Esprit (oz6258)

About this Plan

Esprit. Pattern sport model for RC. Esprit by Van Twelves from MAN. For .40 power and 4/5 channels.

Quote: "Our author, famous for his Screaming Eagle pattern design, featured in our July 1976 issue, has done it once again, with this different, almost military, also jet-type, fighting aircraft! Esprit, by Van Twelves.

To properly understand the significance of the Esprit, one should view it as the concrete expression of a concept, as much as a specific aircraft design. Detailed infor-mation on its construction and perfor-mance will be presented in appropriate depth in this article, but before we become involved in the nuts and bolts of the ma-chine itself, I feel that it is worthwhile to discuss the somewhat intangible motiva-tion behind the development of the actual hardware. The Esprit is really a personal expres-sion of that unique phenomenon we en-compass with the word 'flight.' Flight, for those of us who are sensitive to its broader scope of meaning, is much more than the simple ability to physically move in three dimensions without our usual solid link to earth. Flight stands as a symbol of freedom. It implies precise control. It conveys unlimited, uninhibited, wild, free-wheeling, mind-blowing, exciting, 'stand up and shout' feelings. Flight, in and of itself, is an art form that allows the expression of those special thoughts and responses that would otherwise go untold. As a medium of art, 'flight' defines a whole spectrum of beauty.

The inherent physical beauty of the machines of flight is found in their lenticular shapes, subtle contours, carefully chosen colors and trim, gleaming finishes, minute detailing, and patient, caring craftsmanship. Dynamic loveliness is expressed by sleek, gleaming little vessels screaming through the sky, with a freedom and grace unknown to the earthbound. The excellence of controlled agility is convincingly conveyed through twisting paths written in the sky: vertical rolls, sustained until the fragile craft is brought to a slow-motion halt by the invincible grasp of gravity; loops, spins and rolls that generate dazzling flashes of reflected sunlight; intricate top hats and reverse Cuban eights that seem the essence of perfection to the casual observer, but are never completely satisfactory to the pilot.

For me, at least, the Esprit embodies those elusive qualities that can never be touched, yet.can surely be felt. It is significant, I think, that the Esprit was built from a mental image rather than a predeter-mined plan: Apart from the basic restrictions imposed by the functional demands of stability, no formal plans were drawn until after the bird was completed. The essence of the aircraft grew from a variety of sketches on note pads and doodlings on scratch paper. I wanted a swept wing on this bird be-cause I had never built a swept wing. I wanted a swept wing because I like the racy, eager, hot-to-go image that a swept wing creates.

I wanted a swept wing be-cause I relate to the straining, surging, swashbuckling feeling of sheer motion that a sleek, swept-back jet in a tight pylon turn arouses. And so, because I wanted a swept wing (not too surprisingly!) that's the way this little bird was built.

Like nearly everyone else, I need some-thing fresh and new every once in a while, to keep things from growing stale. A cute little jet that would fly as well as it looked was what I had in mind, when first I started sketching the Esprit. Since it's not always possible to translate a needle-like design into a red hot pattern bird, I must confess that I had to make more, than one concession to function at the expense of aesthetics. The object of the effort is, after all, not just to construct a flying machine, but a good flying machine. Nobody likes a 'dog,' and care must be taken to insure that the time and effort put into this or any other project will not be wasted because of ignorance or neglect.

I won't relate all the considerations that went into establishing the areas and moments for this bird, because they are only a means to an end, and besides, no one ever reads equations, anyway. What is important is the bottom line. Does the bird really fly, or does it just kind of fly? In this particular case, the bird really 'turns on' when the wheels leave the ground!

Since swept wings are not exactly famous for good pattern flying characteristics, and since squared-off aft fuselage ends do not normally lend themselves to smooth air flow, a little explanation is due..."

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Update 5/12/2016: added article, thanks to RFJ.

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