Favorite Airplane

[Bruce Guertin]

Anyone here have a favorite airplane they've built a lot of?

I have a thing for P-39 and P-63 airplanes.

I started way back with a Midwest P-63 kit. Then Allen Brickhaus's Flying Red Horse came along and I built three of those. Each was lighter than the last. But,  I gave up on them when I just couldn't make them light enough and went back to built up wings.

I may try the Flying red Horse foam wing thing again some day.

[Tom Vieira]

i love my flitestreaks!  is there anything better for just boring holes in the sky?

[JoeJust]

The TWISTER I've built, flown and either destroyed or gave away 15 of hem. Right now I'm building two more for two pals in the Tri-Cis, WA.  This plane can take you from a rank beginner to a full pattern flyer! Build it stock and have FUN!!
Joe

[Will Hinton]

As far as competition I've flown nothing but Trivial Pursuit based ships since 2006 and see no need to change.  They took me from intermediate to advanced to ready for expert during those years.  I've powered them with PA61, PA65 and PA75 during that time, all worked well but I prefer the 75, of course.

[Mike Griffin]

Ted Fancher's Imitation.

Mike

[Bruce Guertin]

I just loved the P-63 looks and couldn't get enough of them. But, the race versions with the different paint jobs were the berries. The NACA ones were pretty interesting also.

For me it is and was the Genesis series of models that I designed and flew for a good portion of my career...

Bob Hunt

Well Bob, you were the reason I even attempted a foam wing. I don't suppose I can get you to make me one of the Flying Red Horse wings. To set aside of course.

[mike waldron]

I like your Geneses Extreme Bob..   Something special about the way it tracks and turns..

Mike

[Andre Ming]

As a lad I only had one "big" stunt plane (had a Ringmaster, and some of the other Sterling warbird types), so that one "big" stunt ship is the one where my memories are based. That plane was a lowly Midwest Magician. Flew it a lot "back in the day" before my .35/.36-sized "Combat Craze" days hit... then never looked back.

Andre

[Dwayne]

I have a few but always seem to go back to my old Twister, love that plane.

[gene poremba]

 For me its the Twister. I have 4 built right now and another in the box waiting its turn. Not any of the 4 are alike. Different engines, and various mods, but they all built fast and fly great. Got me thru learning the PAMPA Basic pattern and onto the full pattern with only knocking the rudder off one of them!.…...Gene

[Clint Ormosen]

i love my flitestreaks!  is there anything better for just boring holes in the sky?

Nope, there isn’t.
 I’ve said it before and I’ll mention it again. At the root of the hobby there are only two kinds of people. Flite Streak guys, and Ringmaster guys.
I’m definitely a Flite Streak guy. I’ve built countless Flite Streaks in various forms. STD Streak, Jr Streaks, Baby Streak, Combat Streaks (my personal favorite) scratch built Streaks, kit Streaks, a +50% Streak, and next will be a twin Streak. 
It’s a “does everything” design. Flies stunt, combat, sport, race, classic.

Yeah, I’d say it’s my favorite.
Very few models will out turn a well trimmed ‘Streak.

[Ken Culbertson]

Of the planes I have known up close and personal my favorite has to be "that damn little red airplane" and the most impressive was Al Rabe's Sea Fury but for pure fun and utility, you cannot beat a Twister.

Ken 

[George Grossardt]

Has to be the Stiletto.

[bob whitney]

  my scratch built Big Job.(T/L S/T 60) Flew Mr Trostles big jog a few years back and fell in love.
mine has been better to me than I have been it it  .dropping a tool box on it .it is getting tired but just cant bring myself to retire it

[john e. holliday]

All my planes are my favorites.  Need a shop 10 times bigger.

[Dennis Toth]

My favorite current ship is my El Diablo, I originally built this ship in my late teens it went through a few re-makes with flaps then about four years ago I  rebuilt it as the original El Diablo and have been successful in local OTS with it. The one full PA stunter that I never built but always loved was the Macky Lark with the open cockpit arrangement.

Best,   DennisT

[Jim Carter]

i love my flitestreaks!  is there anything better for just boring holes in the sky?

YEP!!  Ringmasters!!   

[Andre Ming]

I forgot about the Flite Streak. It is a good utility sport flyer. Likely my downfall with both Flite Streaks and Ringmasters was mounting 35 Stunts on the nose. I'll bet they would have been more fun with a 36X on suction. A bit faster, snappier, and just a more fun sport experience.

Ah well, it was what it was.

