Nonflapped models that are available in plan or kit form
[[email protected]]
Control Line Aerobatics Bob Hunt
Also included in this column:
• The Hole Shot
Ted Fancher’s father, Hugh, holds his son’s
Doctor. It is ideal for learning to fly the CL
pattern maneuvers. It does not have flaps,
but it does not need them if it is built lightly.
Mike Spedaliere stretched his Professor aesthetics onto the Hole
Shot numbers and devised this functional look. You can experiment
with fuselage design shapes and come up with an “original.”
Robby Hunt (R) finished second in his first Intermediate CL
Stunt contest in 1990. He flew the original Hole Shot. Dan
Banjock (L) won with a Gieseke Nobler.
AS I PROMISED in the last column, I
will cover what models are out there in
plan form that would make good CL
Aerobatics (Stunt) trainers and fit our
intended building/flying project. I’m going
to prune down the list to those that are
fairly easy to build (and repair) and still fit
into the project philosophy I am going to
promote.
Flying Models (FM) magazine (a
product of Carstens Publications and my
alma mater) has an extensive list of plans
for all types of models, and the CL Stunt
and Profile Stunt designs it includes are
impressive. This magazine has continued
to actively support the CL flier/builder
through the years with construction
features, contest reports, and regular Stunt
and Combat columns.
I propose that newcomers start with a
nonflapped design, which considerably
cuts down the field of possible models.
The FM Plans Directory (available from
Carstens Publications) includes a few ideal
candidates for our project.
The Hole Shot design I mentioned as a
good choice in the previous column
(September 2007 MA) was developed from
one of FM’s plan offerings: the Dick
Mathis-designed Mongoose. We changed
the moments and the aesthetics, but we did
steal and use that great airfoil profile!
A flapped model might make more
sense for those who are journeymen Stunt
fliers, so I’ll take a look at what’s
available on that front in a later column.
There are only a few non-flapped designs
available in plan form that I feel would
make great Stunt trainers. Chief among
those are the Mathis-designed Coyote (FM
plans CF140) and the aforementioned
Mongoose (FM plans CF291).
You could also throw in Dick’s
Cherokee (FM plans CF95). It has a
tricycle landing gear and might be good if
you fly from a rough field.
Another great flapless model, which is
a bit more labor intensive, is Ted
Fancher’s Doctor. It is large, at
approximately 630 square inches of wing
area, and requires a .36- to .50-size
engine.
The Doctor was designed to achieve
flaplike performance without the flaps.
Correctly built and finished, it has an
exceptionally low wing loading and will
turn impressive corners. It’s a good choice
for accomplished builders and a notch
above the others I have mentioned in
capability.
Plans for the Doctor are available
through the Precision Aerobatics Model
Pilots Association (PAMPA). It was a
featured construction article in Stunt
News, which is PAMPA’s official
publication.
Curt Nixon is in charge of PAMPA
products; he can fix you up with the
Doctor plans and the May/June 1998 issue
of Stunt News, in which the article was
published. He will accept orders via
telephone with a major credit card.
Even if you opt not to build the Doctor,
142 MODEL AVIATION
11sig5.QXD 9/24/07 8:30 AM Page 142
a copy of the article would be great to
have. Ted Fancher has a great deal to share
about the subject in that piece, and his
articles are interesting and informative to
read.
This is probably a good place to suggest
that if you have any interest in CL Stunt
flying, whether sport or competition, you
should strongly consider joining PAMPA.
Not only do you receive the best CL Stunt
publication—Stunt News—on a bimonthly
basis, but you also receive a directory that
lists all the members, their addresses, and
their phone numbers.
One of PAMPA’s missions is to
promote communication between Stunt
fliers, and members are encouraged to pick
up the phone and call fellow members if
they have questions. This is a great way to
find a flying/building buddy. A member
near you might be able to act as a teacher
during your early stages of building and
flying, so don’t hesitate to call!
If you are interested in joining PAMPA,
send a request for a membership form to
158 Flying Cloud Isle, Foster City CA
94404. It’s the best investment you can
make in Stunt. Okay, back to the subject.
A number of flapless models in the kit
world make good Stunt trainers. Sig
Manufacturing’s Skyray (item SIGCL25) is
easy to construct and flies well. A few
have modified it to optimize its
performance and aerodynamics.
Brett Buck (the 2006 Nats Stunt champ)
touts the Skyray as a great Stunt trainer and
has posted much on the Stuka Stunt
Control Line Forums about how he
modifies it and powers it. Contact Sig
Manufacturing for more information about
the durable and easy-to-build Skyray.
The old Top Flite Models Flite Streak
and Flite Streak Junior were competent
nonflapped airplanes. I learned to fly
inverted with a Flite Streak Junior and flew
a Flite Streak as a Stunt trainer after
wearing out the last of my J. Roberts
Swifts, which I mentioned in the previous
column.
