Banana Fritter (oz1268)

About this Plan

Banana Fritter. Free flight rubber model.

Dick Twomey 30in span original design from 1950, modified in 2000 to suite P-30. Thanks to David Wagner for finding this plan.

Update 04/02/2021: Added (later) article from Aeromodeller, December 2002, thanks to RFJ.

Quote: "Full-size plan. A simple small rubber model, for sport or P30 competition flying, designed by Dick Twomey.

Origins: The first 'Banana Fritter' (no need to explain the name!) was designed and flown in 1949 (by a schoolboy, like most of my fleet) and flew in the 1950 Flight Cup as well as in some RAFMAA events in that year. The original was slightly smaller than the modern version and had a one-bladed folding propeller. As a rule, I sought to be different, the 'lifting fuselage' and shoulder-wing position were just for that.

The new model: The original Banana Fritter was redesigned to get something out of the P30 competition specification, which sets a 30" limit to everything except for the stretched rubber motor length! An earlier undercarriage has been deleted, as we don't Rise-Off-Ground any more. And, of course, the original prop is replaced by the regulation P30 plastic one. But the main concession to modernity is the fitting of a tip-up tail dethermaliser with a lightweight clockwork timer.

Construction is simple (don't they always say that?), but a few points may be worth making:

Fuselage: This is built from 3/32 medium/hard balsa, with the front section reinforced by a doubler longeron for the first 6-3/4 in. Make the sides, complete with all the diagonals, first; then leave to set - on the plan - for a good twenty-four hours before lifting. If you don't, you can have a very straight banana! Note the large gap which is for the one-piece wing to pass through. For the wing-retaining rubber bands I prefer to use small dress-hooks rather than dowels, as they leave a little more room for the rubber motor.

If you fit a D/T (and you should), the best position for a mini-timer is on top of the fuselage just ahead of the wing. The tail end then requires a double fillet to accommodate the leading edge of the fin (fin cemented to the tailplane) and a short length of thin plastic tubing to carry the D/T line to the tailplane trailing edge.

Wing and tail: The one-piece wing consists of a flat centre-panel and two dihedralled tip panels. The wing section is a good one, don't skimp it! Tailplane ribs are diagonal, centre sheeted to attach the fin. There are also underfins at the extremities of the tailplane.

Covering and trimming: Use lightweight tissue, yellow of course! Keep everything light. My BF's balance point is 6 cm behind the wing leading-edge, that's at 56% chord. Adjust tailplane incidence to achieve glide trim, and thrust-line for the climb. If you stick to P30 the rubber is limited to ten grams - six loops of Tan 2 is recommended.

May your Banana always Fritter, and never souffle!"

Supplementary file notes

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