Denny,
I commend you on your research of Jack’s Swept Wingers.
Your table shows the “Sea Vixen” having a 52” span. The FM plans page description says 56”. That made me call Jack, and he confirmed that the FM drawing (52") is wrong. The actual wing span was indeed 56”. If you look at the many construction pictures I have shown of my “Sea Vixen” progress, you will see red lines on my drawing where I made the changes that Jack told me to make in order to have an airplane that was true to his. The boom side detail was also omitted from the FM drawing (although Jack had it on the plan he submitted). Jack told me to make the booms the length shown on the side view of the FM drawing, at the location shown in the plan view. This makes the actual tail moment length longer due to the hinge line sweep.
Another blaring mistake on the FM drawing was the height of the I-beam at the wing root. This was a pure drafting error that resulted in the spar height being ¼” too short. I had to make a second spar because I did not check that dimension before I started the spar.
I have some points to add, on Swept Wing Stunt history. I hope that maybe some people can add more, since I certainly am not an expert on the total history.
There were some swept wingers before Jack’s, notably: The “Wicked Witch”; “Curtiss Special” Lloyd Curtiss 12/56 American Modeler; and “King Sweep” Larry Grogan, 9/59. The“Super Sonic”,by Bernie Ash, 7/66 Flying Models, was probably influenced by Jack,since Bernie flew with Jack.
Jack obviously did more development with the Swept Wing Stunters than any one else. He even had an RC version of the “Sea Vixen”.
It is interesting to note that the theories concerning a swept forward hinge line are directly opposite to the swept wingers.
The only recent Swept Winger that I can think of is Don Hutchinson’s “F-86”. I have seen that airplane fly many times, and can attest to it being a very good flying stunter. Don also had a profile version of the F-86 that flew very well. That airplane and the many new scale type stunters have made me think that we have been very restricted in our thinking in the past. With a new open mind, this hopefully will lead to some interesting new designs.
I can only add that any new design Swept Wingers will be a testament to Jack’s developments, and out of the box thinking. His constant desire to push the envelope continues today, with a new airplane that he is currently working on for CL Scale.
This is why he certainly deserves the honor of having a perpetual award in his name at VSC.
Topic: Sheeks Swept Wing Progression (Read 1121 times)