I modified the Flite Streak’s stock
single-wheel gear to a dual-leg Dural type,
but no other modifications were required.
It did a great job of flying the round
maneuvers precisely, but, as with all
nonflapped models, it needed to be flown
carefully through corners so it wouldn’t
stall, or “mush.”
That is actually a good thing because it
makes the new Stunt flier learn to contour
the corner with precise control inputs
rather than “hammer” the turns, as flapped
models allow. John D’Ottavio once gave
me a valuable piece of information about
Stunt flying.
“Fly through the corners—not to the
corners,” he said.
By flying through the corners rather
than just using full control to make the
model rotate, the pilot learns how to
accurately place the airplane exactly where
he or she wants it to go. It’s subtle, but it
is one of the most important lessons to
learn in making maneuvers look precise.
You need to be able to connect the
corners and the flats in such a manner that
it looks like (and in fact is) one continuous
motion. A flapless aircraft makes you
work at this, and it makes you a much
better flapped-model pilot when that time
comes.
The good news is that Brodak
Manufacturing has reprised the Flite
Streak Junior (item CLP-42) and the larger
original Flite Streak (item CLP-43) in kit
form. The company also produces a
similar design, in kit form, called the
Lightning Streak (item CLP-23), which
would also serve our training purposes.
Numerous capable and competent
nonflapped ARFs are available as well.
However, I’m going to hold off discussing
them until later because the aim of this
particular project is to learn to build and
fly!
The Hole Shot: I am going to focus on
the Hole Shot as the design for this
construction project. If you are building a
different model from plans, the majority
of what we will discuss will relate one to
one.
If you are building from a kit, most
(probably all) of the parts-cutting work
will have been done for you. That is fine,
but I advise you to, at some point, build a
model from plans so you will learn how to
duplicate the parts shown on the print in
wood. If you intend to compete in Stunt in
the future, learning to build well is
imperative.
The Hole Shot can fly equally well
built with either a foam-core wing or a
built-up wing. The choice of which to use
is yours.
If you opt for the foam-wing variant,
you must take extra pains to keep the
model light. All that sheeting, glue, and
foam weighs more than the air between a
built-up wing’s ribs!
Why even consider a foam wing?
Guaranteed accuracy! A properly cut and
covered foam wing will be free of warps
and remain so throughout the model’s
lifetime. In addition, foam-winged models
are quite a bit more durable.
Built-up wings may be more difficult
to construct accurately initially, and they
are more prone to “move” significantly
with temperature and humidity changes.
(Ask me about how those weather
variables affected my electrified Genesis
at the 2006 CL World Championships.)
However, built-up wings are generally a
few ounces lighter than “foamers.”
Foam cores and fully sheeted foam
wings for the Hole Shot are available
from Aero Products. The original Hole
Shot and several subsequent models were
constructed with foam-core wings, but
some built-up versions were also
produced. They all seem to fly well.
The aesthetics of the original Hole
Shot’s fuselage were fairly bland because
it was hastily designed and constructed to
allow my son, Robby, to have something
with which to learn to fly the pattern
maneuvers. That was back in 1989!
Not many pains were taken to add flair
to the design. We got adventurous with
fuselage shapes on subsequent Hole Shots
and even had a contest to see who in our
design group could come up with the most
unusual/pleasing/weird profile. Dean
Pappas’s brother, Larry, won the contest
by applying an abstract side-view shape of
his Citroen car. It was wild!
Dean drew a design he called
“Organum,” which was sleek, organiclooking,
and plenty weird, just like Dean
(except for the “sleek” part ... ). Mike
Spedaliere drew one that featured the lines
of his popular Professor series of Stunters.
Robby and I concocted a more
parochial-looking side view, but it suited
the need. A slightly modified/updated
version of that profile is the one shown on
the main plans.
Don’t hesitate to use the engine/
wing/tail placement shown on the plans to
draw a side-view design of your own.
Almost any shape will work as long as
you do not go to extremes in adding too
much aft side area. Hey, experimentation
is also part of CL Stunt flying!
I’ll stop here on this subject for this
month. By the next time (the January
column) you should have made a decision
about what design you want to build and
have the plans or kit in hand.
Til next time, fly Stunt! MA
Sources:
Aero Products
(678) 407-9376
www.aeroproduct.net
Brodak Manufacturing
(724) 966-2726
www.brodak.com
Curt Nixon
(734) 266-7273 (That is also the fax order
line.)
