Finishing up the latest project, Pathfinder Twins

[John Miller]

For those who don't get to the SSW forum, here's a report on the latest projects to come out of Delaney Aviation, and soda pop redistrbution Inc.

Some time back, a few years in fact, a twin engine version of the Pathfinder was drawn up. It was thought that a good profile twin would be fun and challenging for the Pro-40 events. Having flown a Twin Flightstreak for several years, I knew it was time to share the pain with my fellow modelors. Since there has been some verbage about the OS .20fp's actually being .21's and possibly not legal, in a twin configuration, it was decided to use a pair of OS .15fp's. After all, a certain fellow in the northwest used 4 of them to haul around a big a**ed bomber through the pattern.

To make it simple, it was thought that a simple conversion of the stock Pathfinder kit would be the best way to go.

Well, the first one to be finished belongs to Gordan. Flies darned good when everything is going right.

The first picture is of his prior to being finished. The second pic is his prior to it's first flight.

Mine was first flown today. It's almost 5 oz's heavier, but shows a lot of promise. The third pic is of mine.

Some of the things we've learned from this project are now reflected in the plans. I spent most of yesterday upgrading and setting up the cutting files.

We've taken pains to remove weight when, and where ever we safely can. The plane, as designed for a pair of .15's can no longer be built from a stock kit. Everything, except the vertical stab, has been changed. even the stock rudder, no longer fits.

The result I believe, when the final version is finished, will be a very good stunting twin. something to compete in Pro-40, as well as , cutting your teeeth on a twin powered stunter.

I plan on building the final version, with laser cut parts, right after the Nat's.

The last few pics are of the two planes, an the builders.

[Roger Vizioli]

They look great!
Roger V.
Merritt Island,FL

[Mark Scarborough]

Sweet, looks great John, (and Gordon,,)
Mcminnville contest is in a couple months, youall should wander up,,

[Wynn Robins]

Too COOOOOOOOOL!!!!!!!!!!

when did you say the kits are available?

[John Miller]

Well, we took them out again today. We had a bright idea to get the little performance boost we needed at our 4600ASL altitude. The .15fp's and, in my case, the LA's, were just a little wimpy. They struggled going over the top on the 8X4 props and 10% fuel.

We moved up to larger props, first going up in pitch. It wasn't as good as we'd hoped, until we tipped the nitro jug. Going to 20% nitro, and the little beasts came alive. The 5" pitch props brought with them too much speed. Gordy's was timed at 4.6 seconds. We traded out the 8" X 5" props for 9" X 4" 's, and the plane sizzled. It should be even better at lower altitude, probably allowing a drop to lower nitro levels. I believe Gordy's twin is likely the best flying Pathfinder I've seen.

To say we're happy is an understatement.

[Randy Powell]

John,

So, are you bringing them to Pasco?

[Garf]

Couldn't you have saved some weight by eliminating the foreward half of the center fuselage?

[John Miller]

Yeppers, Mine will be there.

Garf, as they came out, they balance well without any added weight. Mine is about 5 oz's heavier than Gordans because I used some components from and ARC kit, where Gordy used an early kit. The fuse is a built up profile, and the weight is minimal.

We figure that the planes design will handle the weight, but we just needed a bit more snap out of the smaller engines.

Planes built from the plans should be able to come in a range of 40 to 46 oz's Quite light for a full sized pathfinder with two engines.

As soon as several other projects, a new classic ship for next VSC, a new PAMPA ship, which will be the last Pathfinder, a full bodied design. and several sets of plans for John Brodfak, and Walter, I'll build one from plans.