Fastest Pylon racer at the 1962 Nats goes electric
Weldon Smith first designed and flew the Talon Zephyr in 1961. It was powered by a Cox Tee Dee .15 engine to conform with RC Pylon Racing rules and was the fastest airplane at the 1962 National Aeromodeling Championships. Unfortunately, pilot error cost Weldon first place.
His electric version was built from 1 x 2-inch wood using the original plans’ dimensions. All of the sheet balsa was 3/32- to 6-pound-density stock except where noted. The LE spar looked similar to a boomerang when it was assembled.
The front of the boomerang was doubled on the top, with 1/64 plywood back to the indicator line. The plans also called for 1/64 plywood on the bottom of the center section of the wing, but it could be left off if flying from grass fields or with optional landing gear.
The hatch for the batteries and ESC was made from 3/32 sheet with the grain spanwise. Hooks kept it in place after it was installed, but zippers, colored to match the silk and modeling dope covering, were added to each side of the hatch from the rear forward beyond the hatch into “pockets” in the front sheeting, making it easier to service the aircraft.
Weldon built servos into the wings, but stated that hatches could be added. He noted that FMA Direct sold microservos that were small enough that they could be used in wings and were flat with arms that extended out the top, offering sufficient power to individually operate the ailerons.
Weldon gave the options of launching with a catapult or with a pedal launcher. A hardwood launching hook, reinforced with 1/4 triangle stock, was installed on the bottom of the frame. The Electric Zephyr weighed 42 to 48 ounces, depending on the engine and batteries used. This was 2 to 8 more ounces than his original Talon Zephyr.
“The weight ‘disadvantage’ is not apparent when the airplane is in the air, except perhaps in vertical performance,” he noted. “The Electric Zephyr will climb vertically, but not forever.”
His last words were of caution and to remember one thing on takeoff: forcing the model off without flying speed will result in a torque roll into the ground. Adding a great deal of power to go around when the aircraft is well slowed on approach will give the same result.
The Electric Zephyr was featured in the August 2003 MA as AMA Plans Service listing 946 and is available for $9 plus shipping and handling. AMA members can access MA’s Digital Library on the magazine’s website to read more about it.
See page 150 or go to www.modelaircraft.org/plans.aspx for ordering information.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