E-mail: [email protected]
FM Plans Directory:
(973) 383-3355
E-mail: [email protected]
PAMPA
www.control-line.org/DesktopDefault.aspx
Sig Manufacturing
(641) 623-5154
www.sigmfg.com
Stuka Stunt Control Line Forums
www.clstunt.com/htdocs/dc/dcboard.php
Edition: Model Aviation - 2007/11
Page Numbers: 142,143,144,145
Edition: Model Aviation - 2007/11
Page Numbers: 142,143,144,145
Nonflapped models that are available in plan or kit form
[[email protected]]
Control Line Aerobatics Bob Hunt
Also included in this column:
• The Hole Shot
Ted Fancher’s father, Hugh, holds his son’s
Doctor. It is ideal for learning to fly the CL
pattern maneuvers. It does not have flaps,
but it does not need them if it is built lightly.
Mike Spedaliere stretched his Professor aesthetics onto the Hole
Shot numbers and devised this functional look. You can experiment
with fuselage design shapes and come up with an “original.”
Robby Hunt (R) finished second in his first Intermediate CL
Stunt contest in 1990. He flew the original Hole Shot. Dan
Banjock (L) won with a Gieseke Nobler.
AS I PROMISED in the last column, I
will cover what models are out there in
plan form that would make good CL
Aerobatics (Stunt) trainers and fit our
intended building/flying project. I’m going
to prune down the list to those that are
fairly easy to build (and repair) and still fit
into the project philosophy I am going to
promote.
Flying Models (FM) magazine (a
product of Carstens Publications and my
alma mater) has an extensive list of plans
for all types of models, and the CL Stunt
and Profile Stunt designs it includes are
impressive. This magazine has continued
to actively support the CL flier/builder
through the years with construction
features, contest reports, and regular Stunt
and Combat columns.
I propose that newcomers start with a
nonflapped design, which considerably
cuts down the field of possible models.
The FM Plans Directory (available from
Carstens Publications) includes a few ideal
candidates for our project.
The Hole Shot design I mentioned as a
good choice in the previous column
(September 2007 MA) was developed from
one of FM’s plan offerings: the Dick
Mathis-designed Mongoose. We changed
the moments and the aesthetics, but we did
steal and use that great airfoil profile!
A flapped model might make more
sense for those who are journeymen Stunt
fliers, so I’ll take a look at what’s
available on that front in a later column.
There are only a few non-flapped designs
available in plan form that I feel would
make great Stunt trainers. Chief among
those are the Mathis-designed Coyote (FM
plans CF140) and the aforementioned
Mongoose (FM plans CF291).
You could also throw in Dick’s
Cherokee (FM plans CF95). It has a
tricycle landing gear and might be good if
you fly from a rough field.
Another great flapless model, which is
a bit more labor intensive, is Ted
Fancher’s Doctor. It is large, at
approximately 630 square inches of wing
area, and requires a .36- to .50-size
engine.
The Doctor was designed to achieve
flaplike performance without the flaps.
Correctly built and finished, it has an
exceptionally low wing loading and will
turn impressive corners. It’s a good choice
for accomplished builders and a notch
above the others I have mentioned in
capability.
Plans for the Doctor are available
through the Precision Aerobatics Model
Pilots Association (PAMPA). It was a
featured construction article in Stunt
News, which is PAMPA’s official
publication.
Curt Nixon is in charge of PAMPA
products; he can fix you up with the
Doctor plans and the May/June 1998 issue
of Stunt News, in which the article was
published. He will accept orders via
telephone with a major credit card.
Even if you opt not to build the Doctor,
142 MODEL AVIATION
11sig5.QXD 9/24/07 8:30 AM Page 142
a copy of the article would be great to
have. Ted Fancher has a great deal to share
about the subject in that piece, and his
articles are interesting and informative to
read.
This is probably a good place to suggest
that if you have any interest in CL Stunt
flying, whether sport or competition, you
should strongly consider joining PAMPA.
Not only do you receive the best CL Stunt
publication—Stunt News—on a bimonthly
basis, but you also receive a directory that
lists all the members, their addresses, and
their phone numbers.
One of PAMPA’s missions is to
promote communication between Stunt
fliers, and members are encouraged to pick
up the phone and call fellow members if
they have questions. This is a great way to
find a flying/building buddy. A member
near you might be able to act as a teacher
during your early stages of building and
flying, so don’t hesitate to call!
If you are interested in joining PAMPA,
send a request for a membership form to
158 Flying Cloud Isle, Foster City CA
94404. It’s the best investment you can
make in Stunt. Okay, back to the subject.
A number of flapless models in the kit
world make good Stunt trainers. Sig
Manufacturing’s Skyray (item SIGCL25) is
easy to construct and flies well. A few
have modified it to optimize its
performance and aerodynamics.
Brett Buck (the 2006 Nats Stunt champ)
touts the Skyray as a great Stunt trainer and
has posted much on the Stuka Stunt
Control Line Forums about how he
modifies it and powers it. Contact Sig
Manufacturing for more information about
the durable and easy-to-build Skyray.
The old Top Flite Models Flite Streak
and Flite Streak Junior were competent
nonflapped airplanes. I learned to fly
inverted with a Flite Streak Junior and flew
a Flite Streak as a Stunt trainer after
wearing out the last of my J. Roberts
Swifts, which I mentioned in the previous
column.
