Sky Bait (oz8058)

About this Plan

Sky Bait. Free flight gas model.

Quote: "Arden or Bantam powered, Sky Bait is a top-notch performer. By Chales H Grant.

HERE is the perfect contest gas model that model flyers have been looking for ever since the flight of Maxwell Bassett's 'Buggy' at Atlantic City, in 1932. Many fine gas models have been turned out, but few with all the requirements for consistent contest per-formance.

1. Complete stability during all types of flight, so that the plane will remain in one piece for more thari one or two flights.
2. Maximum duration for any given power.
3. Maximum power for strength required.
4. Maximum strength for its weight.
5. Means for regulating flight adjustment that makes possible quick and absolutely accurate adjustment of wing, stabilizer, rudder, and weights for every flight.
6. Ease of service and repair.

First of all, the aerodynamic forces are arranged to give a straight or very slightly spiraling climb with complete stability at all flight attitudes. It climbs in a com-paratively straight or slightly spiraling path because its rolling axis is slanted upward toward the nose. This causes the airplane to nose upward if and when it banks under power.

The second requirement - maximum duration for given power - is obtained by first installing the most powerful engine possible under the cubic inch displacement rule requirement. This little plane is designed
especially to mount engines up to .2 cubic inch piston displacement.

The wing section is a modified Grant X-8 section which has shown a lift-drag ratio of 26 in the wind tunnel. Not only is the drag low but the lift is high, so we have a happy combination of qualities producing a fast climb with a very slow glide.

The third requirement is maximum power for the strength required. This means sufficient but not excessive strength for the job required with no unnecessary or oversize parts. The structural units of this plane have been carefully arranged to give strength in pro-portion to the stresses.

The fourth requirement is the maximum strength for weight. To obtain strength with little weight is a sign of the master designer and craftsman. This factor chiefly depends upon knowledge of how to select the size and shape of the members to withstand the stresses. For instance, you will note in the wing spars that reinforcing gusset strips are cemented to the forward and rearward surfaces. The ends of these are tapered or beveled. This produces the greatest strength with the least weight because the strength of the spar increases from tip to root approximately in proportion to the bending moments caused by the loads on the wing..."

Attached is Charles H.Grant's Sky Bait from Air Trails magazine issue 11-47. Caution must be exercised if building this beauty. The magazine plan scaling is problematical at best! When each page was scaled to the half inch grid, few of the dimensioned lengths were as stated. I over-layed the three plan pages so the main components seem to fit. Paper templates, before committing to balsa, might be in order for this plan. Regards,

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Supplementary file notes

Article page, text and pics.

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