deBolt 'Sportwing'

[Mike Keville]

Neat little design ... swept-forward wing, 36" span ... not much room for a tank, yet a delightful offbeat OTS flyer.  Flew them for sport back in the '50s with McCoy Sportsman .19s (saw one used in Combat at the '53 Nats, though no word on power).  It's a cute little thing, hardly competitive in OTS today, yet one was flown at a VSC a while back by Jim Thomerson (Diesel power?), and he sure had fun with it.  Wish we'd see more of them.

[Jim Thomerson]

It is a matter of getting them light enough.  A 19 oz airplane is scary in the vertical 8s, a 17 oz airplane not so much.  Surprisingly, they land and take off nicely.  As said, they will fly a recognizable OTS pattern.  The one slight unnoticable change I made was to move the thrust line up about 3/16 inch so the tank would sit on top of the wing, rather than having to make a cut out.  

I built my last three from Barry Baxter plans.  His plans don't show the CG which should be right where the leading edge of the wing meets the fuselage.  I made molded leading edges for the last two.

[Jim Thomerson]

Here is one of my Sportwings.

[builditright]

Here is one of my Sportwings.

I wonder if there's any interest in this one.

[Clint Ormosen]

I wonder if there's any interest in this one.

I'd buy one.

[Carl Cisneros]

oh, heck, yes.  wouldlove to build one.

[john vlna]

I'd love to see a kit of this one. Built one about 54 or 55 as I recall. Didn't last long my flying skills weren't that good back then.

[builditright]

I'd love to see a kit of this one. Built one about 54 or 55 as I recall. Didn't last long my flying skills weren't that good back then.

 I own the rights to it so maybe I should start a file on it..
Oh! that's right I'd need a plan and don't think I have one

[bob whitney]

Walter, i have full size kit plans for the Sport wing plus the half built plane