Raider (oz16513)

About this Plan

Raider. RC combat model. Wingspan 36 in, for .15 to .20 engines. Uses a polystyrene foam wing.

Quote: "R/C COMBAT? It's great therapy for what ails you. You can, for an unbelievably low cost (compared to a full-size fighter that is) and without joining the Armed Forces, engage in aerial dogfights with an opponent, and experience what it feels to be either hunter or hunted. This is where you can hone your piloting skills to a fine point. Imagine, just as you've been launched, you trim your plane and can't find him! You turn, and suddenly, there he is, behind you, and gaining. What to do? You can (a) split-S; (b) loop-inside or outside; (c) knife-edge turn, reverse; (d) barrel roll; or (e) all of the above. The flying wing combat plane is so manoeuvrable that close-in, classic dogfighting can be done in an unbelievable manner.

R/C combat is much like CL combat except that you don't have control lines and you can be all over the sky - no fear of tangles. Like CL combat, a streamer, towed behind each airplane, is the target. 'Loss' of course goes to the pilot whose streamer got cut. Streamers used are much longer than CL Combat model streamers. Wait till you see it in the air, it'll seem as though it became too short all of a sudden. R/C combat is forthose modellers who detest building, and would much rather be out slamming the sticks into the opposite corners of their transmitter boxes whilst out in the flying field. Thrills and excitement beyond what could be considred "sport flying" await you and your 'enemies'. Convince a flying friend of equal Skill to get into R/C Combat and have some fun — R/C will never be the same afterwards.

The aeroplanes used are flying wings of either foam or balsa. In R/C Combat, foam has an advantage, in that it withstands the grass landings and bad launches better than balsa. No veneer other than heat-shrink is used, but spars reinforce the foam. The control surfaces, or elevons, are activated by mixers such as sliding trays or commercially available mixers. If separate ailerons and elevator are used, ailerons are linked by flexible cable from the aileron servo. A pushrod to the elevator comes from the elevator servo. Elevons are not as precise in response as split surfaces; but elevons are tamer and respond to hand launches better. You make your choice. Only two or three channels are used - elevator, aileron, and optional throttle. The wings are hand-launched and landed on grass. The radio system compartment is 'armour plated' on top and bottom by either plywood, glassfibre sheet, or formica. The aerial goes through a hole in the wing and exits through a wingtip You want it to trail beside your streamer in a combat match, perhaps? The fuel tank is 4 oz and is externally mounted.

Engines used range from 15 (2.5cc) to 20 (3.5cc) and schneurle engines are not necessary, or advisable. Fantastic performance can be had on a simple OS 20 R/C or even the inexpensive Thunder Tiger 25. I once tried out an 0S25 FSR, and although the wing was still manoeuvrable at 150mph plus being able to climb vertically out of sight - the concentration on flying it was just too much, let alone hunt for an enemy! Its one and only flight ended up in a 150mph splat into some not-too-soft grass as I looked back for a split second to attend to a persistent cyclist who wanted to use the road I happened to be standing on. (Some people, I swear). So much for using expensive schneurle engines just to get an advantage on the enemy. The resulting damage to my OS 25 FSR required the replacement of a rather expensive carburettor.

Perhaps the sight of seeing two model airplanes in an apparently deadly dual, seems more purposeful than just simply jumping about in the sky all alone; the crowd (one quickly gathers) loves it. They get caught up in the competitive mood quickly and completely, perhaps, because here in the Philippines, where cockfighting is practically a national past-time, the crowd senses the possibility of a good game. Believe it or not, you can get a rather vocal gallery going.

Don't simply take my word for it! Better still, get a friend, or your whole club, to try it with you. You will find yourselves in a completely new arena - and each time you fly combat, it will always be a challenge to your flying skills. You will find that it takes some practice to get the depth perception, needed to line up on a streamer. Don't worry about it, just keep on trying..."

Direct submission to Outerzone.

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