Skyrocket (oz3821)

About this Plan

Skyrocket. Jetex free flight model.

Quote: "WINNER of the magnificent Nobel Challenge Trophy, more popularly known as the Trophy, William Houghton's Skyrocket is by no means a thermal-lucky flier. The 1951 International brought the best Jetex fans in Britain to Fairlop and in the absolute calm conditions, this model and modeller from Rhyl in North Wales really ousted the field with superior flying.

His first flight in the contest was 3:4 secs off a single '100' charge, which indicates how well the designer has applied his long experience of hand-launched gliders to the Jetex powered design. Thin wings and tail with Brasso polished leading and trailing edges, to say nothing of that supersonic nose, all add up to high speed near-vertical climb for a maximum glide ratio.

As a check on performance, the prototype was brought out of hibernation over Easter this year, and on its first whole-charge flight of the day, disappeared into the blue after 9:15 secs! Which would appear to indicate that a dethermaliser would not be altogether amiss.

Fuselage is the first item for construction - start by joining the two halves on the full-size parts sheet. Pin down the base longerons, add
F1, F2, and assemble parts N1 and N2 for the nose portion. Fit the top longeron, add spacers and file away the longeron for P2 and P3. Add parts P1, balsa block and scrap sheet, then insert ply wing mounts and balsa wing support. Cement wing rests firm and square, attaching pins with a secure cement skin. Lift off the board, cover with light tissue and screw on motor clip.

Wing and Tailplane are perfectly straight-forward, needing no special explanation, while the sheet fin should be given a high gloss finish. All lifting surfaces should be covered with light tissue, carefully applied and doped, followed by a thin coat of fuel proofer. All up weight, less Jetex unit, ought to be approximately .75 oz.

Trimming: Warp the last 3/8 in of fin up to 1/8 in to the left, and test glide, adding plasticine until the glide is just off the stall. Use a half charge, with cork packing, for first power tests and launch level just as the main power comes in. Use the tail for trim until climb is near vertical and up to 200 feet. Glide is slow and circle large, but this tightens up in a thermal. Calm air average is about 2:45 secs. Cement fin trim when satisfactory - now start thinking about that dethermaliser!"

Quote: "The Skyrocket was not issued as a plan in this edition but as a reduced plan with full size parts, so my rendition tries to emulate what the plan may have been like. The plane itself was designed by William Houghton for the Jetex 100 motor. The praises heaped upon the design by the article are beyond belief - such as 'Best performing Jetex model of 1951'. Well it had some contest success, looks a handy craft and would do well on the contest field. If you choose to build it then let us know how it goes. As with all my plans if you do decide to build from it please take extra care and measure twice before cutting, they are only tracings from scans so may contain errors. If you notice any errors please mail me. I will also be sending .dwg files to Steve of Outzone so he can host them on that fantastic site."

Supplementary file notes

Article text and pics, as originally printed.

CAD file

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