Gordon Delaney's Pathfinder

[Warren Leadbeatter]

I'm so impressed with my 1/2A Pathfinder, that I'm now considering building a full sized one for my Super Tigre 46.  I had a look at the Brodak site and there appear to be two versions but the picture looks the same for both.  One is a Profile (CLP46) and the other says built up fuselage (CLB46)  but both pics appear to be of a profile.  Can anyone explain this or does anyone have a picture of the built up fuselage version? And which one would you recommend I build?

Cheers

[Roger Vizioli]

Warren,
For a scratch build, John Miller, aka Joe Bellcrank, has plans for a built up fuselage, slightly modified Pathfinder. There are pics of it out there somewhere. He and Gordon Delaney built them in the 90's. I have a set of the plans, hope to build it one of these days. contact John for same.
Roger 

[Gordon Tarbell]

Does the Pathfinder loose line tension in the wind or does it just bounce around more as though it has light wing loading?

[steven yampolsky]

Owned to PF's. Amazing wind performance! For a profile with a hershey bar wing, it handles winds with aplomb. Make sure the fuse is stiff as a surf board though.

[John Miller]

G'day Warren

Isn't the little Pathfinder a blast? Glad you are enjoying it.

I believe you'll be well served by building the bigger profile version. It's arguably one of the best stunt profiles available today.
There is, as Roger posted, a full bodied version available as plans. We are currently revising the construction to reflect newer and better ways to build it, so the updated plans won't be ready for a while. I''ve included a picture of me holding it though so you can see what it looks like.

The Pathfinder project has been a fun thing to work with Gordan on. It's a dynamic project, always a little tweaking here and there to improve the design. There's one excursion where we went with a taqpered wing on the profile fuselage. Looked great, but when compared with the original, the benefits didn't out weigh the original's ease of building. One note of interest we would like to pass on is to shorten the tail moment to 16 inches, hingeline to hingeline. It smooths out the rounds somewhat.

Currently, we've made it into a twin, using a pair of .15fp's. I as well. posted on this on the other forum, but here are a few pictures of that project

[frank carlisle]

The stab on my PF in flights tilts down on the outboard side, so I can attest to Ty's recommendation to build it with a stiff fuselage. Mine flies pretty darn good. This is my third year with the plane and it does a lot better now, than it did at first. Trim-Trim-Trim.

You should put a tail skid on it. I neglected to do this and a good portion on the rudder bottom has been ground away after many flights. I recently installed a long tail skid that also doubles as a stooge connection.

[bob branch]

Or just build it as a taildragger in the first place. Just revese the mains and add a tail wheel. Works very well.

Bob Branch

[Willis Swindell]

Ty
I thought you meant 45 mph like the warm up flight for the judges at the King Orange a couple years ago.
Willis 

[John Miller]

Most profiles will twist their fuselages in flight. I've been told that part of the trouble comes from circular airflow generated by the prop. The slab fuse of a profile is very difficult to get stiff enough to totally damp this out.

One of the things I've done on my last several Pathfinders, is to mount the stab with the inboard tip 1/4 inch lower than the outboard tip. In flight the stab still twists, but it's now pretty level.

I actually haven't seen a lot of difference between the stock and tilted stabs, as far as performance goes, but it looks better in flight.

One of the features included in the twin version, is the built up profile uses curved formers to make the surface bend, and gain stregnth from the stressed skin effect.

[Warren Leadbeatter]

Hi John, (and all)

I havn't noticed the fuselage twisting problem on any of my profiles... perhaps I should have a look at them and see. Maybe I don't fly them enough.

I don't understand why Brodaks list a CLP46 Pathfinder at 89.99 and the CLB46 at 92.39... there must be some difference??? Anyway I've emailed John Brodak to see what he says...

Once I sort that discrepancy out I will order one and get building it.  I really like my 1/2A Pathfinder, the way it flies and especially the trike undercarriage.

Cheers
Warren

[John Miller]

snip
I don't understand why Brodaks list a CLP46 Pathfinder at 89.99 and the CLB46 at 92.39... there must be some difference??? Anyway I've emailed John Brodak to see what he says...

Once I sort that discrepancy out I will order one and get building it.  I really like my 1/2A Pathfinder, the way it flies and especially the trike undercarriage.

Cheers
Warren

Warren, I can tell you, from first hand knowlege, that Brodak only offers three Pathfinders. the 1/2A. the profile kit. and the profile arc and arf.

Best of luck with your choice.

John Miller