Tee Dee Bee (oz6553)

About this Plan

Tee Dee Bee. Radio control sport model.

Quote: "Walt and Wagger go 1/4A multi with a 45mph fully stuntable 28in span, trike-geared, semi-symmetrical airfoil low-wing design for proportional control - which proves it's a dog's life.

Kick-up galloping ghost (or kick-in Ghost) is not really new. Most everything in single channel 'gimmick' systems has been around for ten years, needing only someone new to tighten his stomach muscles and launch into another application which will be the 'perfect' control. The system in the Bee was developed as a result of two things:

a. flying pulse rudder in a Top Flite Roaring 20 (oz1429)
b. reading a description of Woody Blanchard's U-All-2 (oz3123) in Model Airplane News.

Woody's system was tried in the '20,' but control was too limited. A new method of obtaining this same result was tried with the present kicker system and flown in the '20' with reasonable success. The Roaring 20 was flown to a total of 146 flights in the local football field before installation of a Tee-Dee .020 in place of the original Cox Pee Wee. The new engine proved much too powerful for the flat bottom airfoil and shoulder-wing, whereupon it was retired and plans subsequently laid for the Bee.

The Bee was designed to control the power of the Tee-Dee with a minimum of downthrust. Also incorporated was a multi-type airfoil which would, hopefully, allow the lift to be turned on and off by means of the limited elevator control this system provides. The large tail surfaces and short moment arms were intended to provide a means of obtaining "snap" maneuvers such as rolls and spins. To a great extent, the Bee has justified these efforts.

I would like to stress some notes of caution:

a. Bee's control system is not really new, but the Bee is. She has a total of thirty flights on this prototype - for a good 1/4A airplane, this is infancy. The revolution of this airplane and system has been accomplished, but the evolution is just starting. You can make changes after you know the limitations of the present set-up, but until then, be cautious!
b. A loose elastic will give very little down, but a tight elastic will probably limit control throw severely. Elevator trim-tabs also give down load, so don't tighten that elastic much! Better to have more 'up' than you need than to have more 'down' than you can handle.
c. Adding a third battery, according to the Adams diagram should give in-creased control throw and make more violent maneuvers possible. However, I am now trying this for the first time and will not know the results for some time.
d. I have found that the pilot must learn to fly the Bee. A ship capable of 45 miles per hour stalls, spins, and snap rolls must be controlled by a knowing hand. Bee is rugged, and will tolerate you while you learn - just give her a reasonable chance and soft dirt.
e. Caution!! You can use the full 'on' and full 'off' buttons in flight, but NEVER in the glide. She'll snap roll every time!
f. The Bee will consistently do the following maneuvers: Climbing turns from ROG; Procedure turns without ap-preciable zooming upon recovery; straight flight; mild dives; power dives after a one turn spiral; consecutive loops; vertical reverses; stalls; three-turn spins; snap rolls; passable Immel-manns; glide to landing, slow; flare for landing; land in short grass without appreciable tripping.

Well, that's all for the Bee. She's young - I hope she finds some good homes..."

Scanning by Don at EAC, cleanup by theshadow.

Supplementary file notes

Article pages, text and pics, thank to theshadow.

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