design for an engine-less c/l stunt ship (using wind power)

[Briam McGrigor]

When I was flying actively at our club (in my teens) and it became too windy to fly in the strong gusty wind, I would sometimes whip my model without the engine runing into the air and fly with the power of the wind - in the down wind segment of the flying circle.

The speed the model flew at, allowed figure of eights, inside and outside loops and wingovers

Has anyone done anything like this and has anyone got a model that is better suited than the Nobler I used to do it with?

[Dwayne]

Sorry I don't know about your question but you need to get a Bi-Slob the windier it gets the more the fun it is...lol 

[Jim Thomerson]

There was one published in Model Aviation some years ago, called the Haboob, I think.  I am pretty sure I saw George Aldrich fly a complete (1955) stunt pattern with a dead stick Nobler.  Bill Winter commented on George wind flying a complete pattern at one of the Nats. 

[minnesotamodeler]

We used to do it commonly with Fast combat ships.

[Norm Faith Jr.]

Maybe we can get Jason Greer to comment on this subject...I saw him flying one (I believe his own design) when he was a "wee-bit of a lad."
His model made me stop on the road going by the field; to see who was flying in such a wind.
Norm

[Tom Niebuhr]

Most stunters are capable of wind flying. It is just that most people don't want to risk it. I would say that most maneuverable CL airplanes from Ringmasters to modern stunters are capable.

[De Hill]

Larry Scarinzi told me that he used to wind fly with a full sized Veco Chief that had a running .049 in the nose. He convinced the onlookers that the .049 was powering the Chief through loops and eights. Larry said that the Chief actually wind flew better when the .049 wasn't running!

[PJ Rowland]

I am pretty sure I saw George Aldrich fly a complete (1955) stunt pattern with a dead stick Nobler.

I have heard this also.... I dont know how much truth there is to it.

[Jim Thomerson]

I say pretty sure because I was not flying stunt at the time.  George had built a new Nobler, and we went out to fly it.  He flew it three or four times, doing a compete pattern (again, pretty sure) each flight.  The last flight the wind had come up and it was getting dark.  When the engine quit, George just kept flying.  I clearly remember him flying vertical and overhead eights, because I was so amazed to see it. 

[LARRY RICE]

    Okay, this may not be any help but ...

In 1943 "Jim" Walker introduced a "Whip Powered Control Line" model airplane, it was a profile P-39.  The plane was about the size of a 1/2A model and did not have an engine on it.  T fishing pole was used to pull the control lines and intern pull the plane through the air.  A control handle worked the elevator through a standard bellcrank.  Later he offered a P-51 but by then engines and fuel was available again.  This probably inspired many to try the same thing with other planes.  Today Black Hawk Models offers four of these models in their Junior Ace line: P-39, P-51, Stiletto and a new one Black Hawk Pursuit.

WWW.BLACKHAWKMODELS.COM

Larry

[frank williams]

Dee Rice is an excellent "wind-only" flyer, and the Oriental, with its high aspect ratio wing, is an excellent choice for a "whipper".

[Larry Renger]

The thing you want is called a Stunt Kite.  They are available at most toy stores.  Or try this place:  http://www.windpowersports.com/kites/stunt/

[Dennis Adamisin]

I vaguely recall an article (in MA?) about someone converting one of the Midwest profiles into a whip-n-wind flyer.  No LG, extremely clean & low drag of course.

May I suggest - electric motor with a folding prop & 30 sec timer for take-off.  Hand launch (or drop off gear) When the motor shuts off the prop folds and you are ready to boogie.


 

[Marvin Denny]

  John Hunton wrote an article about this in the Sept 72 issue of American Aircraft Modeler mag.  He used a Sig Banshee (modified) for the tests and flight.    I think that there were others about the same time.

  Bigiron

[Steve Helmick]

I recall those articles, Big. And I wanted to do it, because the local elementary skool playground would be good for wind flying (at the time). Apparently model airplanes were verbotten, but kites...who could object to kites? No engine, it's a kite, right? Well, now they have "dead horses" (humps) all over the playground and signs that list the things that are not permitted...plus chain link fences, with no access other than going through the skool building.

The Banshee looks like a good design for a wind stunter. Nose is way too long for most engines, already. Leave off the LG, cover the wing with film, streamline the nose a bit, tape the hinge lines, and you're ready to go. I'm not sure if I'd use .012" or .015" lines, but probably it would be good to have both, and several lengths, to adjust for varying wind conditions.  Steve

[Lee Thiel]

While at the flying field yesterday doing some repairs on the club house, I watched Joe Gilbert wind fly for almost as long as he flew with the engine running.  It was good several minutes.  He was flying a ARF Smoothie, and putting on quite a show.  Winds were probably 18 to 20 mph here at Tulsa.
Lee TGD

[50+AirYears]

I recall in grade school (Late 50s) reading an article with pictures in an Air Trails or ATHFYM or whichever about a New England CL club doing this regularly.  IIRC, the plane was given a hefty hand launch, and with proper whipping and use of the wind, nearly every pattern manuever that could be flown on the downwind side of the circle could be flown.  I doubt wingovers to the upwind side of the circle were possible.  I believe the props were left off to eliminate the drag of a dead stick prop, although spinners may have been retained.

[EddyR]

About 15 years ago I was at my Clearwater Fl Drew street field and was flying my Chief. I was flyin and a small front came through and the wind blew like mad as the motor quite so I kept flying and doing loops and lazy eights for about two minutes. The wind stopped and the chief went in like a rock
Ed

[50+AirYears]

All my wind flying was composed of having the engine quit while heading into the upwind side of the circle just as an extra-strong gust came up.  Result? Usually SPLAT!!

[jim gilmore]

I remember seeing gene schaffer doing some with the stunt machine way back when.