Starstream A-1 (oz9638)

About this Plan

Starstream A1. Free flight glider model. CIAM FAI Towline Youth Glider.

Later kitted by Midwest.

Quote: "In coming up with a new model design, we often query other expert modelers, asking for a critique on our design proposals. This review always arouses constructive criticism and the resulting design is thus improved.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Charlie Sotich, Bob Hayes, Bob Stalick, Clarence Mather and, retroactively, Warren Kurth for their help. Kurth is the designer of the Jetstream (oz7937) glider, whose proportions we adopted in order to save time in design development. The areas, moments and aerodynamic parameters are all that evolved from that earlier design; the prototype Starstream was indeed unique, with a totally different approach to construction. It embodied all-balsa Jedelsky Standard construction, with a profile fuselage similar to the Starduster type.

Since we know that good looks can be influential in interesting new flyers - not to mention swaying competition judges - styling and aesthetic appearances were given high priority. We went all out to create a highly attractive design and build a dynamite prototype, with colorful trim and impressive good looks. The original was sprayed with bright orange Magic Marker Spra-Mark dyes, then trimmed with navy blue Multi-Stripe and chrome mylar tape. Nifty AMA and FAI decals were added and a black Cirrus type sailplane cockpit was the finishing touch.

After flight testing, we boxed this beauty up and sent it to AMA where John Worth was waiting to hand-carry it to the CIAM plenary meeting in Paris. We crossed our fingers and expectantly waited for the out-come of the judging. We knew that other entries, particularly Jim Baguley's excellent design from England, would be tough competition. As it turned out, the judges were divided between his Satellite and Starstream. It was our great good fortune that the nod went to the US entry; it was the appearance and styling that did it. There was much discussion among the judges regarding the merits of the Jedelsky construction versus the tradi-tional, stick and tissue structure of the En-glish entry. We happen to think that both are good (different strokes for different folks) but that the all-balsa approach gets you in the air a lot faster and is more easily repaired - and that is the name of the game for beginner models..."

Starstream, MAN, February 1974.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Supplementary file notes

Article pages, thanks to RFJ.

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