I modified the Flite Streak’s stock
single-wheel gear to a dual-leg Dural type,
but no other modifications were required.
It did a great job of flying the round
maneuvers precisely, but, as with all
nonflapped models, it needed to be flown
carefully through corners so it wouldn’t
stall, or “mush.”
That is actually a good thing because it
makes the new Stunt flier learn to contour
the corner with precise control inputs
rather than “hammer” the turns, as flapped
models allow. John D’Ottavio once gave
me a valuable piece of information about
Stunt flying.
“Fly through the corners—not to the
corners,” he said.
By flying through the corners rather
than just using full control to make the
model rotate, the pilot learns how to
accurately place the airplane exactly where
he or she wants it to go. It’s subtle, but it
is one of the most important lessons to
learn in making maneuvers look precise.
You need to be able to connect the
corners and the flats in such a manner that
it looks like (and in fact is) one continuous
motion. A flapless aircraft makes you
work at this, and it makes you a much
better flapped-model pilot when that time
comes.
The good news is that Brodak
Manufacturing has reprised the Flite
Streak Junior (item CLP-42) and the larger
original Flite Streak (item CLP-43) in kit
form. The company also produces a
similar design, in kit form, called the
Lightning Streak (item CLP-23), which
would also serve our training purposes.
Numerous capable and competent
nonflapped ARFs are available as well.
However, I’m going to hold off discussing
them until later because the aim of this
particular project is to learn to build and
fly!
The Hole Shot: I am going to focus on
the Hole Shot as the design for this
construction project. If you are building a
different model from plans, the majority
of what we will discuss will relate one to
one.
If you are building from a kit, most
(probably all) of the parts-cutting work
will have been done for you. That is fine,
but I advise you to, at some point, build a
model from plans so you will learn how to
duplicate the parts shown on the print in
wood. If you intend to compete in Stunt in
the future, learning to build well is
imperative.
The Hole Shot can fly equally well
built with either a foam-core wing or a
built-up wing. The choice of which to use
is yours.
If you opt for the foam-wing variant,
you must take extra pains to keep the
model light. All that sheeting, glue, and
foam weighs more than the air between a
built-up wing’s ribs!
Why even consider a foam wing?
Guaranteed accuracy! A properly cut and
covered foam wing will be free of warps
and remain so throughout the model’s
lifetime. In addition, foam-winged models
are quite a bit more durable.
Built-up wings may be more difficult
to construct accurately initially, and they
are more prone to “move” significantly
with temperature and humidity changes.
(Ask me about how those weather
variables affected my electrified Genesis
at the 2006 CL World Championships.)
However, built-up wings are generally a
few ounces lighter than “foamers.”
Foam cores and fully sheeted foam
wings for the Hole Shot are available
from Aero Products. The original Hole
Shot and several subsequent models were
constructed with foam-core wings, but
some built-up versions were also
produced. They all seem to fly well.
The aesthetics of the original Hole
Shot’s fuselage were fairly bland because
it was hastily designed and constructed to
allow my son, Robby, to have something
with which to learn to fly the pattern
maneuvers. That was back in 1989!
Not many pains were taken to add flair
to the design. We got adventurous with
fuselage shapes on subsequent Hole Shots
and even had a contest to see who in our
design group could come up with the most
unusual/pleasing/weird profile. Dean
Pappas’s brother, Larry, won the contest
by applying an abstract side-view shape of
his Citroen car. It was wild!
Dean drew a design he called
“Organum,” which was sleek, organiclooking,
and plenty weird, just like Dean
(except for the “sleek” part ... ). Mike
Spedaliere drew one that featured the lines
of his popular Professor series of Stunters.
Robby and I concocted a more
parochial-looking side view, but it suited
the need. A slightly modified/updated
version of that profile is the one shown on
the main plans.
Don’t hesitate to use the engine/
wing/tail placement shown on the plans to
draw a side-view design of your own.
Almost any shape will work as long as
you do not go to extremes in adding too
much aft side area. Hey, experimentation
is also part of CL Stunt flying!
I’ll stop here on this subject for this
month. By the next time (the January
column) you should have made a decision
about what design you want to build and
have the plans or kit in hand.
Til next time, fly Stunt! MA
Sources:
Aero Products
(678) 407-9376
www.aeroproduct.net
Brodak Manufacturing
(724) 966-2726
www.brodak.com
Curt Nixon
(734) 266-7273 (That is also the fax order
line.)
