Cassutt (oz6279)

About this Plan

Cassutt Special. Radio control scale model racer.

Quote: "Designed by Fred Reese for the new RCM Quarter Midget event. The Cassutt is a one-piece .15 powered aircraft that is as quick around the pylons as it is to build.

Recently our club, the Norair Modelers, adopted the RCM Quarter Midget rules and has begun racing. And, in so doing, we have become aware of some factors. First of all, speed is important, but you must go fast for ten laps and do it consistently. The airplane must be rugged and be able to survive minor mishaps without major structural damage.

The Cassutt is a one-piece, OS .15 powered, mid-winged racer. It was designed to go fast and it does. It was also designed to be as simple, rugged, and functional as possible with quick access to the engine, radio and fuel tank. Building time was one week of evenings using Super MonoKote as the finish.

It is not, however, a beginner's airplane, and proportional radio equipment is required. My first quarter midget used coupled aileron and rudder and could be used here, but having separate rudder control is better. The Cassutt is too fast and control requirements are too precise for Galloping Ghost. It is a competitive machine.

The Cassutt is very fast and fun to fly as a sport airplane. It is fully acrobatic and will knife edge easily. Large, graceful loops and Cuban Eights are possible as there is plenty of power. The small size allows the Cassutt to be easily transported ready to fly.

Construction. The fuselage can be built in two ways. You can use plywood doublers from the firewall through the radio compartment or you can build a balsa shell and fiberglass the inside. I prefer the latter since it is stronger and the additional weight is easily compensated for by the use of Super MonoKote as the finish. I said the airplane must be rugged: Twice I have cartwheeled this airplane with no damage! (All photos were taken after flying).

I began by cutting the two sides, the firewall and bulkheads A and C. Using Devon 5-Minute Epoxy, rubber bands, and clothspins, glue the tail ends together and the firewall in place, using the bulkheads only to give the proper bow to the sides. When set, glue only bulkhead C into place. You may remove A for now. Add the rudder/post, 1/4 in sq crossbraces, turtle deck..."

Here is Fred Reese's Cassutt Special from RCM magazine issue 06-71.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Supplementary file notes

Article pages, text and pics.

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