Citabria Parkflyer (oz15103)

About this Plan

Citabria. Radio control profile scale model. Wingspan 38 in, wing area 296 sq in, for electric power with Emax 2822 brushless motor. Uses some foam construction.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Note this plan is stamped as Archive #003324 from the Cooperative Plans Service. See their website at www.co-op-plans.com

Update 24/2/2024: Added article, thanks to Tom Binkley.

Quote: "Citabria needs no introduction to readers of this magazine. It has long been a popular light plane and a favorite subject in the modeling world. Citabria's popularity is due, in part, to it's well known aerobatic ability.

The model presented here was inspired by the respected and prolific model designer, Fred Reese, who designed many Schoolyard Scale models of simple construction, many using the well known Ace Foam Wing and Cox .049 engine. But this Citabria has a built up wing for best flight performance and a Styrofoam core fuselage for quick construction.

It looks good in the air, and is capable of putting on an airshow that lives up to its name. It has good wind penetration and is nimble enough to be flown in a small cul-de-sac.

My apologies to the scale modelers among us. This is a semi-scale profile model with the outline of the original and an authentic looking paint scheme. The emphasis here is quick to build and fun to fly.

It has trainer like stability and has such good rudder response that I would not hesitate to recommend it as a rudder, elevator and throttle model. It snap rolls well enough that you could just skip the ailerons. But, after all its name is 'airbatic' spelled backwards.

Let's build one. First collect the needed parts. The motor is an EMax 2822 1100kV outrunner, spinning a GWS 8x6 prop with a 12A HK Blue ESC and powered by a Rhino 610 3 cell LiPo battery.

You'll need a programing card for the ESC to set the brake to stop the prop from spinning at zero throttle. Four HXT 500 6g servos operate the control surfaces. You might want a Y connector for the ailerons, and you'll need a micro receiver.

Start construction by cutting all the wing parts out of 3/32 balsa. Stack sand the ribs to final shape, then saw or cut the notches for the spars and trailing edge. Shape a notch for the leading edge dowel with a small rat tail file.

Building one panel at a time, cover the plans with wax paper and pin the bottom spar and trailing edge to the plans. Install and glue the ribs and sheer webs. Cant the first rib to the dihedral angle.

Add the top spar and turbulator spar and leading edge dowel. White glue works well for the less than perfect fit of hand cut parts, it is inexpensive, non toxic and strong. Add and glue the gussets in place. CA the wingtip gusset in place, then glue the rear wingtip piece to the rib and gusset.

Wet the top of the front wingtip piece with a drop of water to help it bend, CA to the gusset, then bend it gently to the curvature of the rib and CA in place.

Space the servo mounting rear half ribs to fit the servos width. Build the mating wing panel in the same way. Make a right and a left wing. When completed, cut a vertical slot in the root ribs just behind the sheer web, between the top and bottom spar caps for the dihedral brace.

Carefully trial fit the 1/32 ply dihedral brace so that the wing panels join in perfect alignment. Clamp and glue them together. Sand a bevel on the trailing edge of the wing and a bevel on the leading edge of the ailerons for a hinge point..."

Supplementary file notes

Article.

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