This is a competition plane

cmulder Sat Sep 17, 2022 3:26 pm

Years ago there was a "Gentleman's Flying Cub" competition.
The goal was to carry a suitcase containing all required to fly and "Look The Part"
Points where given for; "style" , size of suitcase (smaller is better), flight duration (as close to 5 min as possible without the use of a timer) and spotlanding.

A friend had read about it in a magazine (this was way before the internet) and we desided to join.
He build a glider with a 3 piece wing and 2 part fuse with about 1.5 meter wingspan and a case to match.

I recently got a new td 0.010 and also had a ace pocket rocket.
So found a photo copy machine and scaled down the plan to fit the engine.
Made the wing profile templates out of circuit board epoxy board and carefully wirecut the wing out of roofmate.
Made the tail removable with a little m2 rod/nut and all this would just fit in a wooden box i had that used to contain toy carpenting tools.

The first test flight (above tall grass for good reason) was a total failure.
Way to high wingloading.

This was around the time my friend showed his model with the 3 piece wing.
So made another wing template and cut a constant chord wing panel as center.

Succes; not a glider in any way but a fun flying sport model as long the motor was running.
Once out of fuel it was a case of diving to the landing spot and flare to plop it down.

cmulder Sat Sep 17, 2022 3:46 pm

The day came and it was tuned out to be greath weather.
First round was presentation and judged by the wifes/ daughters of the organizing club members.
Folowed by the measuring of the case. For the flight task we where given 15 min for both the flight and to assemble the model.
This is where i saw all others where electric (brushed/ nicad still back then)... was a cox a smart choice after all? Smile

One "advantage" was that i did not have to worry about a 5 min flight; unless i cought the biggest thermal ever there was just no way it would stay up that long.
So went as high as i could see it and tried to make it fall as slow as i could and just dive at the landing target.

In the end because my case was the smallest by far and landed on top of the target the end result was second place. Smile

cmulder Sat Sep 17, 2022 3:48 pm

cmulder Sat Sep 17, 2022 3:49 pm

cmulder Sat Sep 17, 2022 3:50 pm

cmulder Sat Sep 17, 2022 3:52 pm

rsv1cox Sat Sep 17, 2022 5:13 pm

I enjoyed reading your story and looking at your pictures. At 2nd place you did very well and fitting all that in your small case is pretty amazing.

Bob

Marleysky Sat Sep 17, 2022 5:26 pm

cmulder wrote:Years ago there was a "Gentleman's Flying Cub" competition.
The goal was to carry a suitcase containing all required to fly and "Look The Part"
Points where given for; "style" , size of suitcase (smaller is better), flight duration (as close to 5 min as possible without the use of a timer) and spotlanding.

Years ago, Gentleman with suitcase flying machine;
(google images)

MauricioB Sat Sep 17, 2022 11:03 pm

I really liked the adventure you describe. I like smaller models more and more. I take a Cox .010 in my hand and I can't explain everything I feel, I don't know whether to start it, fly it or eat it, it's amazing what this little wonder generates!

getback Sun Sep 18, 2022 10:30 am

That is soo cool !~~ Pretty wild event if i must say and Thumbs Up

on 2nd place Nice show ! Beer Cheers

davidll1984 Sun Sep 18, 2022 11:28 am

Very good way to store an airplane to protect it The smaller the better I myself have some model which can be dismantled very practical for storage. the plane stay clean from the dust and the color won't fade with Sun. One of m'y modified piper cub Is built in a way to be able to clip the wings in place retained with magnets and small fasteners to secure them in place RC Plane

rdw777 Sun Sep 18, 2022 4:41 pm

Neat idea and sounds like something I would like to do…. Takes a good bit of thought to get it all in one case and make it happen….. And congratulations on the second place!!! Worth the effort….

Not a suitcase but a cardboard box from two modified boot boxes…. When I traveled a lot with work I took my Ace Littlest Stik with me…. Had everything inside ready to go…Four charged batteries…..Flew many times and at several different fields with that plane

cmulder Sun Sep 18, 2022 6:04 pm

The competition was a lovely idea.
One of the many things enjoyable was that it was one of the most polite "competitions" that i been to.
Most time was spend drinking tea (obviously Wink

and discussing the diferent ways people aproached the diferent tasks.
Saw some skillfully build models and some "interesting" fasion statements Smile

The model itself has not flown since; its now more a conversation piece that comes out to show people and a reminder of the good memmories made.

Good times Smile

GallopingGhostler Mon Sep 19, 2022 12:03 pm

The portable Littlest Stick concept reminds me of my Pee Wee powered Roaring 20 that I built in 1973. I made the elevator removable, it was easy to pack away in my footlocker. A pint can of Cox or Testors half-A fuel was the same size as the can of Brasso that all us soldiers had to have, to polish the brass on our uniforms. I could get away with it as back then, they had no qualms about small personal items as long as they were legal.

My flying field was walking distance, about a half-mile away. (Then, I had no transportation.)

Somewhere, I have a photo of it (print from a 110mm negative), but it is squirreled away in a box somewhere.

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Thanks for the kind words :)

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