Laird-Turner Meteor (oz9797)

About this Plan

Laird-Turner Meteor (Pesco Special). Radio control scale model. Rosco Turner's famous racer in 1/6 scale, for .60-.74 2-stroke engines.

Quote: "This plane was finished in May 1989. but I waited until the new Fox 74 was available because I like these new engines. They are smooth running and very powerful. Also, they are made in the USA, and I know Roscoe Turner would like that. This plane will fly with any .60 size engine.

In December 1989, my Fox .74 engine came and it looked great with its new design. I installed it inverted using the muffler that came with it, a copper elbow and rubber exhaust exit tube. I made a small hole in the side of the cowl in line with the high speed needle so I could use a ball driver to adjust the engine. I soldered a ball head screw to my. high speed needle so I could adjust it with a ball driver while the engine is running and it works perfectly. This is better than a long needle that vibrates wildly. When moving the battery pack further forward for better balance, I drilled a hole big enough to let the Futaba FM plug to fit through. However, I was fearful that oil and fuel would also go through the large hole, so I stapled two pieces of inner tube rubber and cut it to size and then lapped them over each other to form a seal and allow easy removal.

The 2in scale Pesco Special is now ready to go. Elevator throw is 3/4in up and down. Rudder throw is 1-1/2in both ways. Aileron throw is 1/2in high, 1/4in low rate. Flaps 1in down. The very important balance is 24% from the leading edge at the wing root. My plane weighed 8-1/2 lbs.

The first flight was made without the canopy. The reason is that I was not going to fly it yet. I just took it to the field for some photographs. You all know that story don't you? The new Fox .74 had no time on the engine yet so I made the engine run rich, on first takeoff. I was using muffler pressure in my 12 oz fuel tank but kept having trouble getting the engine to stay running.

My good friend. Bill Jamison. had the controls while I took the photos. The plane was tail heavy on that first flight. Had it not been for Bill's expertise, the plane would have been lost, but it was not. On the second flight, with proper balance at 24% from the LE the plane flies great and makes turns sharp enough to crash any GeeBee that tries to stay with it..."

Supplementary file notes

Article pages, thanks to Cavitation.

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