Jonathan Van Pigeon (oz15409)

About this Plan

Jonathan Van Pigeon. Radio control sport model for .049 engine. Experimental coupled tail layout.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Update 13/7/2024: Added article, thanks to theshadow.

Quote: "RCS would like to bring you something different. As with the author, I am sure that we aircraft fans have watched birds fly and wondered, just maybe, well, read the story. And remember this is the April issue of R/C Sportsman.

Without getting deeply involved in psychological terms and theories, it is recognized that there is a mainstream of obsessive thought in each and every one of us. For example, how often have you beard it said about someone that he lives, breathes, eats and sleeps baseball? So, too, with race car drivers, ecology buffs, electronics fanatics, fishermen and so on and so forth. This compulsion is just as strong, if not stronger, in model aviation addicts. Thoughts of Kitty Hawk, biplanes, aspect ratios, endless thermals, radial engines, sleek silhouettes, vintage war planes, drag reduction - all stimulating the modeler to one great challenge - that of flight!

How each of us materially constructs our passions is as numerous and varied as the scraps of balsa on all of our workshop floors.

Upon reading Eric Lister's articles in past issues regarding drag reduction, I was challenged again. I pondered the notion that the control surfaces coupled to the flying surfaces must certainly create turbulent drag whenever they move from their neutral position. I felt that there must be a way to get away from this problem.

My neighborhood contains eleven churches in a four block stretch, giving us a horde of pigeons which frequent everyone's backyard (usually the day that the laundry is hung out). Since my childhood, I've watched them with fascination fall from 30-plus feet to the most beautifully controlled and unbelievably soft touchdowns. They would also bank in graceful glides circling the steeples (looking for a rare empty spot) and wending their way between the other buildings. Did you ever see a group of about 75 to 100 of these birds racing around in a circle about a half-block in diameter, then quickly settle down for a few minutes and then rapidly start up again? The little plumpers look exactly like they're flying a pylon course! How would you like to be a caller in one of their heats?

Nowadays, taking a closer look at the control they achieve through the use of their tail-feathers gave rise to speculation that somehow I could incorporate this into some type of control surface, getting a small portion of their fantastic control with less drag than present controls.

Out came the scratch pad and the doodling started. The sleek and smooth first sketches became plumper to accommodate the mechanics and to achieve a decent balance point. My main concern became 'make it work,' smooth it out later. Also, doubts arose, and rather than risk a one time take-off and total destruction with my usual .40 to .60 size powerplants, I decided to go 1/2A since I've had remarkable longevity from a much patched, now 2 lb, Ace 2T (oz6603).

Not being astute at aeronautical engineering, I compiled my design through 'guesstimates.' Maybe a gull wing will I give it stability without using a vertical fin (never saw a gull with rudder feathers!)? Looks like proportionately enough stabilator area ... this wingspan seems all right ... these polyhedrals appear correct. Better throw wheels on it, I need springiness for my landings.

The idea for the needed action sprung to mind one day when my wife tried her best to sever an umbrella in half under her car's power seat. Looking at the bunch of articulated wire dangling in my hand, I pulled on one and watched its new freedom of movement - Zingo! - right into my workshop, I didn't stop scribbling until I had it figured out. I thought. I experimented first with a 49c (used to be 10c) glider. Right and left controls were exactly opposite to what I had supposed - back to the drawing board. Flip this around, change servos around, now it's working..."

Supplementary file notes

Article.

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