Minuteman (oz8423)

About this Plan

Minuteman. Radio control sport model.

Quote: "A 'single' model with 'multi' appearance, 'Minuteman' should help to get S/C out of its rut.

HAVING built most of the standard types of single channel model, I felt like a complete change, and decided to design my own. Minuteman is the result. It took four prototypes and eighteen months to get it right but, if you decide to have a go, I'm sure you'll agree it- was worth it. Minuteman was designed from the start to have full house single channel equipment - rudder, throttle and kick-up elevator - and that is the way it should be built, if it is to realise its full performance potential.

For reliable elevator operation, the tailplane is permanently cemented on, and the tips are rounded of to reduce the possibility of it hooking onto grass, and other natural hazards, when landing. The undercarriage has probably had more development than that on any other S/C model, in an attempt to achieve smooth quick take-offs and bounce free landings, so make the undercarriage just as it is, including the different wire gauge for the front leg. MK 1-1/2 in wheels were used on all prototypes.

The aerodynamics of Minuteman may not be everybody's cup of tea - but they really do work. Let's work right through the design and see what's different and why it was done that way. Starting with the wing, the aspect ratio will be seen to be higher than with many S/C designs and this is quite intentional. The theory being that the high aspect-ratio leads to less movement of the centre of pressure throughout the range of flying speed, and thereby reduces the ballooning or zooming tendency, which many single channel models exhibit after completing a turn.

The high aspect-ratio could lead to the model dropping a wing easily in turns, but the unusual wing tips (inverted Hoerner?) seem to take care of this point, as prototypes without this feature were rather dicey. The aerofoil section is also the product of much development (and disagreement, I might add) among fellow club members. I can offer no technical reason as to why it should be good, but it is. The reason for the lower main spars not being carried right through to the wing tips is so that, when the wing is covered with nylon and doped, a degree of washout will automatically be induced in the wing..."

Article thanks to RFJ.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Supplementary file notes

Article.

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