Free Flight: Old-Timers

Free Flight Old- Timers Clarence Haught CLASSIC Old-Timers used classics definition another everything fly classic us have special model consid er classic classics all-time classic has Sal Taibis Powerhouse like models resemble real air planes fly lots OT pylon ships host AMA-FAL pylon models something special about cabin modeland particularly Power house model has just right blend lines both straight curved create air elegance attained designs Sals design originally published Model Airplane News repub lished March 1974 issue Model Builder Hundreds examples have scratch-built used partial kits available recently Champion Model Airplane Company PO Box 891 Woodbridge NJ 07095 has produced excellent kit enabling get Powerhouse air record time vital factor todays busy world spare time scarce commodity us kit arrived strong shipping con tainer enclosed equally strong attractively-labeled box know box just box its adequate kit can need repair before construction starts Inside box few nice surprises curved parts wing tips stabilizer rudder outlines sawn placed labeled plastic bags Plywood parts cleanly cut Stripwood bundled labeled its intended use Ribs die cut good balsa stock stabilizer leading edge prelaminated proper curvature wire parts formed lower forward curved longe ron portions saw-cut ease fuselage construction rolled plans Free Flight version RC control outlines shown dotted lines As near can tell same original exception plywood re inforcement plates landing gear area manufacturer states Right TimerInternal Power Booster Coil Side Flight Timer X 6 Coil Booster Common -with Landing Gear Engine Crankcase 6 lgnltlonsystem wiring diagram sent along Martin Gettig manufacturer miniature ignition components Note features grounded landing gear wire simplify connecting booster batteries used f starting old days modelers used auto motive-type capacitor mounted engine lug wire going directly engine timer pointsand dem wire always used break spade lug points due flexing Note capacitor system will never subject kind failurel beginners model cant life see Powerhouse builds straightforward flies well Building big box fuselage pure joy fundamental model airplaning dope tissue first powered RC model 80%-scaled-down Powerhouse three channels Being old Free Flighter wanted model could take care itself fly spite Power house surely did got trouble release controls let right itselfgiven enough altitude course Free Flight column back subject few years ago Salt Lake SAM Champs pleasure privilege dining Sal Taibi gave few tips setting up Powerhouse Sal says ship should balance 33% 40% wing chord back leading edge would stay 33% figure until fine-trimming glide Sal uses 80 l0 degrees downthrust Continued Page 148 62 Model Aviation Paul Llndbergs dealns always dell cate gracefulIlke Fairchild 22 photo Paul Molirath eIaom-DuII1 wesiwina recognizanie its Bob Longstreet has prepared Orwick Stinson Reliant-typo windshield Model 64-powered Powerhouse anv available kitted both Monarch Reginald Den flying site making both ree Flight ny its steady filer old-fashioned RC Assist good FF sites getting machine-cut prop Molirath photo harder find idea has merit applied before can start apply down-elevator outside maneuvers know fact phenomenon has led some pilots incorrect belief ships didnt turn well outside know because Ive flown handle setup turned outside just fine controversial whether handle can built grip biased natural grip fashion similar Bobby Hunts inflight-adjust able handle late Seventies would give qualified yes designer careful insure line-attach points directly above another natural position also equal distance above below median line neutral risk getting myself trouble again real good patterns Ive seen flown biased-type handle flown Bobby Hunt Bobbys flam boyant flying style lots arm body input equally unique Almost other exceptional fliers Ive watched over last 10 years flew style typified symmetrical handle held vertically between shoulder eye height level flight Most maneuvering accomplished hand wrist inputs control handle rather flamboyant arm body gestures Jimmy Casale probably balletic current fliers uses body movements primarily position himself airplane Almost actual control inputs come hand wrist plus distinctive thumb-push top handle outside corner Ip summary would appear ideal handle given airplane would t comfortable angles hand wrist motion would provide ade quate line displacement provide full available control deflection Control feel should adjusted overhang allow control loads can overcome com fortably hand wrist motion out resorting large arm gestures yet forces should made light pilot hs no feel control inputs Such condition would make flight erratic jumpy Lastly handle should designed neutral control results balanced Up Down line forces airplane stable level flight ideally opin ion handle vertical last piece advice design own handle sure include U-shaped projections above below hand grip make position index little fingers contact handle gripped addition insuring handle always gripped same posi tion projections allow minor trim ming inputs made little nudges fingers discovered impor tance through flying number ffights handle similar other respect Hot Rock-type finding myself unable fly consistent shapes bottoms Upon reverting back old handle able feel little nudges tweaks giving arms unable other handle proceeded add simple balsa arms offending handle Martine built Baron adjustable-type immedi ately fell love same handle have now used since 1977 hope proves useful Fly Stunt Ted Fancher 158 Flying Cloud Isle Foster City CA 944cJy FF Old-Timers/Haught Continued page 62 Remember uses Forster 99 less-powerful engine could get less subject powerplants aircraft needs strong 60 O&R 60 sideports have trouble lugging Powerhouse upstairs will fly smaller engines can quite well Texaco-type fuel allotment events shallow cruisingtype climb fuel economy desired recommended 20 left thrust helps establish natural left climb cabin model Sal offsets rudder tab offset right turn Thus climbs left glides right safe stable pattern OT cabin model fliers prefer glide same direction climb feeling aids smooth transition reduces possibility flying out thermal provided model launched However left-left pattern usually requires washin left wing hold panel up during climb panel going through air slower right thus needs added cidence generate lift lower airspeed help establish glide turn through increased drag would probably better off following Sals specifications fly left-right Avoid warps during covering phase construction particularly stabil izer structure does have builtin warp resistance course model like Powerhouse deserves covered silk preferably finished nitrate dope has little less tendency pull warps does butyrate Bill Baker writes informative Old-Timer column Free Flight publication National Free Flight Society wrote briefly about Power house March 1983 issue discus sion Sal revealed four- five- six-foot span versions men tioned original MAN article various sizes flown aware would allow modelers smaller engines smaller cars en joy design SAM rules allow scaling original designs up down RC use Free Flighters restricted origi nal-sizes six-footer would about right sideport O&R 60 good 29 would fly five-footer four-foot version could powered 19 23 engines final advantage Powerhouse design its forward-placed propellersaving landing gear An important feature day hand-carved propellersand still important today given high cost large-diameter propellers ward axle location also handy using heavy wheels bring balance point within limits long tail can get heavy 148 Model Aviation Clarence Haught 3226 Honeysuckle Dr Coeur dAlene ID 83814 jjSSOCIATES INC CLOUD 2658WAY KARD CA NMOA5 p SOOv UGlY_____ 2- AGMUOTS SOALK PLANES SAYS ISIS TOLD ME SO /