Ghost Rider (oz7697)

About this Plan

Ghost Rider. Sport trainer for .09 - .10 power and Galloping Ghost RC.

Quote: "Ghost Rider. High performance with Galloping Ghost? Try Dave Boddington's pocket-sized aerobatic model for .09 to .10.

Most R/Cers have, at one time or another, dreamed of a pocket-sized acrobatic model that is easily transportable, easy and cheap to operate but possessing the flight characteristics of a larger model. Until the last year or two this has had to remain purely as a dream, but with the advent of new R/C equipment ie pulse proportional systems, it is now a practical proposition.

The re-birth of Galloping Ghost has made a tremendous impact and is helping to bridge the gap that always seemed to exist between the single channel flier and the multi brigade. Now, and thanks mainly to the Rand actuator, many modelers who have been struggling for years with escapements are experiencing the fun of flying models of convenient size with simple proportional control. This new revolution can only be beneficial to the hobby as it widens the avenues and increases the scope of the weekend flier - and let us not forget that he makes up the vast majority of R/C participants in all countries.

It is not only the lesser button-pushing single channel sportster that is taking up the G-G habit, however, I have noticed quite a few of the 'dyed in the wool' full house proportional boys are sneaking out with these pulse system models. One thing's for sure, flying pulse propo is easier on the nerves and the bank balance and that can not be had in these days: much better to have fun flying with the Smiths rather than having ulcers keeping up with the Jones's.

The Ghost Rider is a natural and logical development from a series of GG models starting with the Ugly Bug 60 inch span model powered by it .10 co in motor. This original model was used to evaluate the first three of the new GG systems commercially available over here, one was American and two British but all featured the Rand LR3 actuator.

To some extent I was lucky with this design - it was a hybrid consisting of wings and tail and originally intended for a pylon racing model and a new fuselage. It turned out to be a quite suitable design for GG work but I did not really appreciate just how much until after designing two more models that were considerably less suited for this system. I cannot help feeling that a lot of the designs published for GG operation. or existing designs now recommeded for it, fall a long way short of being ideal as a vehicle for pulse proportional systems.

Most people will, I am sure, agree (and if they do not I am wasting my time anyway) that GG is an excellent system giving the 'mostest for the leastest.' it is however, a system with limitations. These limitations include the interaction of up elevator with full rudder deflections, up elevator effect when operating motor contral and the limited power available from the actuator.

Although none of these limitations are, in themselves, serious they must be accepted, and everything possible done to minimize their effect in the design of the airplane. For example, if we use a swept hack rudder on the model, we shall tend to get an aerodynamic up-elevator effect from this when the rudder is operated. Now this is the last thing we want as we know that we are going to get some actuator up-elevator interaction from operating the rudder. anyway. Therefore, it makes sense to have the rudder hinge line vertical, or possibly raked forward, to give a slight down elevator effect from the rudder in turns. in the 'Ghost Rider.' I have tried to incorporate us many of this type of design feature to make a more 'flyable' model.

With some models von know they are going to be 100% as soon as you have finished them, but with others you face the flying fields with great trepidation - hoping that you will be alone for that first flight. Fortunately the Ghost Rider was one of the former types and the test flights quickly proved that this initial confidence was not misplaced. She had less teething troubles than my old granny with her two sets of false 'chompers,' in fact it is one of the few models that I have designed where I have been able to resist the urge to 'improve' the model.

Most of our flying is carried out in grass fields where the length of grass and roughness of the ground prohibits take-offs, but on the occasions that I have flown the Ghost Rider from a tarmac strip, the way she tracks and lifts off has caused appreciative comments front the onlookers. With the Rand Pak installed, giving less up elevator during changes of motor control setting, it is possible to do fine 'touch and go's but remember to hold on down elevator during the opening up of the throttle on the tar-mac, to prevent a premature lift off. Should you prefer it, the nose wheel and main undercarriage assemblies can be re-moved completely for those flying regularly over grassed areas - it certainly saves nosing over on landings!

Because of its relatively small overall size and low weight, the Ghost Rider is fairly crash resistant, the first prototype has flown some 150 or so times now without any undue signs of wear and tear.

Construction is conventional and straight-forward (have you ever read of a model that was not) and she does not take too long to assemble, even compared with those boxes of thousands of bits known laughingly as 'prefabricated quickies.' A detailed description of the method of sequence of construction is not necessary for the average builder but a few general pointers may be of value..."

Supplementary file notes

Article pages, text and pics, thanks to hlsat.

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