Electra-Fli (oz8904)
About this Plan
Electra-Fli. Radio control sport model for electric power with Astro-10 motor system. Wing area 335 sq in.
Design by Bob Boucher and Dave Shadel. Inking by Charles Jackson.
Quote: "Silent aerobatics are fun with this two-channel, electric-powered model. Motor/battery system is rechargeable at the field in just 15 minutes.
The Electra-Fli was designed while I was searching for a suitable sport-type aircraft for the Astro 10 electric propulsion unit manufactured by Astro Flight Inc, of Los Angeles.
Several kit designs were modified to accept this system and of these, the Midwest Cardinal and Goldberg Ranger 42 proved the best. They were docile in flight and were good trainers, but it was believed that a lightweight, all-balsa design with similar dimensions would perform even better.
The first original designs resembled the Spirit of St Louis Electric Pylon Racer flown by Bob Boucher at the 1972 MATS Show, but with larger constant chord wings and an increase in the tail area. We have flown several variations over the past few months, and are quite pleased with their ability.
This ship will ROG from smooth sur-faces in 50 to 60 ft. It will perform bar-rel rolls, snap rolls, inside loops, spins and inverted flight. If you're interested in a fun-type ship which is easy to build and fly, quiet, and doesn't spew out greasy kid stuff, give electric flying a try.
Construction: The Electra-Fli can be built and ready for covering in one day.
Fuselage: The fuselage is an all-balsa box with only three formers. The motor tube can be made from a rolled balsa or cardboard tube, whichever you prefer. It must be a snug fit, since no bolts are used to secure the motor. Remember, electrics have no vibration and will not tear out of the mount as glow engines have been known to do.
Wing: The wing is of the fully sheeted, constant chord variety, with 1/16 balsa top and bottom skins, 3/32 ribs and a 1/4 sq leading edge..."
Electra-Fli, American Aircraft Modeler, November 1973
Direct submission to Outerzone.
Supplementary file notes
Article pages, thanks to RFJ.
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-
(oz8904)
Electra-Fli
by Bob Boucher, Dave Shadel
from American Aircraft Modeler
November 1973
45in span
IC Electric R/C
clean :)
all formers complete :)
got article :) -
Submitted: 01/07/2017
Filesize: 393KB
Format: • PDFbitmap
Credit*: Circlip, RFJ
Downloads: 993
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User comments
Is this the first published plan for an RC airplane designed expressly for electric power? It appears to have scooped Don Dewey‘s model by a month. I’d be interested to know if anybody is aware of anything that was published before this one. (November 1973).dave - 24/03/2025
I think the very first plan is the Fred Militky's "Elan" for indoor rc published on Frank Zaic 1964-65 Model Aeronautics Yearbook
Pit - 24/03/2025
Pit,
Yes, I forgot just how light a super-regen Rx and a Bentert actuator were. An indoor electric plane was quite possible even 60 years ago. I guess I was thinking more on the lines of proportional control and outdoor capable planes.
And now I have found this by Mike Goulette, right on topic! https://medium.com/rc-soaring-digest/the-history-of-electric-flight-12a78926ade4
dave - 25/03/2025
In the range of magazine published proportional rc probably is the first. At the time I made the one month later Tom Swift. But we have to verify on german magazines, they were very skilled in this field. Helmut Bruss was the pioneer of electric flight.
Pit - 25/03/2025
Good thinking! I checked the FMT website, the oldest electric power plan they seem to offer is the “Elmo” by Herbert Wilhelm from 1976. Very much an electric design of its time, a powered glider.
FMT = Flug Modell Technik.
https://en.shop.vth.de/bauplan-elmo-3200710/
dave - 25/03/2025
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- Electra-Fli (oz8904)
- Plan File Filesize: 393KB Filename: Electra-Fli_45in_oz8904.pdf
- Supplement Filesize: 1832KB Filename: Electra-Fli_45in_oz8904_article.pdf
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Notes
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