RANDY POWELL.Tell us about these two beautiful Stunters of yours?

[Shultzie]

While surfing...I found these beautiful models of Randy's.
I am a real sucka' for elipse platform wings...Randy tell us about these two beautiful models? Great color schemes and workmanship...OUTSTANDING!!

[Randy Powell]

Hi Donnie,

The top one is my first attempt at an elliptical plane. Called Tango Red. Originally powered with a PA 40 and pipe, it flew very well. It became a test bed and had a series of engines in it including a Magnum 53 (SSW), a Saito 56 and a PA 61. Unfortunately, a friend of mine was flying it with the Saito and it went in. I have some absolutely devastating crash pictures.   

Below is version two hanging on my shop wall. it's now the test bed. Version 3 is on the drafting table as we speak. Should be very cool.

The picture below is the 10th and last in a series of high aspect ratio planes I designed and flew for several year. This one powered with a Saito 56. There are still some design problems to overcome the most difficult of which is it's sensitivity to turbulence. But man, the most blinding corner you ever saw.

These two planes were actually built pretty close together as I was exploring sort of both ends of the design envelop. The elliptical job being fairly low aspect and the other being very high aspect. The elliptical plane is very insensitive to turbulence and flies very well in less than perfect flying sites. Great in high and bumpy wind. The other does wind OK, but just can't stand the bumpy stuff well. The high aspect ratio plane is a kick in the pants to fly. Probably the most fun of the two.

[Randy Powell]

Don,

By the way, here's the first full body version of the plane in this rather long attempt at a high aspect ratio design. It was, ah, interesting to fly.

[Shultzie]

RANDY...DANDY....DAAAANDY RANDY!
FANTASTIC MODELS...OUTSTANDING STUFF...MEISTRO MODELER!!!
That BEEEEEEEEEEAUTIFUL FLOWING ROUNDED WING!

Bye the way...I have only built the NOVI 4 WING...WITH THAT REALLY INTERESTING UNDERCUT REFLEX AIRFOIL. I built a Novi 4 all the way up that sported a V TAIL CONFIGURATION. I think Dave was reeeeally onto something great...with that airfoil but I modified the flap configuration into a balanced concept instead. More work...more weight however...and harder to keep clean from tarmac sand n' dirt...and moisture..etc.
PROBABLY NOT WORTH THAT EXTRA BUILDING TIME, but I wanted to virtually make that wing to flap joint--visually disappear. (not only for looks but also to keep the air flow over the wing and flap assembly as clean as possible..(daaa, stupid thought... especially when you think how much tubulence from all that prop wash and dirty air that flows along the fuselage line. 

I chicken out on finishing that model before the 70 nats...and gave it away and was finished by a senior's flyer who painted it a HORRIFIC DOUBLE GREEN WEENIE COLOR...WITH A YELLOWISH TAN MAIN COLOR! Although he cut into the stab and went for less rake...(I THINK THAT WAS A BIG MISTAKE....
I have seen a couple of V tails that flew fantastical' !!!

[Randy Powell]

Don,

Yea, I've seen a few V-Tails that flew very well. You may notice on the pic of the yellow high aspect ratio plane that the flaps and elevator are inset. The leading edge of the control surface is actually ahead of the trailing edge of the fixed areas. Made for a very smooth airflow (as much as it can be with the air present) and obviated the need to tape hinge lines since I got a very good seal along the hinge point. Works very well, but I'm not sure it was worth the enormous extra work.

[Shultzie]

Don,

Yea, I've seen a few V-Tails that flew very well. You may notice on the pic of the yellow high aspect ratio plane that the flaps and elevator are inset. The leading edge of the control surface is actually ahead of the trailing edge of the fixed areas. Made for a very smooth airflow (as much as it can be with the air present) and obviated the need to tape hinge lines since I got a very good seal along the hinge point. Works very well, but I'm not sure it was worth the enormous extra work.

I agree about all that extra work on the final fitting and painting of this kind of hidden hinge line...I had to seal and paint everything first...and then chose to install the flaps...permanently AFTER the model was to be finished. Wish I had completed the project and it was just as well that  the new owner of that unfinished model...choose to revert back to the traditional flap hinge line. Guess I was influnced too much by my fellow RC scale model buildin' aerodynamic-minded buds at Boeing.  Also the thought of trying to keep the castor-gunk out of those hidden hinge lines concerned me.
Back to the V tails...success,
I think it was one of Big Arts son...who won Senior stunt with a V tailed model at the 74 nats?
Cool looking model.

Also had a plan for making a stunter with a "STABILATOR STAB AND ELEVATOR. Again...some of our Boeing model tests seem to prove just how effective they could be...ESPECIALLY TALK ABOUT TIGHTENING UP THOSE HARD BACK CORNERS OF THE HOUR-GLASS AND TRIANGLE?

Check out this great flying Nobler with a stab-a-lator at the 70 nats. I wish I could have talked to the builder of this model.

[Randy Powell]

Don,

If you like those, you'll love the new plane. I'm still drawing, but it'll be started soon enough. Have to finish the classic plane first. It's just about ready for paint.

[Shultzie]

Don,

If you like those, you'll love the new plane. I'm still drawing, but it'll be started soon enough. Have to finish the classic plane first. It's just about ready for paint.

WOW! What's not to like.....Randy, your creative gifts and concepts  are amazing.