Andre

[Bruce Guertin]

Forgot to add this. My last Flying Red Horse/P-63

[Dave_Trible]

For me it’s usually the latest airplane I am flying- or I wouldn’t be flying it.  As for other’s designs I think maybe the Bear.  I have plans and would like to build one at some point.  In classics it’s probably the Ballerina.

Dave

[Randy Powell]

This. Built 3.

[Terrence Durrill]

Anyone here have a favorite airplane they've built a lot of?

I have a thing for P-39 and P-63 airplanes.

I started way back with a Midwest P-63 kit. Then Allen Brickhaus's Flying Red Horse came along and I built three of those. Each was lighter than the last. But,  I gave up on them when I just couldn't make them light enough and went back to built up wings.

I may try the Flying red Horse foam wing thing again some day.

                     (1) Sterling S-1 Ringmaster ............ and ............. (2) Guillows Trixter Barnstormer  ............ They were the best !            

                                            This decision was arrived at over 65 years of control line flying experience (which started in 1954).

[Robert Zambelli]

My all-time favorite!
Best and easiest to fly plane I've ever built.
And, OTS legal.

[FLOYD CARTER]

I am sort of partial to the WILDMAN 60.  Kit is available from RSM Distribution.  Also OTS=legal.

[Jim Kraft]

For profile, classic and PA, the Magician. Built four. Loved them all. For Old Time, my ignition Spitfire powered Brit Taurus.

[Crist Rigotti]

Mine is a Legacy 40.

[Jim Carter]

My all-time favorite!
Best and easiest to fly plane I've ever built.
And, OTS legal.

Not meaning to be disrespectful but what is it?

Jim Carter

[Ted Fancher]

Tough question but I'd have to say my original Imitation when powered by the last engine I tested in it, an Enya (IIRC) 46 four stroke.  It is probably the only ship I built during my "competition" stunt years that I would take out and just fly for the fun of doing so.  Plus the fact that it was so easy to fly accurately "shaped" maneuvers of almost any size from tiny to rule book +.  Took little more than thinking about it and it would happen.  Extremely constant speed and predictable response at whatever size I chose to fly it on a given fun day at the field.

The combination led to designing and building the Citation V which won the Walker Cup in 1986...an airplane I still fly on rare occasion today albeit with a piped VF .46.

Ted

[Larry Renger]

Not the best model by far, but my all time favorite is the 1/2A Snapper! Good basic design, and the first control-liner I ever built. I have had at least three of them, and have an original kit and a replica in my stack.


Also a fond place in my heart for the Shark 15. That poor beat up model was what I learned the pattern on. Fly, repair, fly repair etc.

So many others... Magician, Ringmaster, the Sky series I designed. Like trying to pick your favorite child.

[John Watson]

Not one mention of the Nobler? There was a time when a contest would be dominated by the Nobler...…………..

[Gerald Arana]

All my planes are my favorites.  Need a shop 10 times bigger.

Now that statement I can agree with Doc! All my planes are my favorite "at the moment" and especially the ones I design!

All time favorite? My "Chameleon" a standard class competition sailplane that I designed to withstand the Modesto gorilla wenches. Yes I could break their 200 Lb. test line on tow! But it slightly bent my wing rod (3/4" 6061 T6 tube. Can't remember the wall thickness) somewhat, LOL! Enjoy it Shawn!

[Doug Moon]

The Bear is my favorite.  I have built many and in several different configurations. I also had a Bob Hunt Saturn that I really liked.  It flew fantastic.

[Matt Colan]

having built three of Randy’s SV airplanes and gotten to know them very well, they’re becoming my favorite planes. The new one is becoming the favorite one of those three.

[Wynn Robins]

Vector 40  - built 6 of them .

[BYU]

Tough question but I'd have to say my original Imitation when powered by the last engine I tested in it, an Enya (IIRC) 46 four stroke.  It is probably the only ship I built during my "competition" stunt years that I would take out and just fly for the fun of doing so.  Plus the fact that it was so easy to fly accurately "shaped" maneuvers of almost any size from tiny to rule book +.  Took little more than thinking about it and it would happen.  Extremely constant speed and predictable response at whatever size I chose to fly it on a given fun day at the field.

The combination led to designing and building the Citation V which won the Walker Cup in 1986...an airplane I still fly on rare occasion today albeit with a piped VF .46.

Ted

Your "Imitation" has been suggested by a number of my fellow flyers and luminaries as a good one for me to progress beyond Intermediate, so I am going to build one.

But . . .

