Firebird 40 (oz12137)

About this Plan

Firebird 40. Radio control sport pattern plane. Wingspan 56 in, wing area 532 sq in, for 30 to 50 engines.

Quote: "Craft Air introduces the Firebird. The sports airplane you have been waiting for! This exceptional airplane is made from all-machine cut and sanded parts. The kit contains all necessary wood, canopy, and all hardware.

The Firebird is an outstanding low wing, highly maneouverable sport airplane. It is capable of flying the entire AMA Pattern!"

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Note because this plan was scanned at 36 in wide, some text is missing where the edges are cropped. If anyone can fill in the missing text, we'll type it up and add that as a supplement file [fixed now, see below].

Thanks to RFJ for finding the colour full-page ad for the Firebird, in MAN September 1984.

Update 15/11/2024: Added kit instructions, thanks to Jim. Note this text is OCR'd from photos submitted by Jim.

Quote: "THE FIREBIRD .40 Building Notes. We at CRAFT-AIR are pleased you decided to purchase our FIREBIRD .40. When you take your completed plane out to the flying field, we're confident that you'll be more than happy with what it will do for you.

A quick glance at the plans will verify that building is straight forward, using familiar construction techniques. Our only word of caution is to follow the recommended building sequence when installing the bottom wing leading edge and center section sheeting. Install the wing hold-down dowels before the bottom sheeting is glued in place so you can be sure of good glue joints inside the wing. Time to get to work.

THE FIN, RUDDER, STAB, AND ELEVATOR: Start with the quick and easy stuff first! Working on a flat surface covered with waxed paper, glue the front and back stab parts together then add the stab tips. Use a straight edge to align the bottom edge of the fin parts when you glue them together. Add the fin tip.

Presand the sides of the fin and stab. Cut the center leading edge of the stab flat as shown on the plans. Slightly round the leading edge and tips. Do not, however, round the flattened area at the center of the leading edge where it is to mate with the back of the turtle deck or along the stab trailing edge. Refer to the plans and cut the bottom fin leading edge square to the fuselage top block so it will mate properly with the turtle deck. Slightly round the fin leading edge and tip. Don't round the edges of the fin that mates with the turtle deck or along the hinge line. Sand the elevator halves to side view and the rudder to top view.

Mark and relieve the leading edge of the rudder for elevator joiner clearance. Next, mark and cut the hinge slots in the stab, elevator halves (leaving room for the hardwood joiner), fin, and rudder. Three hinges should be used on each elevator half and four hinges on the rudder. Ideally, the bottom rudder hinge should be near the bottom of the fuselage. Cut that hinge slot when you're ready to hinge the rudder.

Lay the elevator halves in place up to the stab. Use the hardwood joiner as a guide to mark the leading edge of the elevator halves to be relieved for the hardwood. Relieve the elevator halves..."

Update 15/11/2024: Replaced this plan with a clearer copy. Now we have the full instructions as a supplement file thanks to Jim, have removed the incomplete text. Also some minor cleanup.

Supplementary file notes

Instructions.
Previous scan version.

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