Free Flight: Duration
FORTY-NINER Power class, revisited. In my May column, I ran an item on this event and credited it to the Scale Staffel club, inasmuch as the rules I published were swiped from its publication. However, it appears that the event originated with the Orbiteers. In addition, the most recent rules are a wee bit different from the ones I presented. The differences are: Maximum dimensions are 49 by 49 in., not 48 as I stated; Engine is stock, reed valve, direct-drive Cox or Testors .049; Minimum official flight time is 40 sec.; and unlimited attempts to make three official flights are permitted. In the scoring formula, the engine run is to be to the nearest whole second, not the nearest 1/5 sec., which I objected to.
Free Flight: Duration
IN THE LEAD ITEM in my January 1984 column, titled "Strange configuration," I presented the "joined-wing" concept, although I didn't call it that, invented by Dr. Julian Wolkovitch. Shortly after publication of that issue (and before my copy arrived!) I received a phone call from Dr. Wolkovitch, and later a copy of a letter addressed to the Editor, taking me to task for many aspects of my presentation. Dr. Wolkovitch's letter follows: December 4, 1983
Free Flight: Duration
FOAM FAME. Anthony Vaughn's Nats-winning Indoor Hand-Launch Glider has new technology. Tony's 1982 win was the culmination of experimentation with foam gliders spanning 10 years. Beginning with tiny 12-inchers to be flown under streetlights at night, he progressed to slightly larger gliders when an armory having a 37-ft. ceiling became available for flying. Feeling that somewhat larger gliders would fly longer, he built some with 50 sq. in. of wing area having wingspans of 16-17 in. and weights of about 6 grams. There was only one problem; the wings folded on the launch. This was cured by gluing tissue to the wing surfaces, top and bottom, and soon he was getting flights of 40 to 42 sec.
Free Flight: Duration
STRANGE configuration. I saw a photo of a wind-tunnel model, similar to the one shown in the sketch, being tested at Langley Research Center. Thinking it might have some conceivable relation to Free Flight modeling, I checked it out with my chief technical consultant, W. Hewitt Phillips. As the configuration was originally envisioned by Julian Walkowitz, an engineer at Wright Patterson AFB, the wing and tail joined at the tips of the high-aspect-ratio surfaces. The idea was that the wing and tail would brace each other, giving a stiffer structure and hence a higher flutter speed. However, the stiffness increase is not nearly so great as its truss-like front-view appearance would lead one to believe. Raise the nose a bit, and the whole thing suddenly becomes a lot thinner. The idea was applied, in somewhat modified form, by Burt Rutan, to a proposed agricultural aircraft looking somewhat like my sketch.
Free Flight: Duration
Model Aviation's regular Free Flight Duration Contributing Editor, Bob Meuser, is taking a well-deserved rest from his writing chores. We have asked freelance writer and publisher Bill Hartill to fill in for him this month. Bill is an internationally-known Free Flight competitor of long standing. AFTER a dry spell of 22 years, the U.S.A. at long last has a Free Flight World Champion. Matt Gewain of Florida brought home the Swedish Glider Cup from Australia. Matt now heads the list of 11 U.S. Champions and joins Gerry Ritz as the only U.S.A. A-2 Nordic Glider Champions. Jim Wilson has flown with Matt as much as anyone. Here are Jim's impressions of the new Champion.
