KA-10
For a number of years I have been drawn to developments in Control Line Precision Aerobatics outside the US. A model that caught my eye in the Aeromodeller coverage of the 1986 World Champs was the winning model of Anatoly Kolesnikov, flying for the Soviet Union. It is seen again, along with other finalists, in the videos of the 1988 World Champs in Kiev (still available from Windy Urtnowski). I was particularly interested in Kolesnikov's method of shutting down the engine exactly two laps after the last maneuver, with a quick pull on the lines. This mechanism was so effective that it was outlawed by FAI (Federation Aeronautique Internationale) in 1990! Over the years I have been trying to get data on the model and shutoff.
Phoenix
THIS MODEL was designed and built to prove a point-that a high-dollar, high-technology engine is not necessary to fly competition Precision Aerobatics. I feel the Phoenix has succeeded in proving this point, as it certainly is as able as anything on the contest circuit, and it is more reliable than most. Background: The Bob Palmer Thunderbird heritage is pretty obvious in the general shape of the wing and tail surfaces. I have always liked the looks of the T-bird
Smsmosmoosmoother
AT THE 1983 NATIONALS I had many people ask me if the Stunter I was flying was a modified Smoothie. In fact, it was a modified Thunderbird. I began to feel obliged to build a modified Smoothie to show the difference. The result is the model you see here. I am drawn to the older, more classic designs-such as the Smoothie and Thunderbird-but in general I haven't been satisfied with the original design characteristics. This model, like the modified Thunderbird presented as the Phoenix construction article in a recent issue of Model Aviation, has many changes made to accommodate the current standards for performing the AMA Precision Aerobatics pattern.
Baby Bird
WHAT YOU SEE here was to be the "secret weapon" in 1/2A Stunt at a recent Nats. Alas, work responsibilities and care and involvement with my new son meant that the building schedule went out the window. Now it's finished and working well. Look out the next time! Some background is in order, as the Baby Bird is unusual in some respects. The basic design is a six-tenths scale-down of my Phoenix published a while back (February 1984) in Model Aviation. A more modern bubble canopy is used to simplify fuselage construction; most people seem to favor this style fuselage anyway. There is no separate cowl, again for simplicity, but also to allow ample airflow to carry away exhaust gases. If you want to get fancy, feel free to sculpt a cowl.
Thunderbird 60
"IF YOU CAN'T BEAT 'em, join 'em!" or so the saying goes. Well, this is my "join 'em" Stunter. After many years of preference for .35-size planes, I am forced to concede that the larger, more powerful model is necessary to be competitive at the national level. Although I am not entirely convinced, even yet, that the larger model flies substantially better, I've come to admit that the image it presents is a current requirement to "play the game" with success. Once I'd decided to move to a larger plane, I looked around at what others were doing. The New Jersey-New York area group were all flying SuperTigre-.60-powered models of widely varying sizes ranging from Windy Urtnowski's huge Sweepers to Glen Meador's Eagle, the latter being hardly larger than the models I had been flying with Fox .35s.
