Pacific Ace (oz6233)

About this Plan

Pacific Ace. Radio control sport model.

The original Pacific Ace (oz863) was a 1937 free flight rubber model. This here is a later 250% enlarged version, for RC with a .20 4-stroke engine.

Quote: "This 2.5 times version of the 30 in span old-time rubber powered Pacific Ace is a joy to fly. Putts around at 1/4 throttle and when you want altitude, hit full throttle. Pacific Ace, by Paul F Denson.

In our early teens, we built a great number of the then popular model airplanes. As most kids did, we started with solid models then moved up to the very inexpensive rubber powered models. At this point we still had not really gotten a model to fly but the experience gained in construction and covering lead us to the grander more expensive models which looked somewhat like real airplanes and really were designed to fly. We are sure our models did not even approach the excellence of the Pacific Ace shown here but one thing for sure, in spite of the wrinkled tissue and glue bumps sticking out everywhere, they flew and we were introduced into the realm of free flight.

A few years ago, the Pacific Ace again came to our attention so we looked up one of John Pond's catalogs and sure enough there were a bunch of m different sizes mentioned therein. We ordered the plans for the Pacific Ace 30 in, the Pacific Ace 20 in and the Pacific Ace Jr. At the time, we were involved with other projects so they were filed away for future use.

Recently one of our flying buddies showed up at the field with a brand new transparent blue Super Quaker which he powered with a Saito .45 4-stroke engine. When we saw all the fun he was having with his new 'big beastie' nothing would do that we had something similar. Out came all the research materials and weeks were spent looking for an old-timer that would fit our needs. This class of plane was not new to us. When we transitioned from gliders to power, we did it via old-timers among which were two Miss Americas, two Buzzard Bombshells, a Super Buccaneer, and we tapered off with a Playboy Sr. We considered most of the old free fighters, but when push came to shove, we just didn't want to build a kit or use someone else's plans - it was scratch or nothing. When that decision was made, the Pacific Ace was remembered, located, and plans were made.

It had to be large enough to see way up there when you shut down the engine and it turned into a soaring machine, but not so large that common stock could not be used in construction. Since the 30 in Pacific Ace had the best detail, it was decided that R/C version would be a multiple of the 30 in one. Two times would be too small and three times would be too large to fit common building stock so we split the difference and decided upon 2-1/2 times. That would make the wingspan 75 in, if we used a 6 in center section, each outer section would be no longer than standard 36" length balsa and spruce. We normally cut our own hardwood from white pine which is easier to work and much less expensive, but if we expected someone else to build the plane, it would be to their advantage if they could use readily available materials. What about the fuselage - it is 43 in long? Note, all of the fuselage forward of the TE of the wing is spruce except for a couple of cowl pieces. Aft of the wing, the fuselage is all balsa with the two longerons on the bottom of the fuselage being spliced where spruce transitions to balsa - voila, standard stock. Get yourself a bunch of 1/4" square spruce and balsa. The balsa should be medium hard as you do not have to worry about making the tail light. We had to add weight to the tail to get the plane to balance at 1/3 of the wing chord.

This is an excellent beginner's airplane. It is extremely easy to fly and if you get into trouble, all you do is take your thumbs off the sticks and the plane squares itself away (more about that later). It really isn't all that difficult to build and we will give you all the help we can. If you have built a few kits such as the Eaglet or the Eagle, you are ready for this scratch-built plane.

Wings: We likw wings, so let's start with that part. Please note right off that the wing as liad out is 57 in long. There is a 6 in center section..."

Supplementary file notes

Article, thanks to SrFalcon.

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