Prescott Propjet (oz14316)

About this Plan

Prescott Propjet. Radio control sport model, with pusher-prop layout.

Quote: "I like to design and develop aircraft. One of my recent concepts is aptly named the Prescott Propjet. But I digress a bit. If one examines how to squeak the very last ounce of performance from an aircraft, the pusher configuration looks like a good approach. One of the most significant challenges is the propeller. There have been numerous, although sporadic, improvements in tractor propeller designs. Conversely, there has been very little development of pusher propellers. Recently, however, because of new aircraft developments that are of a pusher configuration, pusher propeller technology, although not taking a quantum leap, has progressed. Two recently designed and certified aircraft, the Beech (now Ratheon) Aircraft Starship, and the Piazzio P-180 Avanti are examples. For these two aircraft, millions of dollars have been expended to improve performance and lower noise levels of their propellers. The commercial success of these two aircraft has not lived up to their corporate expectations. However, I do not believe it is the fault of the pusher configuration.

There is another sector of aviation that continues to grow and whose operational requirements are being met with leftover hardware and antiquated technology. This segment of the market is small package delivery. The Prescott Propjet is being proposed to bring together technology and an operational requirement.

It seems to make sense to capitalize on the development of the engine/propeller technology for the Starship and Avanti and design an all-new aircraft that meets the operational requirements of the numerous package handling companies. To accomplish this task will require significant capital investments and technical know-how.

So why an R/C model aircraft? First, during the development of the Prescott Pusher four-place home-built aircraft, I utilized two modeling techniques that proved enormously successful. Second, I have owned and admired an OS Wankel .30 model engine since they were introduced and have been looking for the right application. Enter the Prescott Propjet.

I have previously published an article about how I used modeling techniques for the construction of wind tunnel models. That technique will be applied to the Propjet program in the future so I will confine this article to the construction of the R/C model of the Propjet.

The full-scale Propjet is planned to be a single engine pusher configured aircraft primarily intended to haul freight. The nose will be hinged so that a forklift can be driven up to the aircraft and load cargo boxes. The full-scale aircraft will have fly-by-wire controls to facilitate the opening operation. It will also have retractable landing gear, full-span flaperons, and a computer-controlled configuration.

The R/C model is a 1/10 scale model powered by a .30 cu in OS Wankel engine. The model is intended to provide some very basic stability and control and handling characteristics of the full-scale aircraft. The model also has full-span flaperons and retractable landing gear. Now to the construction of the model.

Construction: Fuselage/Vertical Fin: With F-1 laying on your work surface, glue F-3 and U-2 onto F-1 as shown on the plans, making sure that they are square. Install the assembled F-1, F-2 and F-3 onto F-4. Care must be taken to make sure this assembly is square. Glue into position on this assembly when dry, two each 1/16 x 1/4 and two each 1/16 square stringers.

Skin the outside of this assembly with the 1/16 soft balsa sheeting. When this completed assembly is dry, this a good time to fiberglass and epoxy the inside which will become the fuel tank compartment. I use Hobby Poxy Formula II thinned with K&B Super Poxy thinner.

Next, mount the vertical fin assemhly jigs in their correct position on a flat building surface. To assist in the proper alignment of the vertical fin parts and to mark the 1/16 balsa skins, cut out the vertical fin skin planform from the plans. I also set up both the lower and upper fin jigs at this time just for continuity. The upper section will be installed at a later time in the assembly process..."

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Scan by MarkD, cleanup by Circlip.

Supplementary file notes

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