E-mail: [email protected]
FM Plans Directory:
(973) 383-3355
E-mail: [email protected]
PAMPA
www.control-line.org/DesktopDefault.aspx
Sig Manufacturing
(641) 623-5154
www.sigmfg.com
Stuka Stunt Control Line Forums
www.clstunt.com/htdocs/dc/dcboard.php
Edition: Model Aviation - 2007/11
Page Numbers: 142,143,144,145
Nonflapped models that are available in plan or kit form
[[email protected]]
Control Line Aerobatics Bob Hunt
Also included in this column:
• The Hole Shot
Ted Fancher’s father, Hugh, holds his son’s
Doctor. It is ideal for learning to fly the CL
pattern maneuvers. It does not have flaps,
but it does not need them if it is built lightly.
Mike Spedaliere stretched his Professor aesthetics onto the Hole
Shot numbers and devised this functional look. You can experiment
with fuselage design shapes and come up with an “original.”
Robby Hunt (R) finished second in his first Intermediate CL
Stunt contest in 1990. He flew the original Hole Shot. Dan
Banjock (L) won with a Gieseke Nobler.
AS I PROMISED in the last column, I
will cover what models are out there in
plan form that would make good CL
Aerobatics (Stunt) trainers and fit our
intended building/flying project. I’m going
to prune down the list to those that are
fairly easy to build (and repair) and still fit
into the project philosophy I am going to
promote.
Flying Models (FM) magazine (a
product of Carstens Publications and my
alma mater) has an extensive list of plans
for all types of models, and the CL Stunt
and Profile Stunt designs it includes are
impressive. This magazine has continued
to actively support the CL flier/builder
through the years with construction
features, contest reports, and regular Stunt
and Combat columns.
I propose that newcomers start with a
nonflapped design, which considerably
cuts down the field of possible models.
The FM Plans Directory (available from
Carstens Publications) includes a few ideal
candidates for our project.
The Hole Shot design I mentioned as a
good choice in the previous column
(September 2007 MA) was developed from
one of FM’s plan offerings: the Dick
Mathis-designed Mongoose. We changed
the moments and the aesthetics, but we did
steal and use that great airfoil profile!
A flapped model might make more
sense for those who are journeymen Stunt
fliers, so I’ll take a look at what’s
available on that front in a later column.
There are only a few non-flapped designs
available in plan form that I feel would
make great Stunt trainers. Chief among
those are the Mathis-designed Coyote (FM
plans CF140) and the aforementioned
Mongoose (FM plans CF291).
You could also throw in Dick’s
Cherokee (FM plans CF95). It has a
tricycle landing gear and might be good if
you fly from a rough field.
Another great flapless model, which is
a bit more labor intensive, is Ted
Fancher’s Doctor. It is large, at
approximately 630 square inches of wing
area, and requires a .36- to .50-size
engine.
The Doctor was designed to achieve
flaplike performance without the flaps.
Correctly built and finished, it has an
exceptionally low wing loading and will
turn impressive corners. It’s a good choice
for accomplished builders and a notch
above the others I have mentioned in
capability.
Plans for the Doctor are available
through the Precision Aerobatics Model
Pilots Association (PAMPA). It was a
featured construction article in Stunt
News, which is PAMPA’s official
publication.
Curt Nixon is in charge of PAMPA
products; he can fix you up with the
Doctor plans and the May/June 1998 issue
of Stunt News, in which the article was
published. He will accept orders via
telephone with a major credit card.
Even if you opt not to build the Doctor,
142 MODEL AVIATION
11sig5.QXD 9/24/07 8:30 AM Page 142
a copy of the article would be great to
have. Ted Fancher has a great deal to share
about the subject in that piece, and his
articles are interesting and informative to
read.
This is probably a good place to suggest
that if you have any interest in CL Stunt
flying, whether sport or competition, you
should strongly consider joining PAMPA.
Not only do you receive the best CL Stunt
publication—Stunt News—on a bimonthly
basis, but you also receive a directory that
lists all the members, their addresses, and
their phone numbers.
One of PAMPA’s missions is to
promote communication between Stunt
fliers, and members are encouraged to pick
up the phone and call fellow members if
they have questions. This is a great way to
find a flying/building buddy. A member
near you might be able to act as a teacher
during your early stages of building and
flying, so don’t hesitate to call!
If you are interested in joining PAMPA,
send a request for a membership form to
158 Flying Cloud Isle, Foster City CA
94404. It’s the best investment you can
make in Stunt. Okay, back to the subject.
A number of flapless models in the kit
world make good Stunt trainers. Sig
Manufacturing’s Skyray (item SIGCL25) is
easy to construct and flies well. A few
have modified it to optimize its
performance and aerodynamics.
Brett Buck (the 2006 Nats Stunt champ)
touts the Skyray as a great Stunt trainer and
has posted much on the Stuka Stunt
Control Line Forums about how he
modifies it and powers it. Contact Sig
Manufacturing for more information about
the durable and easy-to-build Skyray.
The old Top Flite Models Flite Streak
and Flite Streak Junior were competent
nonflapped airplanes. I learned to fly
inverted with a Flite Streak Junior and flew
a Flite Streak as a Stunt trainer after
wearing out the last of my J. Roberts
Swifts, which I mentioned in the previous
column.
