A “most interesting” design from across the pond
Designer and inspiration
Britain’s Phillip Kent designed his model after the Alexander Aircraft Company’s Bullet, a cantilever low-wing monoplane with a retractable undercarriage, capable of transporting four people at a cruising speed of 150 mph.
Construction
Straightforward, built-up construction was used:
- Full-depth sheet balsa spars slotted to accept wing ribs.
- 3/16" balsa cabin parts covered with 1/64" plywood.
- Simple box fuselage filled out with stringers.
- Removable front cowl built up with layers of sheet balsa.
- Aileron bottom balsa burnished to give the proper upward curl.
The model had a 62-1/2" wingspan.
Powerplant
The model was originally designed for electric power, but because of the high initial cost Phillip switched to a Laser 50 four-stroke engine.
Covering and finish
Phillip’s first model was based on a Bullet test model X77IH with a silver color scheme. Sig Koverall covered the wing and fuselage, and Solartex was used on the tail surfaces and ailerons.
Flight history
The original model was heavily damaged in a crash after an aileron servo failed. For his second model, Phillip used the more attractive fin and rudder shape of aircraft X309V, with a forest green and silver paint scheme. According to Phillip, the model “flew straight off the board … landings and takeoffs were particularly easy on the grass field.”
Plans and ordering
AMA Plans Service listing 792, the Alexander Bullet, was featured in the November 1995 Model Aviation (MA) and is available for $24 plus shipping and handling. AMA members can access the digital archives on the magazine’s website to read more about it. See page 153 or go to www.modelaircraft.org/plans.aspx for ordering information.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