Looking at the plans there are several flap sizes, is there one you settled on as working well?
Perhaps a flap size you would advise using, or at least starting with?

(I plan on using an OS LA46 for power). Thanks in advance for your guidance.

[Joe Ed Pederson]

Bob's Your Uncle,

Here's the web address for the September 1979 Model Aviation that has the original article that describes Ted's results from testing how long to make the flaps on the Imitation http://library.modelaviation.com/ma/1979/9     If I remember correctly, Ted discovered that the longer the flaps (toward the wingtips) the better.  The October issue has more on the construction.

Joe Ed Pederson

[BYU]

Bob's Your Uncle,

Here's the web address for the September 1979 Model Aviation that has the original article that describes Ted's results from testing how long to make the flaps on the Imitation http://library.modelaviation.com/ma/1979/9     If I remember correctly, Ted discovered that the longer the flaps (toward the wingtips) the better.  The October issue has more on the construction.

Joe Ed Pederson

Thanks Joe

[Avaiojet]

I've neglected my all time favorite airplane, but my second all time favorite airplane, I've built and flown a few as far back as the 80's.

This would be the Gee Bee Z.

I've built them as large as 90" for R/C and as small as 58" for what was to be R/C but will now be CL.

All models were scratch built. The latest is an extremely modified kit from Adrian Paige Aviation, this would be my recent although framed many years ago. Not that far from primer.

The G-22 Gulfhawk has to be my all time favorite. Years ago I put one together from the Aristo Craft kit for R/C. Clark Y airfoil, so I tabled it and started framing another but never got around to what would be called serious progress. Stuff just keeps getting in the way.

Some delightful photos that bring back memories.

I might just finish the Clark Y model in spite of the airfoil. I will certainly get around to the Gee Bee Z if I live long enough.

[BYU]

Bob's Your Uncle,

Here's the web address for the September 1979 Model Aviation that has the original article that describes Ted's results from testing how long to make the flaps on the Imitation http://library.modelaviation.com/ma/1979/9     If I remember correctly, Ted discovered that the longer the flaps (toward the wingtips) the better.  The October issue has more on the construction.

Joe Ed Pederson

Well I have read the article top to tail and have not found the answer. The plans show Flaps that do not extend to the tips and are broken into segments. I am looking for current thoughts from Ted as if he was building one today. what size flaps would he use. I am not going to assume here, especially as Ted is vastly more experienced than I and most likely has the right answer to hand.

I hope he will volunteer his wisdom?

[Joe Ed Pederson]

Well I have read the article top to tail and have not found the answer. The plans show Flaps that do not extend to the tips and are broken into segments. I am looking for current thoughts from Ted as if he was building one today. what size flaps would he use. I am not going to assume here, especially as Ted is vastly more experienced than I and most likely has the right answer to hand.

I hope he will volunteer his wisdom?

Bob's Your Uncle,

I, too, hope Ted will notice this thread and tell us if his assessment on the flaps has changed since he wrote the article.   You might try sending him a private message.  He responded to one I sent him a while back.

I finally had time this evening to pull out the original September 1979 Model Aviation article and look for the analysis of the effect of flap length.  It's starts at the first full paragraph in the third column on page 114.  The conclusion at the end of the second full paragraph (same third column, page 114) reads: "In other words, a wing which has a 15% of its total area as flap along its full span will produce significantly more lift than the same wing with 15% of it total area as flap, but concentrated in only, say 1/2 or 2/3 of its span."

Joe Ed Pederson

[BYU]

“In other words, a wing which has a 15% of its total area as flap along its full span will produce significantly more lift than the same wing with 15% of it total area as flap, but concentrated in only, say 1/2 or 2/3 of its span."

Yep thats what I read and the reason for my persistence over the question, which still stands.

Plans show flaps partial span, text above suggests full span produces more lift, but is more lift needed or desired and if the 15% figure is preferable what ratio root and tip?

[Brett Buck]

“In other words, a wing which has a 15% of its total area as flap along its full span will produce significantly more lift than the same wing with 15% of it total area as flap, but concentrated in only, say 1/2 or 2/3 of its span."

Yep thats what I read and the reason for my persistence over the question, which still stands.

Plans show flaps partial span, text above suggests full span produces more lift, but is more lift needed or desired and if the 15% figure is preferable what ratio root and tip?

   15% is probably too small - not for purposes of lift, which is usually more than sufficient, but control feel. I wouldn't go below 19% no matter how light I can build it.

