Acrobat (oz4672)

About this Plan

Acrobat. Radio control model for 2 channels.

Quote: "With rudder and elevator control, this sturdy little RC job does tight loops, Immelmans, true stalls, and flew inverted. Fine on rudder only. Acrobat, by Bill Winter.

The Acrobat is a small (less than 4-1/2 feet) radio job, utilizing two controls by means of the Bonner compound escapement to give both rudder and elevator on a single channel. Although the plane weighs three pounds 11 ounces, it is on the fast, peppy side when powered with the Cub 14 and 9 x 6 Power Prop, with good fuel. Tight consecutive loops, vertical dives, true stalls, and even brief inverted flights have been achieved.

However, the combination of rudder and elevator is not for the beginner in RC and is recommended only for an experienced flier who has quick reactions and can anticipate the performance of a plane in various maneuvers. The beginner should fly with rudder alone; the moderately experienced pilot should leave the elevator mechanism disconnected until he is familiar with the ship and only then gingerly begin to feel out the flippers.

Anyone capable of building an RC job will not need construction details; instead let's concentrate on the control systems and how to fly the plane, it is imperative that the radio, Atalli, escapements, and linkages be in perfect order at all times and, idle 1W-- secondly, the operator must be positive that he can obtain any desired control without mistakes. The finished plane should be bench tested until it is obvious that the system works perfectly and reliably, and that the flier can work either a beep box, ground control switch or microswitch without picking up the wrong controls. It is particularly important that the compound escapment be thoroughly checked out and that the proper rubber size and length be determined for your ship, as well as the range of turns in the rubber that provide safe operation.

There is a possibility for a compound escapement to hang up on the third position (the electrical contact then being closed to operate the second escapement) on 1/8 in rubber. Should this occur in flight, any subsequent pulses to obtain rudder will give up and down elevator instead..."

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Supplementary file notes

Article pages, text and pics.

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