Simple Gliders

Regarding elliptical (or semi-elliptical) versus squared wings, I remember that the North Pacific gliders and rubber powered cheaper ones were squared. The 5 and 10 cent gliders had squared off tips with edge slightly rounded. The 15 cent Skeeter rubber powered had squared wing tips slightly smaller than the 25 cent Sleek Streek, which had rounded wing tips and slightly larger wings with more wing area. (These were mid 1960's prices retail in Biloxi, Mississippi.)

However, allowances didn't go far, so I learned that I could salvage the landing gear on a very hard used and broken Sleek Streek on the Skeeter, which came without landing gear but flew fine as ROG (rise off ground) when landing gear was added. The Skeeter at times was my go-to plane, because it was 10 cents cheaper than the Sleek Streek.

I kept these planes as best repaired as I could, using the model airplane cements of the day for balsa wood, Pactra, Comet, Ambroid, Guillow, and etc.

The sheet balsa surfaces were easily mended with glue and extended their flight worthiness. Thus, what only lasted a couple days for some kids would last for weeks with me.

Also I did some experimenting by taking two crashed Sleek Streeks and halving the elevator, used that as wings. It flew faster with the smaller wing area, but it flew.

ROG was a lot of fun and could entertain for hours during the calmer morning and afternoons in the Gulf Coast school yards and friend's house yards.

During windier weather, I flew the 10 and 15 cent North Pacific paper and spruce stick kites. These had the images of the Korean War jet fighters like the F-86, F-90 series, Grumman Navy Panther, F-84, Mig-15, and etc. in pastel colors with black screen print, light red (pinkish), orange, green, blue, and etc. (As far as I recall, you didn't know what plane you had until you unrolled the kite.) The kites required a tail for ballast stability, but they were easy to fly, relatively foolproof. Fun was affordable.

Interesting theory on elliptical wings Dave, Very well could be!! …. It seems they were very popular in the 30’s and 40’s…

Thanks for sharing the nice memories George…. Mine are very similar with those North Pacific ready to fly’s as a kid…. I’m sure nearly all our CEF members are similar, Most here seem to be from that generation….. I don’t think we realized at the time we were learning basic aerodynamics, Fun times

Tacked together enough to check the balance point set at 50% chord on the wing…The blob of clay weighed six grams but didn’t want to keep it permanently so I buried the same amount of lead in the nose…. Also cut the wing apart to get ready to sand in the bevel and glue back together to set dihedral….A good time to check how the airfoil at the root turned out as well….

Another "Work of Art" in progress Robert!!!

Wing drying in its dihedral jig and finishing up trim work…. The dihedral has 3” under each tip but that what was spec’d …..Seems like a lot for a 20” glider…..Ought to turn a tight circle…

Love the Keith Laumer styled wing decoration including the large number 20, Robert. Brings good memories.

Hey I like the jig for the wing dihedral set up very ingénues, that does seem like a lot but by the plans what you do /// its looking good , bird in the sky

roddie wrote:Another "Work of Art" in progress Robert!!

Thanks Roddie!!

GallopingGhostler wrote:Love the Keith Laumer styled wing decoration including the large number 20, Robert. Brings good memories.

Thanks George, Laumer’s numbers on his planes seem to coincide with the year he designed them, Some are even shown on the plans…. Zaic didn’t specify the number but he did spec the red trim color ….

Getback wrote:its looking good , bird in the sky

Thanks Eric, Seems like when they were presented in a sketch or ad they were shown as flying…. I found this ad in an old magazine….



Gluing up the wing in a simple jig to hold it level…Set the stab tilt and incidence at the same time…Wing is canted slightly to the left as well….

No parts left to glue together ….. Need to make up a cat launcher, 66 yo arm won’t be throwing it that much!!….

First outing looks good…. Trimming to fly a right launch then transition to a left circle…..Temporary clay weights and warps at the field then semi permanent changes at home before we try again…. Easier to throw for an old guy than I expected….Got my wife to take a few photos…..

I was awaiting the CAL - Catapult Assisted Launch Robert. But it seems the RAL worked as well.

Looks good up there.

Thanks Bob!….. That softball field is on my way to town so I can get a few flights in from time to time….. Sliding in to 2nd!!

