Sparkler (oz3184)

About this Plan

Sparkler. Free flight CO2 model. 30in span, area 123 sq in.

Quote: "Fun free-flight with the smoothest, quietest and chaepest power yet - CO2 offers a full Sunday Afternoon of just pure flying fun at any flying field without the problem of noise. Sparkler CO2, by Bill Seigel.

With the revival of the CO2, motor by OK Cub, we can return again to clean, trouble-free flying. This ship was created to fit a very special type of flying. I find quite frequently while on business trips that I have the room and time to fly, but I don't want 'contest' performance, a messy motor to work with, nor is an assistant available such as would be needed in towline or rubber. The CO2 motor fulfills the power requirements and the Sparkler gives just the right performance.

Basically, the design layout is a refined sport job, quite strong, which will hold adjustments and give flight-after-flight consistency. I did not make a very strong effort to hold weight down as I didn't particularly want a rocket climb or a thermal-seeking glide. However, the Sparkler will put in a respectable minute-and-a-half flight in fair weather and better it somewhat if you are selective on wood.

To those who think the lines somewhat reminiscent of the old Rocketeer (oz1083) I say - yes! In fact, all the outlines evoke the type of cabin job flown in the 40's, although this one has dropped a few calories. The only deviation made from a normal layout was the use of an awful lot of rudder area as I didn't want any of those down-wind huffing and puffing chases. In fact, in winds from 10 to 12 miles per hour, there is a strong tendency to weathervane.

This ship has only one gimmick and a rather useful one at that. With the CO2 in the 40's, we used to fly these units, mostly in converted rubber jobs. Every time you changed a cartridge, there was the usual tug of war, poking fingers through paper, with the repertoire to match.!"#$%-&'( ) f.:+@?/c.

The approach I developed for this ship is really quite simple, and, most important, it works in the field. The entire landing gear (this is my reason for using a single-wheel gear) slides in a track within the fuse. Pulling the gear down an inch or so, releases the cartridge holder so it can be flipped out the belly, reloaded and readjusted. The big bonus feature is that last-minute adjustments can be made on the thumbscrew, even while the motor is running, as you can drive the gear up almost as you are releasing the ship.

For those who insist on a two-wheel gear, I can only advise ROG's and CO, are not highly compatible, as you waste most of your power at low altitude. A word of caution: do not attempt to heat cartridge in any manner except using body heat. You can tuck cartridges under your armpits or sit on them all day (they don't hatch) but do not apply any other type of heat.

Before you begin construction, keep in mind that you are not staffing an eight-channel ship and rock-hard balsa is not necessary. I used medium grade through-out, but if you choose, soft is fine, especially in the tail, wing-ribs and fuselage top and bottom..."

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