Author Topic: Windy's original Sweeper (Read 3371 times)

Robert Zambelli · « **on:** October 16, 2008, 08:06:45 AM »

I have in my possession the remains of Urtnowski's original Sweeper, the I-beam version.
I have neither the time or ambition to restore it but I think doing so would preserve it, possibly for the Brodak museum.

I will bring it to the Huntersville event this coming weekend.
Anyone who wants it can have it - I will not take it home.
Relegated to the local dumpster? If nobody wants it, YES.

Bob Z.

Steve Fitton · « **Reply #1 on:** October 16, 2008, 10:16:50 AM »

When you say "remains" and "restore", does that mean its in a zillion pieces?

EddyR · « **Reply #2 on:** October 16, 2008, 10:42:46 AM »

Bob I will take it. I have as much experience with I beams as anyone else who will be at Hunterville this weekend. I saw that plane fly in 1968. It is really really big.
Ed Ruane

Robert Zambelli · « **Reply #3 on:** October 16, 2008, 11:50:17 AM »

OK, Ed - it's yours.

Steve - no, not really. As I figure, the wing folded. There's really not much left but, who knows?

Bob Z.

Paul Taylor · « **Reply #4 on:** October 16, 2008, 12:39:50 PM »

Ed,
If you would please take before and after pictures and share with us.

Steve Fitton · « **Reply #5 on:** October 16, 2008, 12:51:31 PM »

Quote from: Ed Ruane on October 16, 2008, 10:42:46 AM

Bob I will take it. I have as much experience with I beams as anyone else who will be at Hunterville this weekend. I saw that plane fly in 1968. It is really really big.
Ed Ruane

Ed is indeed the man when it comes to I beamers! That all red Juno (?) was awesome!

Larry Cunningham · « **Reply #6 on:** October 16, 2008, 03:29:45 PM »

You probably need that special Big Jim reworked ST .60 Windy used for it.. For
static display, perhaps an old ST .60 shell would suffice.

I can imagine what that ship must have looked like in flight.

L.

"Sometimes something worth doing is worth overdoing." -David Letterman

EddyR · « **Reply #7 on:** October 16, 2008, 03:47:54 PM »

Steve I will take a bunch of before pictures but there may not be a after picture. If it is beyond ever flying again I may be able to make it a static model. I think I have some pictures of the plane taken around 1968. I believe it was larger than the second Sweeper. I do have a motor to power it that has been sitting around for years waiting for a monster to sit in. I have the article and plans. Here is some pictures from the article. It weighted 100 ounces. I showed Rebecca the magazine pictures and she said "O My**** "

I think she is still laughing.
Ed

Michael Boucher · « **Reply #8 on:** October 16, 2008, 04:02:22 PM »

Does it mention what size lines in the article he used to the fly the Sweeper?

Richard Grogan · « **Reply #9 on:** October 16, 2008, 05:48:34 PM »

Lard! Thats one big airplane!

EddyR · « **Reply #10 on:** October 16, 2008, 05:51:22 PM »

He does say he flew it on 85 ft lines and 70 ft in competition. He also says he flew it on 60 ft with a reduction in performance. I think he used battleship anchor chain. I will take pictures of whatever is left of it this weekend and put them here Sunday with the contest results.I didn't ask Bob what is left of it. I figured I would be surprised one way or the other as to it's condition. I have restored several vintage dope and silk RC planes back to museum condition for a person who wanted it no mater the cost.Repairers of a non flying model are not to difficult as weight is not a problem.
Ed

Robert Zambelli · « **Reply #11 on:** October 16, 2008, 07:28:16 PM »

Windy also gave me the second Sweeper. I restored the but it needed very little work.
It may be the biggest single-engined stunt plane ever flown in competition.
Windy built it in the late 70s/early 80s and it’s up to his usual extreme high level of craftsmanship.
The approximate numbers are: wingspan 77”, stabilizer span 40”, length 66”, rudder height 19”. For size comparison, I photographed it with a Brodak Nobler, hanging on my kitchen wall.
Weight is around 125 ounces! (Check the tire deformation in the picture)
Power? It has an OS .60 and flies surprisingly well with it. 68 foot .018 lines.
It was in storage for around 15 years and I ressurected it and brought it to the Fly-In three years ago and we did fly it.
It now hangs in the manufacturing center and will reside in the museum.
Hope you all find this interesting.
Bob Z

