Duplex Delta (oz3399)

About this Plan

Duplex Delta. CL biplane delta model. For 0.75 - 1.5cc motors. Peter Holland's unconventional (zany?) CL model. Aeromodeller November 1959.

Quote: "Do you want something to build in an evening, something on lines, for instance? How about a Duplex Delta? A what? Well, a sort of a low-wing delta with a high-wing delta doing its best to go t'other way opposite on top. You know, we would be lost without pictures. Take a look. There, see what I mean?

The reason? No, not just to be different. The need arose for a tough little C/L model for quick production, to be used in a local display. To some this was to be their first taste of handle-waving, so Item 1: must bounce; Item 2: could be built in a few hours; Item 3: stall resistance should be high; Item 4: stuntable with small radius manoeuvres when on short lines; Item 5: adaptable to suit different motors.

With these points in mind, a spot of research was carried out with various wing plan forms in order to make the wing area as compact as possible yet retain good control characteristics. The final layout has leanings toward the Delanne type; avoiding some of the interference associated with close gap biplanes, and gaining the rigidity of a delta. As flight tests proved, deltoid plan-forms when opposed appear to reduce the undesirably excessive stability associated with some C/L delta models.

Duplex Delta, having proved itself, was handed over to a learrer pilot who hitherto had been unable to fly a tank dry, partly to see if it was easy to fly, partly to stress-test it in the obvious way.

The former obviated the latter and horizontal and overhead eights became intentional on his second tank full. Later we found it bounced unscathed. Eventually, of course, we were chasing the pieces; funny how the ground is not always where one thinks it is, nevertheless there are so few components to chase, as it were, that repairs are a matter of minutes, and, of course, being sheet balsa construction, uncomplicated and accessible.

The prototype still circulates and still bounces. It's old and it's oily; and it loops in about 4 ft diameter. Well, don't just sit there reading, get some wood and start..."

Quote "IIRC it's one of Peter Holland's zanier ones that I made :) I recall that its double delta wings (or perhaps it was due to the wire leadout guide) created a slightly wobbly flight but was otherwise fun."

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