Minotaur (oz7393)

About this Plan

Minotaur. Free flight power contest model.

Quote: "THE original 'Minotaur' so the dictionary tells us, was a 'fabulous monster' of ancient Greek times. This model being both noisy and monstrous (in shape though not in size), though far from fabulous; the name seemed appropriate.

This particular Minotaur, unlike the original Greek beast, was designed as a contest power model for the popular E.D. Bee 1cc diesel. It has proved satisfactory in every way and offers a change as well as a challenge to the larger model. The need for a cumbersome undercarriage is eliminated, and props are saved, by fairing the sprung mono-wheel into the fuselage. The tailplane underfins give a firm three-point stance, and on its first trials the Minotaur left the deck with an ease that startled even the poor designer.

The climb is near-vertical, but it is on the glide that this model really scores, thanks to the wing section, which is from the well-known Swedish Sigiard Isacson series. Ratios of 7 and 8 : 1 in still air are common, and it was not long before the Minotaur had pushed the Ampleforth College club power duration record successively to 7 min. 43 sec. and 10 min. 31 sec, o.o.s. Later the ratio record was also smashed, when the model disappeared into cloud after 9 min. 15 sec. on a 15 sec. engine run. (Ratio 37:1). Needless to say, the occasion was a trimming flight prior to a national competition! The Minotaur was not recovered in time for the event, but when it was found it was discovered to have stayed in the air for 1-1/4 hours. (Work that ratio out!) In addition it had established a new club distance record of 11.7 miles."

Supplementary file notes

Article page, text and pic.

Corrections?

Did we get something wrong with these details about this plan (especially the datafile)? That happens sometimes. You can help us fix it.
Add a correction