shown plan Now epoxy 3/16 bass left cheek place Carve sand fuselage final shape add wing platform Bend towline hook shape shown plan epoxy place Add 1/16 wing dowels Finally give fuselage two coats clear dope add D-T auto-rudder lines shown plan Glue D-T timer place Set stab its platform check ensure CG located pre cisely shown plan drill out add ballast until location correct Also ensure towhook proper position CG towhook must accurately positioned shown obtain consistent stable tows Flying opinion towline glider events particularly desirable junior fliers Since have withdrawn contest scene other coming out woodwork two years FAI programit has become apparent some junior fliers primarily sub stitute participants fathers condition deplore escape lies Hand-launch Towline Glider events junior flier own Daddy cannot throw tow sons gliders hence junior competi tors have much better opportunity compete fairly peers judg ment way should begin flight tests Novice semble model check wing stab properly aligned rudderstop should set allow about /s left offset after auto-rudder line released Now hand-glide model check glide should flat slight left turn Adjust glide raising lower ing stab trailing edge necessary After hand glides satisfactory pre pare first tow Tie 9 length heavy monofilament line towhook use auto-rudder release Let out about 5070 feet towline tow wind model accurately built shown tow should straight stable until model climbs directly over head Should glider climb too slowly weave tow move towhook back Conversely zooms up veers off side move towhook forward model can usually made tow straight adjusting setting right rudder-stop Once stable overhead tow achieved practice thermal detection releasing model rising air A-I gliders much lighter larger Nordic A-2 relatives difficult control overhead line make long thermal searching tows way obtain better line feel use much lighter towline necessary A-2 Novice provides simple means enter towline glider events model truly easy build simple adjust very forgiving tow Its performance consistent often exciting hope will get great deal pleasure model choose build BILL OF MATERIALS 3l/16 X 3 oft balsa 23/16 X 3 X 36 soft balsa 1 3/32 x 3 oft balsa 13/16 X 2 X 18 bass 1 3/8 18 bass 21/8 X 1/8 X 36 spruce Various pieces scrap balsa tube model cement 5-minute epoxy pins thin wire dope brush string 36 Model Aviation Above left Rudder detail showing auto-rudder hook Angle-cut piece presses against fin actuated Above right Stabilizer DT detail high pop-up angle necessary bring down light A-i glider strong thermals Nate platform pieces support stabilizer flight position Right Curved platform pieces necessary high performance fiberglass tail-boom rod shows clearly top view Compare center-section detail plan
Edition: Model Aviation - 1975/10
Page Numbers: 34, 36
NOVICE Simple A-i glider designed son Robert corn petition contest-lively Taft area William H Langenberg TI-IF CONCEPTION simple model took place hot May day Taft Calif site 1973 USA FreeFlight Championships son Robert age 12 just experienced frustrating day competition failed place both junior gas favorite events seeming failure simply lack luck ie six perfect launches power patterns two light thermals 5 minutes maxes Two maxes six attempts Taft generally means forget prone shrug off days 12-year-old Robert reaction d need fly events small towline gliders look interesting competition doesnt look too sharp about helping admired spunk Furthermore right competition did look nearly tough gas events Upon return home however dis concerting discovery made could find no A-I glider kits seemed meet needs ie simplicity durability consistent performance decided design such model note Novice born limits A-I towline glider design few 279 sq maximum wing stab area minimum 508 ounces weight No pull-test towline required Almost total freedom other design features permitted Complying restrictions design Novice easy Among ob jectives simplicity design con struction durability consistency first two ruled out curved wing stab planforms built-up construction dictated use fiberglass rod tail boom Ample dihedral instead poly hedral used eliminate two wing joints wire wing joiners employed minimize folded wings tow com mon problem among inexperienced flyers towline events clockwork D-T timer employed instead fuse because local fire hazard regulations simple fuse dethermalizer would equally satis factory No gadgets kind used Consistency enhanced forward CG Center Gravity location positive wing incidence ample dihedral stable tow characteristics Construction Stabilizer Begin construction stabilizer since similar wing easier build Select piece 1/16 X 3 X 36 very light warp-free balsa Cut off piece 14 long sand smooth both sides apply coat dope under side Set aside dry Next cut out 1/16 bass rib template sand shape shown plan Using template cut out nine stab ribs 3/32 soft sheet balsa pin together sand shape Note ribs longer stab chord done reason Pin ribs plan through overhang end Next carefully glue / 16 X 14 ecut balsa sheet doped surface down ribs sure pin carefully ribs true airfoil shape obtained dry remove stab building board add DT rubber band hooks DT string wire reinforc ing members under leading trailing edge stab Cut off excess leading trailing edges sand entire stab shape Apply three coats dope sand ing upper surface smooth after set aside stab dry season Rudder rudder cut same piece soft 1/16 X 3 sheet balsa produced stab 2 long Sand both sides smooth apply coat dope Next