L-17 Navion

[t michael jennings]

Gentlemen,

Maybe this is the first time for modeling a L-17 Navion, at least a Control Line aircraft of this size.  I was not able to find any other Navion in several Plan Lists that I checked. 

The profile is a scale representative of the aircraft. I took an actual photo of a Navion to Kinko's and had it enlarged to the length needed.

The airfoil is a modified SIG Twister, but that is just about the extent of the SIG Twister in this design. 

Below are some of the particulars of the design;

Wing Span                                48.5 in.
Wing Area                               474.0 in sq  (Flap area included)
Flap Area                                  71.4 in sq
Tail Area                                 115.5 in sq
Weight                                      56.1 oz
Wing Load                                 8.4 in sq /oz
Control Effectiveness                 0.653
Stability Effectiveness                0.743

This is a good flying aircraft. I am still in the trimming phase.  Following Paul Walker's Flying article in the Stunt News March/April 2014 issue.
The Navion flies better than my 71 years old piloting skills.

Smok'em if you Got'em
Drink'em if you Brought'em.


T Michael Jennings                 
Knoxville, TN

[Dan McEntee]

   Hello Mr. Jennings;
     I know there has to be at least one kit of the Navion, and I think it was Sterling Models that did it in the line the Mustang, Ringmaster, Yak, and a few others. Might have been someone else, but I think it was Sterling. I have not seen a kit, but remember seeing it in adds in old magazines, probably late 50's and early 60's. Not quite as big as your model. You have a nice rendition of the design, though.If you ever do another one, try a Nobler wing. The taper will look better. Or at least put some tips on the wing that more resemble the real wing tips. Just suggestions, yours looks very nice, though.
   Good luck and have fun,
      Dan McEntee

[Douglas Ames]

I like the way you did the canopy, looks good.

What are the two holes for?

[mike londke]

   Hello Mr. Jennings;
     I know there has to be at least one kit of the Navion, and I think it was Sterling Models that did it in the line the Mustang, Ringmaster, Yak, and a few others. Might have been someone else, but I think it was Sterling. I have not seen a kit, but remember seeing it in adds in old magazines, probably late 50's and early 60's. Not quite as big as your model. You have a nice rendition of the design, though.If you ever do another one, try a Nobler wing. The taper will look better. Or at least put some tips on the wing that more resemble the real wing tips. Just suggestions, yours looks very nice, though.
   Good luck and have fun,
      Dan McEntee

  Dan, Sterling did produce a Navion kit. They pop up on E-Bay from time to time in the $100 range. Mike

[dennis lipsett]

Dare models reproduced the Sterling Navion. John Brodak has I think taken on the product line and sells that and a profile smoothie and Tomahawk.

Dennis

[Tony Drago]

Brodak sell the Dare Design Profile Navion. It's a Sterling Clone 42in. W.S.
Also if you can find one. Larry Richards kitted a Profile Super Navion.

[Tony Drago]

The Dare Design Sporthawk is a profile Tomahawk on steroids. A good flying plane.

[t michael jennings]

Dan,

Thanks for the info.  I will take your advice and the next one will have a Nobler wing.

The attached photo of the ARMY L-17 Navion was the basis of my paint job.

Douglas,

The two holes are for engine cooling.  Initially planned on one hole but thought two holes would be better than a larger hole.



T Michael Jennings   
Knoxville, TN

[Dan McEntee]

  Well, now that I have seen the picture of the real subject, tips on the Twister wing would help a lot, with maybe some more flap taper, just to my eye. If you like this, you may want to check out Don Hutchenson's T-34 mentor that he did in his Warbird series. Low wing, tricycle landing gear. Would not be hard to make it look like a Navion. In these situations, I have to keep telling myself it's s stunt model, not a scale model. But Don has managed to keep real nice outlines on the subjects he picked. I would think there is a picture of the T-34 model here on the list somewhere if you are good at the search function. Yours is still a very nice model. The square tips on the Twister don't bother me when they are on a Twister, but on anything else they just don't look like they belong. The wing will carry the extra weight well. Keep us posted on the trimming process. If you fly competition at all, you'll like the three wheeled landing gear.
   Type at you later,
     Dan McEntee