Northern Light F1J (oz15378)
About this Plan
Northern Light F1J. Free flight power model. Wingspan 54 in, wing area 330 sq in.
Direct submission to Outerzone.
Update 27/6/2024: Added article, thanks to Pit.
Quote: "F1J is perhaps the fastest-growing free flight event. Originally comprised mainly of 1/2A fliers, it has now attracted participants from most of the power classes, including F1C (the large FAI power class). The event is flown at most major AMA and FAI contests, and beginning in 1995 it has been included in the prestigious America's Cup competition. And it has been
suggested that Fl C should be mpb.ced by F1J for the Junior World Champs.
Two schools of thought have evolved concerning the best way to design an F1J model. One group believes that since F1C airplanes are the epitome of power models, it stands to reason that a good F1J should emulate F1C. So a group of mini-F1C designs has come about, best represented by Bill Lynch's Pegasus and Dave Parsons' Cathexis Redux. These airplanes are high-aspect-ratio, full-bunting, synthetic material, technological wonders, and they fly very well indeed.
The other school of thought, represented by Northern Light, is that the rules of FIJ are much different from those of F1C and so the designs should take advantage of the rules. The FIJ rules are more like AMA Gas than FM. so I began the design process with an AMA-type airplane. Exotic materials are not needed for strength nor to meet a minimum weight. In spite of the availability of space-age materials, models built from balsa arc still the lightest 1/2A airplanes.
Northern Light has been under development since October 1989. The design objective was to build a simple fixed-tail F1J that would fly as well as an auto surface airplane.
One goal was to avoid dependence on complex mechanical devices such as heavy multifunction timers, and therefore have an airplane that was reliable and easy to fly. The requirements demanded inherent stability, low drag, and light weight.
Maybe its old-fashioned, but I still believe you can achieve ultra-high-performance with careful design and fixed geometry. I will concede that perhaps ultimate performance can be achieved only with ultimate-technology equipment, but one of the chief attractions of FIJ over F1 C is that ultimate performance is not yet necessary. With only five rounds to fly, the contests always finish in one day and we fly the long flyoff rounds in the afternoon instead of a 10-minute dawn flyoff as in F1C. So the event still frequently boils down to thermal picking.
The current (third) version of this design differs from the prototype on only minor ways. Covering material and stab size were changed, the pylon has been lowered and narrowed, and a timer-start button has been added.
Airframe drag is minimized by the use of tapered-tube fuselage, built-up pylon and fin, recessed timer, internal fuel bladder, and internal DT and rudder lines. The built-up pylon and fin have lower drag than flat structures and are less critical to construction misalignment..."
Supplementary file notes
Article.
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-
(oz15378)
Northern Light F1J
by Bruce Augustus
from Model Aviation
June 1995
54in span
IC F/F Pylon
clean :)
all formers complete :)
got article :) -
Submitted: 29/05/2024
Filesize: 1076KB
Format: • PDFbitmap
Credit*: GeorgeGilbert
Downloads: 239



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User comments
Bruce Augustus has passed away. But I did see Bruce fly his Northern Light at both Taft and Lost Hills in the 1990s and it was a potent F1J flyer. Also a danged good AMA 1/2 A gas model if you wanted to do it that way..Mike Myers - 31/07/2024
Bruce was a great guy. I got to visit him in Sun Valley years ago. Here he is with his Pixy.
https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=11626
TomRyan - 31/07/2024
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- Northern Light F1J (oz15378)
- Plan File Filesize: 1076KB Filename: Northern_Light_F1J_oz15378.pdf
- Supplement Filesize: 2584KB Filename: Northern_Light_F1J_oz15378_article.pdf
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Notes
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