Radio Control Airplanes

by Michael Myers

Billy J's Sukhoi

Contents:

Scroll down to see:

• Scale models I've built and flown • Radio Controlled Autogyros • R/C Flying in the Snow • In-Flight Videos of the Head-Turning Pilot • "Flying Things"- See a radio-controlled flying witch, American Flag, doghouse, even a flying lawnmower! • Radio Control 3D Flying- a new style to test your nerves. • Radio Control Jets • Some more magnificent scale models

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Radio Control Airplanes is a most rewarding and enjoyable hobby with no limits to the skills one can develop both in building and flying. My planes are generally 5 to 6 foot wingspan with engines ranging from 6.5 to 15cc (.40 to .90 cubic inches).

Here are some fully aerobatic scale models I've built:

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Ryan STA- Exact 1/5 Scale with functional steel flying wires. Liberty Sport Biplane, outfitted with a smoke system. A Bridi XLT. Tuned pipe muffler under canopy, retracts- slick and clean. Here's a link to more photos of this airplane. An Extra 300S finished to resemble this full-scale airplane.<-- cool picture Stearman N2S-2, U. S. Navy markings. An exact 1/6 scale Zlin 526A Akrobat with smoke and retractable landing gear. A 3-D capable Yak-54. This kit comes mostly pre-built; I added a pumpless smoke system. British S.E.5- a World War I biplane. Very realistic flyer. Beechcraft Bonanza- This plane will do 100 mph, but I prefer half-throttle. Gee Bee Sportster- an old-time racer DeHavilland Chipmunk- a wonderful aerobatic model Clipped-Wing Piper Cub- Very scalelike and fun to fly. Here's this Cub on skis in the snow A Classic Kaos- designed for graceful precision aerobatics. A Smith Miniplane proving that you can put a smoke system on a small engine! Here's a photo of the plumbing system that makes the smoke. Here is a short movie (388K) showing the Miniplane drawing a smoke pretzel in the sky! Here's another short movie (220K) showing smoke on after takeoff.

Autogyros

Autogyros use an unpowered rotor on top to provide the lift instead of a conventional wing. There is an engine-powered propeller on the front to provide thrust.

Here is my model of a 1923 Cierva C.4 Autogyro.

Here is Dave's Kellett Autogyro.

The Tango

My Tango Autogyro, dual contrarotating rotors.

Here is a movie showing the Tango hovering down to a tailwheel-first landing

Joe's Tango, modified from the same plans.

Here's a short movie (160K) showing the Tango doing a roll

Here is a link to more pictures of the Tango

RC Flying in the Snow

I find that as long as it's sunny, 35F is quite tolerable with a pair of gloves with the tips of the thumbs cut off. At 40F you don't need the gloves.

What I like best is doing "touch-and-go's" in pristine snow. The snow is very smooth and absorbent of shock.

My Tango Autogyro and Clipped-Wing Piper Cub flying on snow skis.

My Head-Turning Pilot Video-Plane on skis.

Check this out:

A Great RC cartoon:

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Flying Things:

Here are some pictures of my buddy Joe's flying witch. She is lifesize and it is quite eerie to see her flying around with her cape flapping in the breeze. If you click on the first thumbnail below, you will see a propeller at the tip of her broomstick. The cape is black cloth on three spars and the broom "bristles" are really a rudder and elevator.

Click on an RC Model to view a larger image:

Joe's flying witch

The witch taking off.

This photo really captures the moment. Here's an enlargement of a portion of this photo. Here's how she looks on Halloween

Here is a video clip of Joe's witch in flight (260K) taken from a TV newscast. It is 3-1/2 seconds long, complete with sound. * If your browser cannot play back this video, click here for an animated GIF version (196K).

Joe's flying American Flag.

Joe's Flying Doghouse

Here is Larry's flying lawnmower.

How about a flying Stop Sign!

Please note: Neither Joe nor I have the plans for the witch, the flag, or the doghouse, so please don't ask me for them. : (

However, I read on usenet that The October 1980 issue of RCM Magazine has a construction article for Vroom Hilda, the Flying Witch.

Also plans for the doghouse are advertised in the Dec. 1996 Model Airplane News on page 86.
and plans for the Yard Bird which is a .60 size Flying Lawnmower can be found in the April 1977 issue of RCM on page 56.

Radio Control 3D Flying

The planes have powerful engines and large control surfaces and are able to hover and even roll with the nose up and tail sometimes touching the ground.

Here are some photos of 3-D flying in action:

An amazing 3-D helicopter. Note the exhaust showing the direction the helicopter is flying:

Here is a link to more in-flight photos of this 3D helicopter.

Other excellent scale models

Click on a thumbnail to view a larger image:

Helicopters.

Matt flying his helicopter inverted inches from the ground! One way to trim the grass!

Rudy's 12 foot DC-3. With working parachutist.

Here's Warren's 1/4 scale Piper Cub coming in for a landing.

These planes have realistic smoke systems.

Austin's Antic.

Alex's beautiful de Havilland Tigermoth.

A gorgeous scratch-built Tigermoth.

Charley's Fokker D VII.

Here's an in-flight shot of Dan's Fokker D VII.

Al's AT-6 Texan. and an in flight shot of his Clipped Wing Cub.

Billy with his 43% Cap 232.

Billy's Grumann F7F Tigercat.

Here's Mike's Cessna 182, modeled exactly after his friend's full-scale version. This is a model, not a full sized airplane!

Here, Mike set up his model next to the full-scale Cessna 182 it was modeled from

Dave's 1/3 Scale Laser 200. Handmade graphics.

Two more of Dave's beautiful scale models: a P-51 Mustang with handpainted nose art. and a P-40 Warhawk

Here's Dave's P-47 Thunderbolt coming in for a landing.

A PT-19 on a low flyby with flaps down and the pilot waving.

Dee's Spitfire.

A magnificent GeeBee Model R

Radio Control Jets:

The Bandit: A genuine turbine jet that flies at 200mph. You can have one for under $10,000.00.

Here's some of what it takes to start up the Bandit's turbine. Note the leaf blower, compressed air and propane tanks. It sounds as awesome as a real one! Here's more info on this model.

A fine scale turbine jet, a Russian Mig A more modern RC design allows the startup with the push of a remote button.

Here's Gene's HotSpot with a Jet Cat turbine. Very Hi-tech.

Turbine Helicopters!.

F-15: This is a different kind of RC jet called a ducted fan. Less complicated than the one above, a standard engine fits inside the fuselage with a fan for a propeller. Sort of like a flying vacuum cleaner, but very realistic in flight.

This is a twin ducted fan electric powered jet made of styrofoam.

Here is an F-16 with a conventional engine driven propeller on the front for power.

I'm curious...

Visit my Supertelephoto Site

I have an award winning Photo Gallery displaying some extraordinary photographs I took with a 1000 to 4000mm zoom lens. You can download free desktop pictures, see close-up bird portraits, moon craters and much more. A worthwhile click if you like the details of nature.

I like to receive comments about this page, but if you have general R/C questions, please direct them the newsgroup rec.models.rc.air where you can find a better variety of answers.

Try my Photo Gallery | Home | Desktop Pictures

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