MV Sport (oz9195)

About this Plan

MV Sport. Radio control sport model for .40 power.

Quote: "When Nick Stamos started with this design, he wanted an airplane to be lively. He didn't want it trying to screw itself into the ground during his lapses. When flight time arrived, the package added up to a well-behaved airplane.

This is a sport aircraft. I designed it for me. What I wanted. Sound Selfish, do I? I'm not. Once, a coke in my hand became the object of attention of my granddaughter, age three at the time, and she said to me - That's mine. With the emphasis on mine. I said - No Jennifer, that's mine. Well, I could see the little wheels turning and in a moment she said to me - Okay it's yours, let me hold it. Well I have enjoyed this model so much I would like to let you hold it.

Take-offs are quick, climb can be brisk and, as they say in the trade, 'the deck angle can be acute.' A fancy way to say you couldn't see over the nose. Maneuvers are smooth with enough power to fly through big, beautiful loops, not the kind that would fit in a coffee cup. Speed down the back side of these and other maneuvers is held in check by the generous airfoil, and things remain easily in hand. Believe me, this characteristic was for me. I like an airplane to be lively but don't like it trying to screw itself into the ground during my lapses. Slow speed handling is very good also, no wing dropping or other nasty little tricks. Maneuvers can be performed at much less than full throttle when you're in the mood to relax. Main gear touchdowns with the nose high are a cinch. When I can do them, anyone can.

Let's talk a little about design, then we will build this thing. I could say I spent hours plotting and modifying the airfoil used, but I won't because I didn't. It's a ZIP of very nearly full symmetrical proportions with a generous thickness and reasonable high camber location. It works well. The rest is equally simple. A generous tail moment and stab area along with light weight, which equals low wing and power loadings, are all combined in an attractive package (okay so I'm partial).

These things, while simple, add up to a well-behaved airplane. You will notice that the rudder area is on the small side. Well that's on purpose. Remember I designed this thing for me, I'm not a fan of snap maneuvers; I like smooth. I don't like to see models doing things that, if I were in it, would probably snap my head off or, at the very least, make my ears pop and my eyes bug out. If I want a snap roll, I like to ease in to a slight climb, dissipate some speed, and then snap it. Easy does it. It's probably my age. There is enough rudder area to handle cross wind landings though. Aileron into the wind, takes just a tad; opposite rudder to keep the nose straight, takes quite a lot; and the touchdown on one main then the other. It will do them.

Cuban eights, reverse eights, rolls, spins, inside and outside loops, inverted flight, are all easily accomplished and you can pretty well pick the speed you want to do them, depending on your mood and the amount of sky you want to cover. Oops, I almost forgot the prettiest maneuver of them all, the touch and go. I can spend a whole flight just doing these and enjoy every second of it.

Enough of this. Let's build. Study the plans for details before each phase... "

Supplementary file notes

Article, thanks to hlsat, JHatton.

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