Bob Nelitz

Editor's Note: When M A discussed with Bob Nelitz the publication of this Chipmunk it was agreed that the presentation as an AMA Scale plan would be a monumental task for both designer and magazine if all of the many fantastic details were to be properly depicted. Moreover, Stand-Off or Sport Scale is, by far, more popular. For these reasons, this presentation is for a Sport Scale version. However, a representative selection of photos display the designer's approach to duplicating details of the fullsize aircraft. Like all good designers, Bob has a design philosophy, a sense of how various factors-weight, structure, power, performance, etc.-come together when things are committed to paper. It is more than drafting a pretty airplane, then accepting weight as it falls, or sluggish or deficient flight characteristics. Weighing 11 pounds with a wing span of 86 in. (24 oz. wing loading) and Webra Speed power, the machine has appropriate performance and, what is vitally important, excellent handling qualities. If you are into Scale-even if you aren't building the Chipmunk-we urge you to read the article carefully, especially for overall impressions.