172 MODEL AVIATION
AMA Plans Service Showcase
Asporty biplane
without attitude
THERE’S JUST something about a biplane! As the old
saying goes, “Real airplanes have two wings and round
engines!”
That may be true, but a scale biplane with a radial
engine is a project that only a dedicated few will choose
to tackle. A better, simpler bet for spirited two-wing fun
is a simple .25-size design such as Dave Robelen’s
Parakeet.
His sporty 42-inch-wingspan bipe appeared in the
February 1987 MA. You can access the construction
article by going to the MA Digital Archives, located in the
“Members Only” section of the AMA Web site
(www.modelaircraft.org).
Dave made this model even easier by
designing it as a three-channel aircraft
with rudder, elevator, and throttle
control; there are no tricky aileron
pushrods to worry about!
All-sheet-balsa tail surfaces, a
simple sheet-balsa built-up fuselage,
and wings that feature a flat-bottom
airfoil section add up to ensure a quick
and accurate build. And for those who
are so inclined, this model can easily be
converted to electric power.
The Parakeet’s full-size plans—listed as set
541C—come complete with a bill of materials, so
you can start building right away! MA
Parakeet
12sig6 .QXD 10/25/06 1:24 PM Page 172
Edition: Model Aviation - 2006/12
Page Numbers: 172
