Stagger Wing Beech (oz2366)

About this Plan

Staggerwing Beechcraft. Scale biplane for radio control. Al Wheeler EEE-Z-FLI sport scale model, for .25 engines. From Model Builder, February 1992.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Update 4/07/2012: Thanks to HKarlson who checked and enlarged this plan up to the correct 41 in span.

Update 27/03/2021: Added article, thanks to rocketpilot.

Quote: "An Eee-Z-Fli Oldie, by Al Wheeler.

We present here a tribute to a Golden Age airplane, a nostalgic trip to visit with a beautiful aircraft, one built when biplanes were king, engines were big, round and strong, and the little wheel was in the back. And no one had heard of ARFs! The Beechcraft Staggercraft was one of the most luxurious and aesthetically appealing aircraft of that wonderful age, admired and sought after today by restorers, antique buffs and modelers alike.

Presented here is an inexpensive, easily built model of that fabulous aircraft, one that looks great in the air and on the ground, flies well and has that certain appeal that turns heads at any flying site.

In the 'recognizable' scale category, the EEE-Z-FLI version is a basic fun-fly aircraft that may be detailed to suit the builder's taste. So, if your choice runs to sleek biplanes with big round engines and good looks, shake the termites out of your balsa pile, sharpen your hobby knife and start cuttin'.

Development of the model Staggerwing has followed the basic EEE-Z-FLI criteria of ease of construction without requiring hard-to-get materials; reasonable scale appearance and good flight characteristics. As always, ease of repair was a basic consideration. The size of the model and the use of a .25 site engine keep the Staggerwing in the affordable range for the novice scratch builder.

Extensive flight testing (and lust plain fun flying) has indicated good performance without any of the peculiar quirks sometimes associated with semi-scale models. Ground handling is good, tracking is well within the ability of the rudder to keep it straight, and general flight characteristicsare normal, loops and rolls and their various combinations precise, and approaches and landings are routine. Slow flight is normal with docile stall performance.

The Staggerwing is not considered a difficult building project, however, some prior experience would be helpful. Initial flights should be accomplished with the help of an experienced airplane driver.

GENERAL NOTES:

1. It is easier to cut out all the parts prior to the start of construction: then, like a kit, it goes faster.
2. It is important that the wings be built flat, as this type of construction resists corrective warping!
3. Numerous choices are for the builder, engine brand, fuel tank make, covering material and general hardwareselection. Equipment and materials used on the prototypes arenoted on the plans and/or in the photo captions.

FUSELAGE: Select matched sheets of 1/8 medium balsa. Cut out and edge-join FS1 and FS2 on a fiat surface. Cut D1, DM and D2 and cement to the sides in the locations shown on the plans. Install the vertical 1/8 x 1/4 strips in the aft fuselage. Mark and cut the elevator pushrod slot in the aft fuselage left side. Install B2, 133 and 134 to one of the fuselage sides, making sure that they are vertical to the fuselageside, join the fuselage sides by cementing B2, B3 and B4 onto the remaining side. Do this on a flat surface and use a square to align the fuselage sides at the aft end..."

Update 18/05/2021: Replaced the article with a clearer version (in colour), thanks to theshadow.

Supplementary file notes

Article.

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