Safire (oz5570)

About this Plan

Safire. Control line sport model.

Hi Steve - Delta for control line. Here's another full size scan of M.A.N. plans service "SAFIRE" control line.... 400 dpi... contributed by jeff mccammant story city iowa. thanks,

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Update 16/9/2023: Added article, thanks to Pit.

Quote: "Why fly run-of-the-mill sport jobs in control-line when this delta can give you great low-high speed range, stability in the wind, and some stunting? Safire, by Vern Clements.

The Safire reflects up-to-date appearance, similar to modern military aircraft. Its flying performance reveals the flexible flight characteristics obtained from the delta configuration. Streamlining gives a fast speed, and yet, a slow and stable low flying speed is obtained at reduced throttle. Low speed is flown in a nose-high, stalled attitude, which is one of the noted features of the delta planform.

The J Roberts Flight Control system gives instant engine speed control at the flier's finger tip. This model will perform large loops, horizonital eights, and inverted flight, but does not turn sharp due to its small size and resultant heavier than stunt-type wing loading. Though a sport model, it should show good results in rat race events due to its fast speed. You can power your version with an engine of .19 through .35 displacement, that has provisions for radial mounting.

Safire's first day on the flying field proved its extreme stability by winning first place in Baker, Ore, carrier event! Of course, it is not a carrier-event model; extremely high winds plagued this contest, which gave the delta advantages over the conventional scale and semi-scale types flown. The Safire knifed through the rough air at the fastest high speed, and had the slowest low speed obtained at this contest. Wind penetration is good, and its ability to hold flying wire tension during low-speed flight really paid off. Power was the K&B .29S.

Since then, Safire has been improved. In its original form the wing ballast was mounted in the outboard wing tip, which placed it too far behind the center of gravity and control unit. This resulted in a wing-wobble when the throttle was blipped rapidly. The tip ballast was later moved forward, to the position shown on the plans. This resulted in proper force alignment, which proved to correct the wing-wobble and smooth out the flight path even more in rough air (a worthy note to control-line delta designers).

Trace and cut all parts from the materials specified on the plans. When making duplicate parts (such as a left and right of each wing rib), stack two sheets of wood together, holding with pins, and cut and sand to shape in one operation to insure sameness.

Assembly will be easier if you will first mark all rib locations on the spars and trailing edge. Begin construction by slipping the 1/16 plywood doublers onto the sides of Formers F-1 and F-4. These formers should key together with a snug fit into their notches. After the cement has set up, add Former F-3..."

Supplementary file notes

Article.

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