Tropic-Aire (oz6792)

About this Plan

Tropic Aire. Radio control pattern model.

Quote: "A pattern aircraft whose performance is limited only by the ability of the pilot. The Tropic-Aire tied for second place in th RCM 1979 design contest...

While it has been said many times that pattern flying is 95% pilot and 5% airplane, I have found it to be true that the finest pilot around is hard pressed to perform well without a clean flying, straight and true airplane.

I can provide you with a clean flying, attractive, proven contest winning design and instructions for its assembly; however, I cannot guarantee it to be straight and true, and I cannot guarantee you it will win for you. The straight and true aircraft can only come from your own careful construction and the winning can only come from your own long hours of practice.

The Tropic-Aire is an aircraft whose performance is limited only by the ability of the pilot. With proper balance and trimming, it will perform hands off take-offs that seem to fly right off the ground rather than jumping or lurching into the air as is common with many designs. Landings are a breeze, with a small amount of elevator trim it will fly hands off on approach with the only needed control being to flare the aircraft just before it touches the ground for a nice, slow, full scale type landing.

In addition to its superior landing and take-off abilities, it will perform all maneuvers in the AMA pattern with a flair and grace that is equaled by few of today's designs.

Tropic-Aire's built-up fuselage has evolved from many years of experience building pattern aircraft and is what we feel to be the lightest as well as the strongest method available. You'll notice, while examining the plans, that there are only two formers in addition to the firewall and you see virtually no solid blocks anywhere. What we are doing is using triangle stock balsa and light sheet balsa to build a strong, durable shell and cutting out all of the dead weight.

The Tropic-Aire that I am currently flying is powered by a Speed Webra with a JCM tuned pipe, has Kraft Multicon retracts and a Kraft radio and weighs only 7 lbs 11 oz. With that combination you can imagine the power it has! Who says a pattern ship won' t fly unless it weighs 8 lbs?

Before actually beginning construction, thoroughly familiarize yourself with the plans and use them with this article to get a good understanding of all construction details.

You are now ready to proceed to the local hobby shop with materials list in hand. Be sure to get everything you need before you start construction so you won't lose an evening's work because of something you forgot.

You should be able to build the fuselage in about three evenings, the stab and fin in one, and the wing in two. You will probably spend about two evenings on assembly. So there you are with a new pattern ship, ready to finish in about eight days..."

Supplementary file notes

Article pages, text and pics, thanks to SteveB.

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