Electronics added to a stunter

[Clancy Arnold]

How would a Stunt model be if it has electronics control through the flying line to control retracts.  It would be easy to also rig a fuel shutoff.  I think it would be fun to complete the pattern and after the two laps call "landing" and set down with the the prop still turning.  The judges would have to score your landing higher than normal because you landed like a real airplane would.
Clancy

[peabody]

Nifty concept...
But, in both AMA and FAI competition, illegal.
Retracts add a bunch of weight as well...

[Bob Hudak]

It's been done already. I remember a article in Flying Models where retracts were installed on a P 51 Mustang stunter by a Top Gun flyer,it was in the late 90's. It was said to fly remarkably well. I don't remember who the builder was.

[wmiii]

 Might have been Bob Whitely, saw one fly in Tucson, in the 90's. Seemed to work well. Bob did indeed have a P-51 with retracts, that was the one I saw fly in Tucson.

 Walter

[peabody]

I believe that it was Bill Werwage....he used a timer to pick the retracts up and lack of engine vibration to lower the gear. The thought was that the weight gain would be overcome by the better efficiency of the airframe.

I believe that Bill's were never used in competition....

Windy used a Z-tron as throttle control and it was outlawed.

[Shultzie]

I watched Dave Gierke demo his light weight---through the lines retracts and engine shut off.
OK! You old stunt-grunts.....Dave published an article on this beautiful model in------------????Was it MAN, Flying models or AAM?

Bye the way.....those retracts of Dave's were lighter than a great  of the stunt grunt's "in the wing" non-retracts LG configurations that I have seen over the years.
If weight is that much of an issue....humm? You might review your building practices....

[Shultzie]

OK!
It was Dave Geirke's All American Eagle  in Model Airplane News..
Plan # 81 and was a 2 page article.....
It may still be available....$16.00

I have those plans....some where in my plan baggy somewhere???
That model was truly a typical piece of flying art.
If you ever would want a humbling experience...Can you imagine just how I felt, when Dave brought that beautiful All American Eagle out to the flight line and set it down next to my  greeesieee' old battle-axe.
Those beautiful Novi's and All American Eagle planes of Dave's were truly somethin' to "go to school on.

[Dwayne]

I thought it was Al Rabe, or maybe it was a Rabe Mustang that was used, anywho they worked off a timer that had a sound sensor , When the plane took off the timer would raise the gear then when the engine quit the sensor would sensing no sound  lower the gear.
Dwayne

[W.D. Roland]

way back yonder when i was young--last century at least+25 years or more.

i was designing a retract set up for c/l that would be legal today

i had forgoten about it  until digging for one of my combat designs the other night and ran across sketches

this is basicly how it would have worked

1 wheels mounted on short lever on landing gear
   small cable hooked to lever
   when weight of airplane is taken off of gear cable would opperate spring loaded valve.
2 valve is inline between retract cylinder and resivour tank.
   tank is filled with crank case pressure through check valve(made from tire valve stem!)
  resivour tank needed to isolate engine from retract cyl opperation
3 when engine quit a built in bleed would bleed pressure off and alow gear to                           
   drop--gear would be spring loaded towards down position.
   bleed would be adjustable possibly made from a needle valve assy.

   never did decide if bleed would effect engine as it would be like a small crank case leak but only under press not vac and it would be a consistant all the time leak--bushing engines leak along crank--some alot and all engines leak some through exaust port past piston even with out sub induction.
 would this straw break camels back?

 i think it would be ok and work fine--how to build it light enough?

will scan and post the drawings if any intrest
if i remember ther was an airplane drawing (design) to go with it with all details worked out the best a 13 year old could.

  David

[john e. holliday]

Clancy weren't you the one that had one back in 85 at the Chickopee NATS in Massechusetts?  I vaguely remember someone flying a pattern with a stunt plane with retractable gear.  Later,  DOC Holliday