I modified the Flite Streak’s stock
single-wheel gear to a dual-leg Dural type,
but no other modifications were required.
It did a great job of flying the round
maneuvers precisely, but, as with all
nonflapped models, it needed to be flown
carefully through corners so it wouldn’t
stall, or “mush.”
That is actually a good thing because it
makes the new Stunt flier learn to contour
the corner with precise control inputs
rather than “hammer” the turns, as flapped
models allow. John D’Ottavio once gave
me a valuable piece of information about
Stunt flying.
“Fly through the corners—not to the
corners,” he said.
By flying through the corners rather
than just using full control to make the
model rotate, the pilot learns how to
accurately place the airplane exactly where
he or she wants it to go. It’s subtle, but it
is one of the most important lessons to
learn in making maneuvers look precise.
You need to be able to connect the
corners and the flats in such a manner that
it looks like (and in fact is) one continuous
motion. A flapless aircraft makes you
work at this, and it makes you a much
better flapped-model pilot when that time
comes.
The good news is that Brodak
Manufacturing has reprised the Flite
Streak Junior (item CLP-42) and the larger
original Flite Streak (item CLP-43) in kit
form. The company also produces a
similar design, in kit form, called the
Lightning Streak (item CLP-23), which
would also serve our training purposes.
Numerous capable and competent
nonflapped ARFs are available as well.
However, I’m going to hold off discussing
them until later because the aim of this
particular project is to learn to build and
fly!
The Hole Shot: I am going to focus on
the Hole Shot as the design for this
construction project. If you are building a
different model from plans, the majority
of what we will discuss will relate one to
one.
If you are building from a kit, most
(probably all) of the parts-cutting work
will have been done for you. That is fine,
but I advise you to, at some point, build a
model from plans so you will learn how to
duplicate the parts shown on the print in
wood. If you intend to compete in Stunt in
the future, learning to build well is
imperative.
The Hole Shot can fly equally well
built with either a foam-core wing or a
built-up wing. The choice of which to use
is yours.
If you opt for the foam-wing variant,
you must take extra pains to keep the
model light. All that sheeting, glue, and
foam weighs more than the air between a
built-up wing’s ribs!
Why even consider a foam wing?
Guaranteed accuracy! A properly cut and
covered foam wing will be free of warps
and remain so throughout the model’s
lifetime. In addition, foam-winged models
are quite a bit more durable.
Built-up wings may be more difficult
to construct accurately initially, and they
are more prone to “move” significantly
with temperature and humidity changes.
(Ask me about how those weather
variables affected my electrified Genesis
at the 2006 CL World Championships.)
However, built-up wings are generally a
few ounces lighter than “foamers.”
Foam cores and fully sheeted foam
wings for the Hole Shot are available
from Aero Products. The original Hole
Shot and several subsequent models were
constructed with foam-core wings, but
some built-up versions were also
produced. They all seem to fly well.
The aesthetics of the original Hole
Shot’s fuselage were fairly bland because
it was hastily designed and constructed to
allow my son, Robby, to have something
with which to learn to fly the pattern
maneuvers. That was back in 1989!
Not many pains were taken to add flair
to the design. We got adventurous with
fuselage shapes on subsequent Hole Shots
and even had a contest to see who in our
design group could come up with the most
unusual/pleasing/weird profile. Dean
Pappas’s brother, Larry, won the contest
by applying an abstract side-view shape of
his Citroen car. It was wild!
Dean drew a design he called
“Organum,” which was sleek, organiclooking,
and plenty weird, just like Dean
(except for the “sleek” part ... ). Mike
Spedaliere drew one that featured the lines
of his popular Professor series of Stunters.
Robby and I concocted a more
parochial-looking side view, but it suited
the need. A slightly modified/updated
version of that profile is the one shown on
the main plans.
Don’t hesitate to use the engine/
wing/tail placement shown on the plans to
draw a side-view design of your own.
Almost any shape will work as long as
you do not go to extremes in adding too
much aft side area. Hey, experimentation
is also part of CL Stunt flying!
I’ll stop here on this subject for this
month. By the next time (the January
column) you should have made a decision
about what design you want to build and
have the plans or kit in hand.
Til next time, fly Stunt! MA
Sources:
Aero Products
(678) 407-9376
www.aeroproduct.net
Brodak Manufacturing
(724) 966-2726
www.brodak.com
Curt Nixon
(734) 266-7273 (That is also the fax order
line.)
