Wireless (oz2866)

About this Plan

Wireless. Radio control model. Article and plan showing a CL Top Flite 'Flite Streak' adapted for radio control.

Quote: "The Wireless was born at a bull-session during which the conversation covered the gamut of model building, design and flying. For some strange reason the discussion wandered off into U-control stunt (an unlikely subject for R/C modelers) and the progression of U-control stunt design. I recalled that I had seen, on one occasion, a profile stunt model make a very credible free flight, circling its handle to an altitude of about 200 feet. Although the flight was extraordinary, the landing was spectacular since the control wires landed across a 12,000 volt power line and blacked out a large section of the city!

This was the catalyst for what was to follow. My co-conspirator (co-nut would be more appropo) and I decided that application of RC to a ukie mode] would decidedly improve its control during free flight and be a tremendous safety feature for landings. The fact that such a combination might NOT work never entered our minds.

I had an old Top Flite Flite Streak (oz2652) kit at home with the wing partially completed and this served as the basis for the design. First off, it was readily apparent that the profile fuselage was just too slim to house even the smallest propo equipment and the tail surfaces a bit too small to go with the wing. So these parts we've chucked and a new design developed around the wing. Something of an effort was made to retain the appearance of the Flite Streak with allowances for a certain amount of flight reliability, The resulting package was similar to a ukie stunt job with fairly pleasing lines.

The first flight of the original was almost anti-climactic. It rose into the air smoothly and exhibited fairly good stability, though quite sensitive in the roll mode. The really surprising part was the landing, which was not a drop-out-of-the-sky type as expected, but rather smooth with an almost floating glide. That thick symmetrical section developed a tremendous amount of lift at a slight angle of attack.

The number one prototype logged 25 flights before succumbing to interference (verified!). The number two aircraft is the one presented here, and is a cleaned up version of number one. You'll note the plane shown does not have a rudder, although one IS shown on the plans. It can be built either way, and the extra servo has room in the fuselage since the plane shown uses one servo just for the steerable nose gear. The Wireless requires a good running .15 or even a .19. This plane has to be 'on the step' or she can be a real handful to fly! Both the original and number two weighed less than three pounds and every effort should be made to hold it to this weight, or less.

The Wireless, although not a true R/C ukie, has proven, to me at least, that some of the present day U-control creations are quite adaptable to radio control. I recently saw a ship with a Nobler (oz6212) wing turn in a fantastic performance. While not for the novice, planes like the Wireless can be real fun types for the more experienced fliers. Who knows, maybe we can do for U-control what Marconi did for the telegraph - make it 'Wireless'..."

Update 05/09/2016: Replaced this plan with a clearer copy, thanks to davidterrell80, Circlip.

Supplementary file notes

Article pages, text and pics, thanks to hlsat. Also, previous scan version.

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