Flicker
The Flicker was designed to fly the way that I wish it could if I could fit into it. There are no mysteries to the parameters that enable an airplane to fly within the particular flight envelope envisioned, but there are many subtleties blended together for the "feel" or personality of the airplane. It helps to think of these things as people, not to be put down by a pears-and-apples comparison. There is intentional whimsy and nostalgia in Flicker's persona, which hopefully may prove to be irresistible.
Osprey
Osprey may look somewhat like a trainer in that it has a high wing and tricycle landing gear; it is a more efficient aircraft than your average model and therefore it requires some experience and skill to fly it to its fullest capability. Osprey is aerodynamically clean, hence it is faster than a trainer. It also has a higher lift-to-drag ratio than a typical model; for the inexperienced, that could lead to difficulty on landing. While the skill level required to fly Osprey with confidence is above novice and well into intermediate, if you are qualified the performance rewards are definitely there. Osprey is light on the touch and fully responsive. All standard maneuvers can be done. It is fully inverted rated, is capable of extended soaring, and its short coupling can remind one of birdlike efficency. We fly along a rolling ridge. With an upslope breeze Osprey is capable of extended flight. It is bouyant in the wind. In a gusty wind, Bill Winter has surfed the sky with this model.
Soft Touch
Have you wished for a big airplane, but put it off because of the perceived negatives? Big airplanes fly far better than smaller ones, but do they intimidate you? Have you been spending your time building that special Scale model, and not flying? And need to brush-up? Or do you have a big "hangar queen" that you fly sparingly for fear of damage? Do you want something simple, big, easier and safer to fly than Sunday trainers? If so, consider this prospectus for the Soft Touch:
Duster
Preliminary specifications were discussed for a new .40-powered model with outstanding low-speed characteristics, with flight characteristics similar to the designer's classic Rookie of the early 1960s. It seemed logical to couple the design parameters of the Rookie with the long-nosed styling of a crop duster-thus the Duster. This model does not "push the envelope" with brute power and speed. Duster combines the more-realistic side of model performance with above-average aerobatic capability. The flight-test series showed that the Duster met or exceeded the design expectations, with solid performance in the moderate-to-low velocity areas, while not compromising the top end.
Ascender
THE NAMESAKE of the Ascender is the World War II Curtiss canard experimental fighter - an exciting design that never made it to production. Understanding of tail-first design has come a long way since the unique Curtiss fighter, with the XB-70 Valkyrie, the SAAB jet fighters, and Rutan's work. The QED model design (March 1996 Model Aviation) proved that the canard configuration had much to offer in stability without giving up anything in performance. Bill Winter's first delta canard, the Javelin (September 1997 RC Modeler), was developed for me and the way I like to fly - fast. In becoming familiar with the superb low-speed characteristics of a delta-wing-plus-canard configuration through the Javelin, Bill designed a second delta canard for the way he flies: a model that has sport-type speed and good, solid handling characteristics.