E-mail: [email protected]
FM Plans Directory:
(973) 383-3355
E-mail: [email protected]
PAMPA
www.control-line.org/DesktopDefault.aspx
Sig Manufacturing
(641) 623-5154
www.sigmfg.com
Stuka Stunt Control Line Forums
www.clstunt.com/htdocs/dc/dcboard.php
Edition: Model Aviation - 2007/11
Page Numbers: 142,143,144,145
Nonflapped models that are available in plan or kit form
[[email protected]]
Control Line Aerobatics Bob Hunt
Also included in this column:
• The Hole Shot
Ted Fancher’s father, Hugh, holds his son’s
Doctor. It is ideal for learning to fly the CL
pattern maneuvers. It does not have flaps,
but it does not need them if it is built lightly.
Mike Spedaliere stretched his Professor aesthetics onto the Hole
Shot numbers and devised this functional look. You can experiment
with fuselage design shapes and come up with an “original.”
Robby Hunt (R) finished second in his first Intermediate CL
Stunt contest in 1990. He flew the original Hole Shot. Dan
Banjock (L) won with a Gieseke Nobler.
AS I PROMISED in the last column, I
will cover what models are out there in
plan form that would make good CL
Aerobatics (Stunt) trainers and fit our
intended building/flying project. I’m going
to prune down the list to those that are
fairly easy to build (and repair) and still fit
into the project philosophy I am going to
promote.
Flying Models (FM) magazine (a
product of Carstens Publications and my
alma mater) has an extensive list of plans
for all types of models, and the CL Stunt
and Profile Stunt designs it includes are
impressive. This magazine has continued
to actively support the CL flier/builder
through the years with construction
features, contest reports, and regular Stunt
and Combat columns.
I propose that newcomers start with a
nonflapped design, which considerably
cuts down the field of possible models.
The FM Plans Directory (available from
Carstens Publications) includes a few ideal
candidates for our project.
The Hole Shot design I mentioned as a
good choice in the previous column
(September 2007 MA) was developed from
one of FM’s plan offerings: the Dick
Mathis-designed Mongoose. We changed
the moments and the aesthetics, but we did
steal and use that great airfoil profile!
A flapped model might make more
sense for those who are journeymen Stunt
fliers, so I’ll take a look at what’s
available on that front in a later column.
There are only a few non-flapped designs
available in plan form that I feel would
make great Stunt trainers. Chief among
those are the Mathis-designed Coyote (FM
plans CF140) and the aforementioned
Mongoose (FM plans CF291).
You could also throw in Dick’s
Cherokee (FM plans CF95). It has a
tricycle landing gear and might be good if
you fly from a rough field.
Another great flapless model, which is
a bit more labor intensive, is Ted
Fancher’s Doctor. It is large, at
approximately 630 square inches of wing
area, and requires a .36- to .50-size
engine.
The Doctor was designed to achieve
flaplike performance without the flaps.
Correctly built and finished, it has an
exceptionally low wing loading and will
turn impressive corners. It’s a good choice
for accomplished builders and a notch
above the others I have mentioned in
capability.
Plans for the Doctor are available
through the Precision Aerobatics Model
Pilots Association (PAMPA). It was a
featured construction article in Stunt
News, which is PAMPA’s official
publication.
Curt Nixon is in charge of PAMPA
products; he can fix you up with the
Doctor plans and the May/June 1998 issue
of Stunt News, in which the article was
published. He will accept orders via
telephone with a major credit card.
Even if you opt not to build the Doctor,
142 MODEL AVIATION
11sig5.QXD 9/24/07 8:30 AM Page 142
a copy of the article would be great to
have. Ted Fancher has a great deal to share
about the subject in that piece, and his
articles are interesting and informative to
read.
This is probably a good place to suggest
that if you have any interest in CL Stunt
flying, whether sport or competition, you
should strongly consider joining PAMPA.
Not only do you receive the best CL Stunt
publication—Stunt News—on a bimonthly
basis, but you also receive a directory that
lists all the members, their addresses, and
their phone numbers.
One of PAMPA’s missions is to
promote communication between Stunt
fliers, and members are encouraged to pick
up the phone and call fellow members if
they have questions. This is a great way to
find a flying/building buddy. A member
near you might be able to act as a teacher
during your early stages of building and
flying, so don’t hesitate to call!
If you are interested in joining PAMPA,
send a request for a membership form to
158 Flying Cloud Isle, Foster City CA
94404. It’s the best investment you can
make in Stunt. Okay, back to the subject.
A number of flapless models in the kit
world make good Stunt trainers. Sig
Manufacturing’s Skyray (item SIGCL25) is
easy to construct and flies well. A few
have modified it to optimize its
performance and aerodynamics.
Brett Buck (the 2006 Nats Stunt champ)
touts the Skyray as a great Stunt trainer and
has posted much on the Stuka Stunt
Control Line Forums about how he
modifies it and powers it. Contact Sig
Manufacturing for more information about
the durable and easy-to-build Skyray.
The old Top Flite Models Flite Streak
and Flite Streak Junior were competent
nonflapped airplanes. I learned to fly
inverted with a Flite Streak Junior and flew
a Flite Streak as a Stunt trainer after
wearing out the last of my J. Roberts
Swifts, which I mentioned in the previous
column.