cut off movable rudder rejoin fin cloth hinges shown plan Add 1/16 hard balsa rudder stops both sides Cement rubber band auto-rudder hooks place give entire assembly two coats dope Wing Start wing selecting two sheets soft 3/16 x 3 X 36 1/16 36 sheet balsa Cut 24 lengths Dope side Next pin two 3/16 sheets workbench doped side down glue 1/8 sq spruce leading edges place drying cut out 1/16 bass rib tem plate sand carefully shape shown plan As stab tem plate wing template longer chord ribs can easily pinned 34 Model Aviation Clean functional lines Below OT timer detail Note external OT auto-rudder strings Fuse DT equally good fire regulations permit Right Auto-rudder release detail Heavy monofilament line tied tow hook provides flexible release Novice place during construction Using template cut out 30 wing ribs soft 3/32 sheet pin together sand carefully shape Now remove 3/16 sheets building board bevel top rear edge shown plan 1/16 thickness Rough carve leading edges shape also time Scribe rib locations underside 3/16 sheets Pin upside down building board glue ribs place structures have thoroughly dried remove board pin down again time right side up using excess rib lengths purpose Glue 1/16 sheet after-surface wing doped side down making sure proper airfoil shape maintained After drying remove wing halves board cut off excess rib leading trailing edges sand wing final airfoil shape install wing joiners notch root ribs shown plan glue 1/16 X 3/16 balsa fillers undersides wings Next glue 1/16 ID inside diameter aluminum tubing place fill remainder notches 1/16 X 3/16 balsa flush bottom surface ribs Add t bevel joints end wing sand smooth /4 sheet should beveled allow 5/2 dihedral under wing tip As last step cut 1/16 music wire wing joiners length bend shape shown plan carefully epoxy 1/16 ID tubing left wing ensuring proper alignment Fuselage key simple durable fuselage fiberglass rod tail boom available several commer cial sources advertised model maga zines fishing equipment stores Select warp-free boom light possible sand smooth Saw 29 length Next cut fuselage core 3/s bass jigsaw notching rear accept boom Also cut timer ballast holes core Now epoxy boom fuselage core ensuring alignment correct Glue 3/16 sheet balsa fuselage side pieces place fi nally epoxy 3/16 bass cheek right side nose Now cut stab trailing edge stop 3/16 sq balsa glue together lead ing edge platform Make wing platform 3/16 sheet unners end Epoxy stab leading trailing edge platforms fuselage together wire D-T hook Glue rudder place add external aluminum tubing D-T auto-rudder line guides shown plan together auto-rudder tube assembly has dried lay fuselage its right side melt lead ballast compartment until balance point about /s aft CG location shown plan Now epoxy 3/16 bass left cheek place Carve sand fuselage final shape add wing platform Bend towline hook shape shown plan epoxy place Add 1/16 wing dowels Finally give fuselage two coats clear dope add D-T auto-rudder lines shown plan Glue D-T timer place Set stab its platform check ensure CG located pre cisely shown plan drill out add ballast until location correct Also ensure towhook proper position CG towhook must accurately positioned shown obtain consistent stable tows Flying opinion towline glider events particularly desirable junior fliers Since have withdrawn contest scene other coming out woodwork two years FAI programit has become apparent some junior fliers primarily sub stitute participants fathers condition deplore escape lies Hand-launch Towline Glider events junior flier own Daddy cannot throw tow sons gliders hence junior competi tors have much better opportunity compete fairly peers judg ment way should begin flight tests Novice semble model check wing stab properly aligned rudderstop should set allow about /s left offset after auto-rudder line released Now hand-glide model check glide should flat slight left turn Adjust glide raising lower ing stab trailing edge necessary After hand glides satisfactory pre pare first tow Tie 9 length heavy monofilament line towhook use auto-rudder release Let out about 5070 feet towline tow wind model accurately built shown tow should straight stable until model climbs directly over head Should glider climb too slowly weave tow move towhook back Conversely zooms up veers off side move towhook forward model can usually made tow straight adjusting setting right rudder-stop Once stable overhead tow achieved practice thermal detection releasing model rising air A-I gliders much lighter larger Nordic A-2 relatives difficult control overhead line make long thermal searching tows way obtain better line feel use much lighter towline necessary A-2 Novice provides simple means enter towline glider events model truly easy build simple adjust very forgiving tow Its performance consistent often exciting hope will get great deal pleasure model choose build BILL OF MATERIALS 3l/16 X 3 oft balsa 23/16 X 3 X 36 soft balsa 1 3/32 x 3 oft balsa 13/16 X 2 X 18 bass 1 3/8 18 bass 21/8 X 1/8 X 36 spruce Various pieces scrap balsa tube model cement 5-minute epoxy pins thin wire dope brush string 36 Model Aviation Above left Rudder detail showing auto-rudder hook Angle-cut piece presses against fin actuated Above right Stabilizer DT detail high pop-up angle necessary bring down light A-i glider strong thermals Nate platform pieces support stabilizer flight position Right Curved platform pieces necessary high performance fiberglass tail-boom rod shows clearly top view Compare center-section detail plan