Lanzo Racer (oz15695)

About this Plan

Lanzo Racer. Radio control sport model. Wingspan 12 ft.

Quote: "Lanzo's Racer 1936. The Racer a 12 ft span 1936 model for RC and FF. Power: Brown Jr. Wt: 7 pounds with radio, 2 tube super-regenerative receiver, rudder only. Wing area 2216 sq in = 15.38 sq ft. Min wt 7.69 pounds at 8 oz per sq ft.

Copyright 1987, Chester D Lanzo [signature]. Drawn by Chet Lanzo to match original 1936 sketches & photographs. Traced by Stuart Warner from original drawings, 1987.

Covered with bamboo paper or silk with black trim."

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Also attached here a supplement file: letter (written by Stuart Warner) re provenance.

Quote: "I can understand your dilemma with the Lanzo Racer. I originally got into the Racer plans while active in SAM 39. At the time, I was flying with Chet. He casually mentioned to Bucky Walter that he had reconstructed the Racer plan to send to some chaps in England. Everyone indignant, got out the American flags and said 'Why not us first'. Apparently someone said that they would draw up a free master for the plan. Chet was never one to turn down anything free. I countered that if I could have the plan first, I would draw up a free mylar master. Free, being the operative word, Chet gave me the master for the plan. It was drawn up on a piece of butcher paper with little fold out sections for the rudder and landing gear. Because it took up so much paper, only part of the wing was shown. I directly traced as much of the plan as possible, but some of the detail was missing and had to be interpreted from the other views and in conversation with Chet. I am not sure how well Chet proofread the plan. While I drew up the master, he wanted to letter it. As far as I know, Chet disposed of the original butcher paper drawing after he lettered the master. I did not see the plan again until it was published. There was no Racer plan until I drew up the master from Chet's sketch. The full size plan came before the 1/2 size version.

I have the recreation of the Racer that Chet built; it has 14" dihedral at each tip. This would tend to indicate that the dimension on the on original plan is incorrect. I believe that Tom McCoy was involved in the recreation and he may be able to shed some further light on the dihedral problem.

I'm not sure that this clears up the problem, but that's the story, as I know it.

Stuart Warner"

Update 5/12/2024: Added scan of traced ribs, thanks to TomRyan.

Supplementary file notes

Letter re provenance.
Ribs.

Corrections?

Did we get something wrong with these details about this plan (especially the datafile)? That happens sometimes. You can help us fix it.
Add a correction