Aerial Target (oz16965)

About this Plan

Aerial Target. Free flight scale model. Wingspan 31 in, for CO2 power with Gasparin GM300T motor, or for IC power with Babe Bee .049 engine.

Note: This article featured two versions of the Aerial Target model, with wingspans of 31 and 44 inches. See Aerial Target (oz16966) for the larger version.

Quote: "When the 'Aerial Target' model was first drawn, it was with the tongue-in-cheek idea of being able to fly the model in scale, vintage and sports R/C competitions - a model for all seasons. The drawings languished in a corner of the office until the Gasparin horizontal twin came onto the market and I started to think in terms of a suitable subject for a scale project. How about the 'Aerial Target'? At 70% of the original design size it looked about right for the new Gasparin, although the potential of this motor was still unknown. It seemed the type of model that would appeal to John Walters and the drawings and engines were soon winging their way to Prestwich.

We now had a slightly farcical situation where Britain's first ever radio controlled aeroplane was about to be represented by a free flight model! In our defence we have to point out that the initial part of the flight of the 'Aerial Target', to 2000ft, was without recourse to radio control.

Drawings of the larger model design, intended for R/C, are included in the Premium drawings although it has not been built and tested at this size. However, I have no doubt that the flight characteristics will be similar to the smaller version and that it will fly well enough - but that's what the boffins at RAE Farnborough said in 1917.

Over to John Walters for his part of the epic story.

If you have ever wanted to build a scale model of a full size aircraft that did not require a plot, then then this is the model for you. The reason behind not requiring a pilot, is that the pilot of this aircraft was either on the ground or in the air. This model is designed around one of the very first British Radio Controlled Aircraft Target (AT) aircraft.

Built by the Royal Aircraft Factory at Farnborough in 1917, the AT was powered by a 2 cylinder ABC Gnat motor. History relates that the initial flights of these aircraft did not go without mishap and cannot be said to have been very successful. Further development work in 1922, with some redesign and a more reliable motor did eventually produce some success.

If in 1917 they found the motor unreliable, that should not be the case today with this model. The motor chosen to power this particular example is the relatively new Gasparin GM300T. This currently is the largest commercially available twin CO2 motor. Which has adequate power for this size of model. Although detail of the full size AT is a little vague, reasonable 3 view drawings do exist. It is from these that the model has been designed and because of the relative simplicity of the original design, the model follows quite accurately the full size construction.

Fuselage: This is simplicity itself. Start by laying down the top and bottom 1/8 sq hard balsa longerons, filling in between with 1/8 sq vertical spacers. I cut the fuselage formers from 1/16 liteply, or you may use 1/32 ply and balsa sandwich.

From the drawing of the full size AT, it is not clear whether the side sheeting was on the outside or let in, between the formers. I chose to let the side sheeting in between the longerons and used 1/16 balsa sheet. (It may have been that this sheeting was on the inside of the fuselage sides). It realy does not matter, although you will need to modify the formers to suit.

Having built both fuselage sides, pin one half down to your building board and glue in formers Fl to F5 (having pre drilled them with thread holes) making sure that they are vertical. I used a range of glues on this model, PVA, cyano and epoxy, all sparingly. With the structure still pinned down the remaining side frame can now be glue in position onto the formers and left to set.

To complete the fuselage the top and bottom spacers can now be added. Obtaining the correct plan shape, can be achieved by pinning the structure over the plan and adding the spacers. Be careful at the tail end and do not rush. You should now have what is a relatively simple box fuselage. At this stage you can now fit the motor. I used four bolts through former Fl and reinforcing piece behind Fl, with the retaining nut epoxied to the reinforcing plate..."

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Aerial Target from Aviation Modeller International September 1996.

Supplementary file notes

Article pages, thanks to RFJ.

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