Small Wonder (oz5581)

About this Plan

Small Wonder. Three channel .15 size home-built style parasol wing sport model.

Quote: "Small Wonder is a fun airplane! You can relax, have a ball, and fly as much as you like on a minimum investment with this airplane! I have always had a soft spot in my heart for parasol airplanes. (My wife says the soft spot is in my head!) Anyway, some of my fondest memories of RC flying go back some ten years to when I built and flew my first parasol, called the Petite Parasol. It was a Fox .07 powered job, guided by a Min-X radio and a Rand Galloping Ghost actuator. Those brand names bring tears to the eyes of us old timers and stares of puzzlement to the newcomers. Anyway, the Petite Parasol was a good flyer and gave me my first taste of true success in the form of consistent flight periormance. But as the saying goes, according to Don Dewey - a fool and his airplane are soon parted!

Small Wonder is an effort to duplicate that fun and relaxed flying I had with the Petite Parasol, except this time a mod-ern home-built flair has been added, Stolp Starlet, Baby Ace, and Pober Pixie are examples of modern day parasol designs that have become popular with the E AA (Experimental Aircraft Association) members everywhere. Small Wonder is a scale-like ship that could very easily have a full-size counterpart hiding in some EAAers garage this very minute!

With 320 sq in of wing area, three channel radio, O.S. 15 R/C engine and a healthy epoxy paint finish, the flying weight is 2-1/2 pounds. This results in a wing loading of 18 oz per sq ft and is right in the ballpark. If you want a real floater, use an .09 engine, and cover with Solarfilm and it should weigh in at 2-1/4 pounds or less!

In the flying department, Small Wonder excels. Take-offs are effortless and requires very little rudder correction. Lift-off is smooth with no zoom and, once airborne, the ship is rock solid and goes where you point it. With an .09 engine in the nose, flight is slow and relaxed: however a .15 provides enough zing to really tear up the sky. You may even be able to invent some aerobatic maneuvers of your own! Landings are easy with good control all the way in and, once back on the ground, you will be delighted with the ground handling.

Construction is easy, quick and economical. Don't let the curved fuselage top and cabane struts throw you. Uncle George has engineered out the hard part. Just follow the steps..."

Update 10/09/2014: Replaced this plan with a clearer copy (scanned from a full-size plan), thanks to AusterPilot.

Update 22/12/2020: Added kit review from RCM, January 1978, thanks to RFJ.

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