OH Boy goods to see it in the air !! You can throw a lot higher than i can LOL She does look good soring ! Maybe show sometime how you can trim to go one way then another ?? Lost me there I hope it flew as good as you thought it would .

getback wrote:Maybe show sometime how you can trim to go one way then another ??

Thanks Eric ….. The way it’s “supposed “ to work is that a few things are made into it while it’s being built to make it want to turn left…. Stabilizer tilt, Right inboard wing warped down at the trailing edge…. Wing canted to the left a little…..Maybe a tiny bit of left rudder…. With all that “left” built in built in you have to launch with the plane in a right bank or the left bias would over power at higher speeds and it might spiral in….Lefties would do the opposite of all this….

Turns out I did not build enough “left” into it …. I wanted it to make about 75’ circles and they’re way too big now….. You can see the blob of clay that’s on the left wing tip in the last photo for trying to compensate at the field….. Needs more tweaks in the shop before next time out…

rdw777 wrote:….. Need to make up a cat launcher, 66 yo arm won’t be throwing it that much!!….

My right shoulder is aching.. just looking at this photo..



But this sight had to put a smile on your face!

Roddie wrote:But this sight had to put a smile on your face!

It sure did Roddie….Something very “fundamental “ to just chunk one in the air and see what happens

Thanks Robert , that would take some practice to get it built right / with me would bee Luck LOL

rdw777 wrote:First outing looks good…. Trimming to fly a right launch then transition to a left circle…..Temporary clay weights and warps at the field then semi permanent changes at home before we try again…. Easier to throw for an old guy than I expected….Got my wife to take a few photos…..

Robert, that last photo of yours is a classic, brings back happy memories of my life with these simple powerless wonders that kept me entertained for hours as an adolescent.

Speaking of the devil   , I picked these up yesterday afternoon at the Tractor Supply store:


Thinking of them as stocking stuffers for the grand kids.

These Guillow kits, the rubbered powered ones are a throwback to the old North Pacitic Skeeter without landing gear, costed me a whopping $0.15 US in the mid 1960's. $0.15 given inflation is now $1.50 (897.4% inflation rate). Using the same inflation calculator https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/, Those kits on clearance (about half price IMO) at $5 each would back in the mid 1960's cost $0.50 each.

Reason for the higher cost now is the cost of manufacturing has gone up given smaller quantities. (This is something that both Bernie @Cox International and Matt @ExModelEngines both are very familiar with.)

It used to be that everything including the box was made in US. These simple flying wonders were made in the tens of thousands per year per model and were widely available in every grocery store and department store around, not just specialty stores. So common were they that one would most likely not see them in the hobby shop stores, although some did carry them.

Roberto, how beautiful that glider...I like the lines and the decoration, you always do finely finished work!...I admire it!
I see the launch, I'm sure you're having fun, your wife has captured the moment perfectly!...it's very good that she accompanies you to "play with our chiches"....a hug for you two!, friends!

GallopingGhostler wrote:brings back happy memories of my life

I’m glad it sparked pleasant memories George ….. I remember those 15 cent “Skeeters” you mentioned too…. Also the .25 Sleek Streek though it wasn’t always possible to get a quarter from mom…..Lots of fun on those inexpensive North Pacific gliders too…. As we got older sometimes fireworks were involved with the gliders   …. Good on you for getting the grandkids the Guillows ready to fly’s…..You might just plant a seed for a future modeler!!….. They’ll enjoy you showing them how to make it work best

Mauricio wrote:I'm sure you're having fun, your wife has captured the moment perfectly!...it's very good that she accompanies you to "play with our chiches"....a hug for you two!, friends!

Gracias Mauricio!!!….I am fortunate my esposita is very supportive of my building and flying models…..She is usually working when I go to the remote flying site….. So something like the glider on a field close by works well too  

This is how the Guillow glider looks after assembly. 2-YO grandson was happy hand launching to flight.

That’s just too cool George…..The thought of your young grandson launching it gives me smile …..

Robert

One more for the glider team….. Made it for my wife since she has been enjoying those outings….. Sweepette - 14” version… Designed by Lee Hines…..Yellow is India Ink followed by two thin coats of spar varnish….. Then the trim from a spray can….. Last, A thin coat of wax on the wing and fuse….10 grams ready to fly…. Will get some flight shots when the weather cooperates ….