Autogiros
Autogiros, unlike traditional airplanes, offer unique flight capabilities and maneuvers. Hal deBolt discusses their modeling potential and development challenges, highlighting their control and versatility.
Shoestring
DO YOU ADMIRE the clean lines and
beauty of a particular aircraft and tell
yourself, “Someday I must model that pretty
one!”? So it has been with me and the
Shoestring. However, it would be a complex
effort if it were built using normal
construction methods. In my ongoing
investigation,
How to Trim a Model: Part II
CONTINUING last month's discussion, I'll now show you how to develop two force arrangements (FAs). You will need to refer to that first part in the February issue, and it would also be helpful to have my "A Primer on Aerodynamics" article from the September 1992 issue on hand as well. I'm assuming that you've decided on the general arrangement of the design that will meet your objectives. I expect that it has been arrived at from experience-either yours or someone else's-or perhaps just a chosen commercial design. You should have selected the style of airfoil (undercambered, flat-bottomed, semisymmetrical, or symmetrical) and the angle of attack you're going to use.
Aerodynamic Investigations: Part One
WHEN YOU ARE in the mainstream of model activities, it seems there is never enough time to do what needs to be done to get you to the next action. Along the way you see possibilities you would like to look into, but the needed time flies by. When you retire from the action, unless the rocking chair beckons, time is available to investigate some of the "if I ever get to it" items. With that thought, I have spent the last two years investigating. Some of my findings were surprising, and all seem worthy to pass on to you. The objective was to use basic aerodynamics to find methods of improving performance and/or to solving problems. Electrics, my current phase of modeling, make ideal vehicles for research.
Aerodynamic Investigations Part Two
PART ONE of this report we investigated wing design parameters. In part two we will study horizontal tails, winglets, and force arrangements. HORIZONTAL TAILS When the thin, undercambered Davis wing airfoil required a marked increase in tail lift to create a proper lift proportion for stable flight, the door was opened for an investigation into horizontal tails. Lift can be adjusted using any of three factors: Area, airfoil or angle of attack. Our standard stabilizer's area is 25% of the wing area and has a 6% flat-bottom airfoil. This proved usable with all of the wings and other changes investigated. However, an investigation of all factors seemed worthwhile, so a program of that nature was initiated, using the "problem" thin Davis airfoil for the wing.
