Stratowake (oz8763)

About this Plan

Stratowake. Rubber competition model.

Quote: "A simple functional rubber-powered model for those who would like to try their hand at AMA competition. Flown by father and son, it has a yard-long list of wins.

The Stratowake design goes back to 1954, the year of the major rule changes. If you remember, Wakefield was limited to 2-5/8 oz of rubber, and the fuselage cross section rule was abolished. Unlimited rubber, previously restricted to 200 sq in total lifting surface area and a 3 oz per 100 sq in minimum wing loading, was changed to 300 sq in max area with no weight restriction. So I designed a combination Wakefield and unlimited rubber model to fit these rules, with only ballast and the smaller motor required to change from unlimited to Wakefield.

Over the years we have built ten models, all with some minor design changes. The single-blade prop went to two blades, then blade area and pitch were reduced as 'Wake' motors were decreased. Area was added to the wing and removed from the stab. The fuselage was gradually lengthened to the present size. Improved airfoil sections and minor structural changes were incorporated. Ballast was traded for beefed-up wings and strengthened fuselage motor sections. The fin-was moved forward from the stabilizer to the fuselage. All of these modifications have improved the performance, since the three-minute dead air maximum can usually be made today with only 1.4 oz of rubber; the 1954 Wakefield with nearly twice the rubber couldn't do much over three minutes.

The Stratowake design is based on the combination of simplified planform and construction with a low drag airframe. Wing and stab have square tips so that an accurate airfoil section will be maintained full span. The tips are sharp, not rounded, to reduce drag. The fuselage is of rectangular cross section for construction ease and to provide enough room and strength to survive a motor failure. Drag is reduced by low wing/stab angular difference, two degrees, combined with an aft center of gravity location. Wing pylons and fin are sheet balsa for simplicity and low drag. The wing section is the MVA 362 with modified undercamber and a thicker trailing edge so that a standard 1/8 x 1/2 trailing edge can be used. Wing and stab are multispar for strength and added turbulence.

The model is so simple and easy to fly that my son, Gary, decided to build one when he was nine. His prior building experience consisted of two 1/2A gas models, all of Carl Goldberg's Ranger (oz3830) series, a Jetco Lark (oz10294), and a Comet Sparky (oz85). Although the Stratowake took considerably more building time, the model proved easier to assemble, cover and fly than some of his kit jobs. To date, he has built three..."

Stratowake, American Modeler, March 1967.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Supplementary file notes

Article pages, thanks to RFJ.

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