This model has been hanging on the wall for awhile.  Since the Jenny is ready to go to Muncie, I thought I'd see if it could be finished up enough to be a fun scale entry.  As of this morning, she's ready for a test hop, but there is a lot of detail to be added yet.  All the major stuff is there, and Joe Schmekldorf, the test pilot is raring to go, maybe Saturday morning.  The balance looks pretty good, a trifle nose heavy.

It has a Turnigy 800kV motor, Phoenix 35 ESC and Clancy Arnold speed control.  I'm setting up lines to give a 60 ft flying radius.  The weight looks like a shade under 3 pounds.

Regards to all,

John

The PT-22 has slightly more than 4 degrees of sweep. The PT-21 does also, whereas the Menasco powered earlier versions (STA derivatives) had straight wings.  Opinions about why the sweep was added vary, one reason was to give the plane stall/spin characteristics more like a fighter, another reason was just correct for added weight having moved the CG aft too much. I don't know which one is cause and which one is effect. Makes for some interesting reading though, the prototype will spin at the drop of a hat.

I built this plane because I liked the prototype and it was a chance to experiment with metal covering without having to cover the whole plane.  The prototype lands well, I hope the model does too. Shooting touch-and-go's is fun.

John

Great, John,
If you're making the trek to the nats, the more events to enter the better!!  I've always wanted to fly the full scale ship, but with Chris' input, maybe I've changed my mind!!!!  I'm too old for that kind of adventure!

John
If it flies like they are saying, then you should be ready to call "Crash" like Jack Sheeks did years ago.
Clancy

It seems to be one of those planes with a narrow speed envelope, marginal power and too heavy.  One wonders what would have ensued had it had some anti-spin fixes (known even then) like tip slots, wing root LE stall strips or even some washout on the tips. 

Other planes of the era, like the Lockheed Ventura were know for being unforgiving when too slow in a bank, like a turn onto final, for instance. A Ventura  wiped out a chunk of Australia's wartime leadership in an accident like that.

I'm with you, I'm a Cessna 150 kind of guy.

John

"I'm with you, I'm a Cessna 150 kind of guy."

That works for me, too, except in the winter with a 6 foot plus student with broad shoulders!  (Then, the Cherokee wasn't even a favorite!)

So here's a pic of the PT ready to load into the car.  I'm leaving on Monday, but am out of time to work on it.  Looks OK if you don't get too close. 

Leaving early Monday AM on the long drive.  Hope the weather is OK in Muncie as it hasn't been looking very good -- thunderstorms in the area every day and windy.  We'll see...

John

Looks beautiful, John. Good luck.
Chris...