I modified the Flite Streak’s stock
single-wheel gear to a dual-leg Dural type,
but no other modifications were required.
It did a great job of flying the round
maneuvers precisely, but, as with all
nonflapped models, it needed to be flown
carefully through corners so it wouldn’t
stall, or “mush.”
That is actually a good thing because it
makes the new Stunt flier learn to contour
the corner with precise control inputs
rather than “hammer” the turns, as flapped
models allow. John D’Ottavio once gave
me a valuable piece of information about
Stunt flying.
“Fly through the corners—not to the
corners,” he said.
By flying through the corners rather
than just using full control to make the
model rotate, the pilot learns how to
accurately place the airplane exactly where
he or she wants it to go. It’s subtle, but it
is one of the most important lessons to
learn in making maneuvers look precise.
You need to be able to connect the
corners and the flats in such a manner that
it looks like (and in fact is) one continuous
motion. A flapless aircraft makes you
work at this, and it makes you a much
better flapped-model pilot when that time
comes.
The good news is that Brodak
Manufacturing has reprised the Flite
Streak Junior (item CLP-42) and the larger
original Flite Streak (item CLP-43) in kit
form. The company also produces a
similar design, in kit form, called the
Lightning Streak (item CLP-23), which
would also serve our training purposes.
Numerous capable and competent
nonflapped ARFs are available as well.
However, I’m going to hold off discussing
them until later because the aim of this
particular project is to learn to build and
fly!
The Hole Shot: I am going to focus on
the Hole Shot as the design for this
construction project. If you are building a
different model from plans, the majority
of what we will discuss will relate one to
one.
If you are building from a kit, most
(probably all) of the parts-cutting work
will have been done for you. That is fine,
but I advise you to, at some point, build a
model from plans so you will learn how to
duplicate the parts shown on the print in
wood. If you intend to compete in Stunt in
the future, learning to build well is
imperative.
The Hole Shot can fly equally well
built with either a foam-core wing or a
built-up wing. The choice of which to use
is yours.
If you opt for the foam-wing variant,
you must take extra pains to keep the
model light. All that sheeting, glue, and
foam weighs more than the air between a
built-up wing’s ribs!
Why even consider a foam wing?
Guaranteed accuracy! A properly cut and
covered foam wing will be free of warps
and remain so throughout the model’s
lifetime. In addition, foam-winged models
are quite a bit more durable.
Built-up wings may be more difficult
to construct accurately initially, and they
are more prone to “move” significantly
with temperature and humidity changes.
(Ask me about how those weather
variables affected my electrified Genesis
at the 2006 CL World Championships.)
However, built-up wings are generally a
few ounces lighter than “foamers.”
Foam cores and fully sheeted foam
wings for the Hole Shot are available
from Aero Products. The original Hole
Shot and several subsequent models were
constructed with foam-core wings, but
some built-up versions were also
produced. They all seem to fly well.
The aesthetics of the original Hole
Shot’s fuselage were fairly bland because
it was hastily designed and constructed to
allow my son, Robby, to have something
with which to learn to fly the pattern
maneuvers. That was back in 1989!
Not many pains were taken to add flair
to the design. We got adventurous with
fuselage shapes on subsequent Hole Shots
and even had a contest to see who in our
design group could come up with the most
unusual/pleasing/weird profile. Dean
Pappas’s brother, Larry, won the contest
by applying an abstract side-view shape of
his Citroen car. It was wild!
Dean drew a design he called
“Organum,” which was sleek, organiclooking,
and plenty weird, just like Dean
(except for the “sleek” part ... ). Mike
Spedaliere drew one that featured the lines
of his popular Professor series of Stunters.
Robby and I concocted a more
parochial-looking side view, but it suited
the need. A slightly modified/updated
version of that profile is the one shown on
the main plans.
Don’t hesitate to use the engine/
wing/tail placement shown on the plans to
draw a side-view design of your own.
Almost any shape will work as long as
you do not go to extremes in adding too
much aft side area. Hey, experimentation
is also part of CL Stunt flying!
I’ll stop here on this subject for this
month. By the next time (the January
column) you should have made a decision
about what design you want to build and
have the plans or kit in hand.
Til next time, fly Stunt! MA
Sources:
Aero Products
(678) 407-9376
www.aeroproduct.net
Brodak Manufacturing
(724) 966-2726
www.brodak.com
Curt Nixon
(734) 266-7273 (That is also the fax order
line.)
E-mail: [email protected]
FM Plans Directory:
(973) 383-3355
E-mail: [email protected]
PAMPA
www.control-line.org/DesktopDefault.aspx
Sig Manufacturing
(641) 623-5154
www.sigmfg.com
Stuka Stunt Control Line Forums
www.clstunt.com/htdocs/dc/dcboard.php