    Brett

[Ted Fancher]

"snip"

Looking at the plans there are several flap sizes, is there one you settled on as working well?
Perhaps a flap size you would advise using, or at least starting with?

(I plan on using an OS LA46 for power). Thanks in advance for your guidance.

Hi Uncle Bob.

Just saw this comment.  If you haven't read the article you might want to track one down.  One of the primary purposes of the original "concept" was to experiment with flaps of different lengths (I didn't go to the trouble of testing various chords as I was already predisposed to narrow chord flaps in the area of 15 to 20% of the wing chord at any point for reasons I won't go into tonight but I've not changed my opinion at all regarding the preference and, most especially, the lack of interest in large chord flaps.  More another time)

The flaps were constructed so as to allow three different "span" percentages of flapped wing span...fairly short to near full span.  The results of test flight were instructive.  The shorter the flap span (the minimum was something like 60 or so % of full span) the more rapid the turn rate...more or less instantaneous!...and as the flap span was increased the corners were still extremely tight but were more predictable and consistent...thus providing a truly impressive consistency of both round and cornered maneuvers.

It's important for us to remember that we can fly danged good patterns with stunt ships with no flaps at all...more or less disproving them as "necessary" for flying crisp corners...especially super big ones!  With modern low pitch high rev setups I've seen a number of Ringmasters fly very fairly awarded mid 500 point patterns...just ask Texas Joe!

Bottom line, If you're not interested in experimenting with various spans I would build one with the flaps extended to the end of the wing (not including the wingtips...for reasons I won't expand on tonight).  You'll find the pattern performance to be exceptionally good  for a  mere "Profile" stunter!

Ted

[Ted Fancher]

Oi vey!!!

Hate to debate my buddy, Brett, but the original Imitation flew just great on less than 650 square inches at right at 62 oz with the Enya .46 four stroke.  It was, in fact, my favorite combination of airplane, power plant and wing loading.  Now the original Trivial Pursuit was a different animal with a much thicker, slightly greater area, wing with flaps roughly 18% of the chord but at 72oz on a hot high humidity day in Muncie one year.  "Extreme" measures were instituted to avoid a recurring stall in the the last corner of triangles.  the ultimate fix for that issue was a very modest increase in flap deflection for a given elevator deflection by simply adjusting the elevator horn so as to allow a tiny bit more flap for a given amount of elevator.

I never got even a hint of a stall with the Imitation except when stretching the glide to land back at the pits so Brett didn't have to walk too far to pick it up!!!

Ted

[Brett Buck]

Oi vey!!!

Hate to debate my buddy, Brett, but the original Imitation flew just great on less than 650 square inches at right at 62 oz with the Enya .46 four stroke.  It was, in fact, my favorite combination of airplane, power plant and wing loading.  Now the original Trivial Pursuit was a different animal with a much thicker, slightly greater area, wing with flaps roughly 18% of the chord but at 72oz on a hot high humidity day in Muncie one year.  "Extreme" measures were instituted to avoid a recurring stall in the the last corner of triangles.  the ultimate fix for that issue was a very modest increase in flap deflection for a given elevator deflection by simply adjusting the elevator horn so as to allow a tiny bit more flap for a given amount of elevator.

I never got even a hint of a stall with the Imitation except when stretching the glide to land back at the pits so Brett didn't have to walk too far to pick it up!!!

That was essentially my point as well. You don't need them to be that big just to get enough lift. I think they need to be bigger just to give you a better control feel. I think the "Special Edition" was a pretty classic example, it got dramatically better with a tiny bit of additional flap travel.

    Brett

[John Lindberg]

I've built around a dozen planes; although I'm not the "best" flyer, the "Thundergazer" was the best so far!

[BYU]

Thanks Ted

I will take your advice, almost full span, ending before the tips.

[John Hammonds]

Not meaning to be disrespectful but what is it?

Jim Carter

Re: The Twin posted by Robert Zambelli...

I couldn't find any reply to this, so I'll also ask the same question. What is it and are plans available? I see the name "Jezebel" and "Miss Harriet" on the wing but all searches come up blank. OTS Legal, Really? Inquiring minds need to know. That is one beautiful model. 

Many Thanks in advance

TTFN
John.

[Robertc]

Favorite?  Tough, but probably the 35 sized Gladiator.  Classic looks, great flier.  Built 7, so far

[944_Jim]

Sweet! I love twins...what is it please? And would it be just as nice scaled for a pair of .061 Norvels?
I think so.

Thanks in advance,

My all-time favorite!
Best and easiest to fly plane I've ever built.
And, OTS legal.