EddyR · « **Reply #12 on:** October 16, 2008, 09:08:14 PM »

Bob I was there for that flight at Brodak. Deric flew the blue Sweeper and the flap horn almost came through the flaps.Easy repair but a close call.
Ed

Patrick Rowan · « **Reply #13 on:** October 16, 2008, 09:44:05 PM »

The next year Derek brought his Sweeper & took 3rd in Expert Classic. PA 65 powered. He had it tough, it was windy that day!

It was sold to Bob Shaw who has several nice stunt planes in his collection. The Sweeper is one of his favorites. We may never see that one in competition again. Darn, it was a beauty.

Derek had another Sweeper framed up. Then their shop burned down. Darn again.

Derek dose talk about building another Sweeper some day. Cross your fingers.

Randy Powell · « **Reply #14 on:** October 16, 2008, 10:05:09 PM »

That is one big airplane.

EddyR · « **Reply #15 on:** October 17, 2008, 03:57:39 PM »

Here is what I posted on SS
I have the remains of the Original Sweeper.There is very little of the original plane left.I have 90% of the body but it is in many pieces. The body was intact front to back but Bobs spare tire fell on it and that broke it in many pieces. I have parts of the spar with landing gear attached, one flap the rudder,stabilizer and one elevator.A large section of the body had been cut out as Bob was going to make it a take apart plane. I cleaned 40 years of dirt of a small spot on the flap and it still shinned like new. All the details inside the canopy are still there. Most of it is very light with the nose being a topical Windy built to last forever job.It is always interesting looking at a old plane that has some history and seeing how it was built.I can say Windy's building improved a lot after this model.I am at about his level now that he was in 1967. I will post detailed picture of all of it next week.
Ed Ruane

Larry Cunningham · « **Reply #16 on:** October 17, 2008, 06:20:01 PM »

Randy,

The one I liked:

"Nuclear power plants are built better than Jane Fonda.." ;->

(I'm a proponent of nuclear power, my first science fair project was "Nuclear Power Plant"..)

Sweeper fotos are very nice.

Like all Windy projects, it is over done. But I think over done is often superior to Common Sense,
and certainly Under Done. Windy is a true pioneer in CL Stunt.

YOU can't handle it. You're too skinny, Randy, it would drag you off. Better a fat man like myself,
with plenty of errr.. BALLAST! and a strong right arm to hang onto it. (Unfortunately, I don't
fly that well.)

The leadouts should be cut off and it should end its life as a fantastic static model, IMO.

L.

"Every absurdity has a champion to defend it." -Oliver Goldsmith

john e. holliday · « **Reply #17 on:** October 17, 2008, 08:00:58 PM »

Seeing the pictures of a young Windy with his Sweeper brings back memories. It still amazes me the size of the planes some of the smaller guys fly/compete with. I am well over 250 pounds and have a hard time hanging on to the 40 size planes. Good luck on the rebuild. DOC Holliday

Robert Zambelli · « **Reply #18 on:** October 18, 2008, 09:52:31 PM »

Larry - first off, the Sweeper does not pull near as much as you think.

Secondly, anyone who attempts to cut off the leadouts might just get a very important part of himself cut off.

Bob Z.

Larry Cunningham · « **Reply #19 on:** October 19, 2008, 07:36:34 AM »

Quote from: Robert Zambelli on October 18, 2008, 09:52:31 PM

...Secondly, anyone who attempts to cut off the leadouts might just get a very important part of himself cut off.

Bob Z.

Wow, Bob, if that happened, the Sweeper could drag even ME off..

L.

"Dishonor will not trouble me, once I am dead." -Euripides

Richard Grogan · « **Reply #20 on:** October 21, 2008, 08:45:33 PM »

So Ed, what does it look like? A basket case??

EddyR · « **Reply #21 on:** October 22, 2008, 06:14:00 AM »

There is nothing over 30" long. I will take pictures this afternoon and start a new thread. Most will find it very interesting as there was a lot of changes [evalutionin] in this model to make it better as he flew it.
Ed