Cygnet (oz826)

 

Cygnet (oz826) by Bill Dean 1941 - plan thumbnail

About this Plan

Cygnet. Free flight scale 1/16th model.

Quote: "An 'up-to-the-minute' model that should appeal to all. Those of our readers who hare criticised the absence of drawings in which all details are full-sized will find their requirements fully met this month.

IN the 'Cygnet', General Aircraft Ltd have produced a machine that combines good flying qualities with maximum safely and comfort. The original design had a single fin and a conventional undercarriage. The present nose wheel underearriage has simplified both take of and landing problems. In fact, it is the boast of the makers that the Cygnet lands perfectly with hands and feet off. Take-off and taxiing have been made easy by means of the novel undecart, insomuch that the Cygnet is very easy to handle on the ground, there being no sign of swing as with most aircraft. Even taking off cross wind is quite simple, whilst perfect visibility is afforded, as the cowling lies flat and well below eye level.

Construction is all metal, the wings and tailplane being stressed skin, whilst the rear oval part of the fuselage is monocoqued. Power is either a Cirrus Major 150 hp or a Gipsy Major 130 hp engine. The interior of the Cygnet is not unlike that of a car, allowing plenty of leg room and ample luggage space behind the side-by-side seats. All the switches are within easy reach from either seat, although the pilot usually sits on the left.

The maximum speed is 135 mph, whilst the cruising speed on 70 per cent power is 115 mph. Instead of a landing speed the Cygnet has a 'landing range' that is a coloured sector marked on the air-speed indicator. All the pilot has to do is to keep the needle of the air-speed indicator within this sector. This is very simple, as the safe area is between 60 and 80 mph.

The range is 445 miles on 27 gallons of petrol. When fully loaded the weight is 2,200 lb, and when empty 1,475 lb. Service ceiling is 14,000 ft with either engine. All the other performance figures are with the Cirrus Major, those with the Gipsy Major being slightly lower except for the range, which is 460 miles.

Considerable numbers of Cygnets have already been exported to Australia, India, Brazil, America, and other countries which still enjoy civil flying.

The author's main reason for choosing the Cygnet was that it presented some really interesting features, as well its making a good flying model. The scale of 3/4 in to the foot makes quite a large-sized plane of 25-7/8 in. This scale proved almost too large for the Aeromodeller's pages. As the reader will see, the plans have cut through the border at several points.

A glance at the plan will make clear the advantages of this plane as a flying model, ample dihedral and the twin tails both going to make it unusually stable. Before commencing the model the plans should be traced. 'A' 'A' and 'B' 'B' being joined together. In order to save time only the ribs and bulkheads need be traced, waxed paper being placed over the plan to protect it.

Begin by cutting out all the ribs and bulkheads from medium balsa. Only the four try 1/16 in by 1/8 in slots are cut in the formers, the remainder being lightly marked in pencil. The four main stringers can now be cut out from 1/16 sheet, the portion between Fa and F5 being included. Next add the remainder of the stringers..."

Update 07/08/2019: Added article, thanks to aeromeddeler.

Supplementary file notes

Article.

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Cygnet (oz826) by Bill Dean 1941 - model pic

Datafile:

ScaleType:
  • General_Aircraft_Cygnet | help
    see Wikipedia | search Outerzone
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    search RCLibrary 3views (opens in new window)


    ScaleType: This (oz826) is a scale plan. Where possible we link scale plans to Wikipedia, using a text string called ScaleType.

    If we got this right, you now have a couple of direct links (above) to 1. see the Wikipedia page, and 2. search Oz for more plans of this type. If we didn't, then see below.


    Notes:
    ScaleType is formed from the last part of the Wikipedia page address, which here is https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Aircraft_Cygnet
    Wikipedia page addresses may well change over time.
    For more obscure types, there currently will be no Wiki page found. We tag these cases as ScaleType = NotFound. These will change over time.
    Corrections? Use the correction form to tell us the new/better ScaleType link we should be using. Thanks.

Cygnet (oz826) by Bill Dean 1941 - pic 003.jpg
003.jpg

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Scaling

This model plan (like all plans on Outerzone) is supposedly scaled correctly and supposedly will print out nicely at the right size. But that doesn't always happen. If you are about to start building a model plane using this free plan, you are strongly advised to check the scaling very, very carefully before cutting any balsa wood.

 

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