Chuperosa (oz16065)

About this Plan

Chuperosa. Radio control hand launch glider model. Wingspan 60 in, wing area 420 sq in. Uses a foam core wing.

Note this plan shows choice of two wing layouts, polyhedral for 2 channel RC, or straight wing with ailerons for 3 channels.

Note this is a low resolution plan. This here is the Chuperosa as published in RCM. For a much clearer plan see Chuperosa (oz16066) as kitted by Culpepper Models.

Quote: "This little 60 in beauty will give you some very relaxed air time. With its light wing loading, it takes very little to catch the thermals.

Chuperosa was born a couple of years ago in a form much different from what is presented here. She has gone through a lot of growing pains but she's turned into quite a little sweetheart. Rusty Shaw first gave her life. Rusty got interested in hand launch from watching Jim Porter toss around his little 'Whisper I' hand launch design.

Rusty started his experiments with a T tail design which utilized the Eppler 205 airfoil. Not completely happy with the results, Rusty changed the wing to an 'Antares' airfoil. During all of this experimenting, Rusty's arm was getting stronger and stronger! Finally, one day Rusty asked Porter what airfoil he was using on the Whisper I. Porter's response was Eppler 214. Rusty immediately got out his foam cutter and went to work again.

As a result of Jim Porter and Rusty Shaw's efforts, interest in hand launch in eastern Iowa is growing. Our club, the Eastern Iowa Soaring Society, has devoted a contest exclusively to hand launch for the past couple of years and that will grow to two contests in 1987. At our 1986 HL contest, Chuperosa soundly beat everything that was thrown at her.

Chuperosa has been flown on the slope quite successfully (3rd place in recent races), and she's been flown against standard class ships (4th of 12 at a recent thermal event) with equal success. Mostly though, she's just plain fun to fly almost anywhere.

Rusty's original Eppler 214 prototype weighs in at 18 ounces. This is because he doesn't own a mini radio, so he stuffs a full size Futaba in her belly. The Eppler 214 airfoil carries the extra weight quite well. Rusty believes that the extra weight throws better when compared to a lighter plane. Judging from his performances at our last two contests, I can't dispute his theory.

I got into the act late this summer (1986) when I retired after 31 years as an engine designer for John Deere. I was looking for something to do, and recognizing the potential of Rusty's design, I suggested that we try to publish Chuperosa's story. Rusty agreed, but informed me that the only plans he had were on three sheets of 8-1/2 x 11 graph paper taped together. Having been a designer for 31 years, I figured I was qualified to draw some plans, so I went to work.

I've made some cosmetic changes and revised the construction by lengthening the nose to provide a little additional space for RJC gear, but the character of Chuperosa hasn't been altered. I also drew the plans, and wrote the story at Rusty's request.

Since I became involved, I've built three additional prototypes and they weigh between 13,5 ounces and 15 ounces. The lighter plane floats better in still air, but as Rusty predicted, I can't throw it as high as the heavier plane. Flight times are, therefore, a toss-up.

For schoolyard flying we use a sort of mini hi-start, which consists of about 15' of old, standard size hi-start tubing, and about 35 ft of 50 lb pull monofilament fish line. This device, when stretched to its limit, really puts Chuperosa up in a hurry. Zoom launches from this device are, to say the least, spectacular. Chuperosa can be built as either a polyhedral ship or an aileron ship. Either version is a blast to fly.

I've watched Rusty perform an interesting trick with the polyhedral prototype several times. He hooks up the mini hi-start, stretches it to the max, turns on the Tx and Rx, lays the Tx on the ground, and launches the plane, which proceeds to fly a 3600 pattern. Most onlookers just stand there with their mouths hanging open.

Please look over the plans and consider Chuperosa as a fun addition to your personal armada, If you decide to build her, first decide which version you want, then collect your materials and let's proceed.

Construction: Let's begin with the fin assembly: 1. Cut out the 3/32 balsa fin core, the 1/64 ply fin side sheets, and the 1/4 sq balsa elevator tube supports. Sand or cut down the elevator tube supports to 1/4 x 7/32. This is so they'll match the finished elevator thickness..."

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