Ascender (oz16292)

About this Plan

Airsail Ascender. Rubber duration model. Wingspan 83 cm.

Quote: "Provided by Dick Gleason. Scanned Aug 2025 by DAF."

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Planfile includes build instructions.

Quote: "The Airsail Ascender. A highly-efficient fuselage ROG Contest Model, which has held two New Zealand records at the time of being produced in kitset form.

Abridged Instructions For Building : Since the Ascender Builder should not be without previous experience, the full details of construction are therefore not given; instead, the following notes are kept more in the nature of hints and special points to watch with the particular model.

Before commencing grease plan With a candle to prevent framework adhering to paper.

Fuselage: The construction is simple. Build two sides at once directly on plan. Pick out the four hardest strips for the main longerons. When you join the two sides together later, start by securing the rear ends first, as this helps greatly to ensure squareness. When finished go over all joins with plenty of cement. This is important, for the stresses on the fuselage are very considerable.

Wings: Construction is orthodox, except for the ribs. See Rib Section on plan. Shape a template out of celluloid or cardboard as shown on plan; cut 1/16 sheet to length of rib and cut around template, shifting down 1/16 after each cut. Each cut will thus produce one top portion of rib. The bottom portion of rib is made in the same manner.

The best way to build this type of wing is to pin down leading and trailing edges and cement top portions of ribs in place. Then remove from plan, invert framework and cement mainspar in place across ribs, followed by the bottom portions of ribs. Beforehand, of course, cement the 1/16 square flanges on to the mainspar as shown on plan.

The wing tips, tip mainspar, compression ribs and the two riblets, as well as the solid ribs for the centre section, are all printed. The three dihedral keepers are also printed, and secure in place when joining each of the four wing panels together.

Finally, cover centre section with 1/16 sheet, inserting the solid ribs at the same time. If you make all ribs in a wing a neat fit, neither too tight nor too loose, the chances are that your wing will never warp..."

Update 26/9/2025: Added (later) article from Avanz News #143, thanks to Pit.

Supplementary file notes

Article (Avanz News).

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