What did you do aeroplane wise today?

[pb_guy]

I had some $ store craft foam (1.5mm) left over from a kid's club project, and I thought that it would make a cheap source of material for a glider. This stuff is tough and durable, but it has no torsional strength. So, I downloaded the OZ plan (OZ 13432) for a 9 1/2" glider and cut out the parts. I used some old craft foam glue (that had been lying around for years) for an adhesive. Because it was so flexible, I used some balsa to make 'ribs' for the dihedral join of the main wing, which steadied it up nicely. For the forward wing, I glued a thin piece of bamboo on the top of the leading edge. Final weight was 6.8 grams. I took it to church last night and flew it indoors after our evening service. After a few tosses, I handed it over to about six kids to toss it around. After a while, when they were all done, I retrieveld it. No damage to any parts. As I said, this foam is durable. But the weak points are the glue joints and the flexibility of the foam.

I did post a couple of vids of it gliding:
https://rumble.com/v7dol7q-miles-libuella-1.html
https://rumble.com/v7dolcu-miles-libellula-2.html

[Jmk89]

The last few days have been occupied in making transport/storage boxes for Tyra and Scram, so that they can be put away so that they won't get broken and also can be taken in safety to the flying field.  I keep promising myself that I will do the box for a model before I move onto the next project, but that is a discipline that I don't seem to be able to follow more than once 

Nothing very special in this - I cut out the box pattern from coreflute plastic, glue the flaps with hotmelt glue, staple the joints to keep everything in place even when the temperature gets very high (yes, I have had the glue melt and the box fall apart on a hot Aussie summer day!).  Then I reinforce the edges and corners with 10mm square pine strips and make internal holding arrangements so that the pieces are held safely and in a way that discourages warping.

 Then a coreflute lid (just a shallow box sized to fit over the opening of the bottom)  to keep dust out and to protect from falling objects (including pets who decide they want to use the box for their own purposes - but that's another story).

The photos show exterior and interior of the box for Tyra.

[Squirrelnet]

Nice model box Jeremy. Strong believer in model boxes too

I had a little production line going today making Ikara type prop hubs. This winter Oxford MFC are doing build and fly challenge to make 'Small Smeeds' any Vic Smeed design reduced to peanut size and made from wallfoam although other construction would be allowed too.

To accompany the challenge we'll offer free props to members which are copies of the well known Ikara prop 3d printed by club member Pete Brown (who also does rubber strippers) I spent some of the afternoon drilling out the hubs and props to take the 24swg propshafts. We'll have a couple of plans to offer as well very skillfully drawn by John W (ICCJAW) which will be one the club website shortly went I've done the rest of the page

Shown is my prototype Tiny Tomboy and I have mate Dave making a Mini Madcap

Tiny Tomboy photo by Andy B

[TheLurker]

I was sure you didn't have a lathe.

[OZPAF]

Lathe? Must be one of the items from the hidden stash!

John

[Bargle]

I got seriously started on a replacement for my Cloud Hobo, a modified Cloud Tramp. The Hobo came down in some very tall grass (4 to 6 feet tall) at the club field. I've got the wings and tail pieces cut out, the fuselage shaped, and the wheels blanks glued up and the ribs cut out. A picture or 2 next time.

[Squirrelnet]

I was sure you didn't have a lathe.

Any lathe is entirely in your imagination that's just a drill thingamajig  ....

[Squirrelnet]

Had enough prop making now    13 to go ...

I was listening to this while I did it and recommend it. A discussion on the future of aviation - Engineers: Flying at the edge from BBC World Service

Vertical take-off passenger cars for city centres. Hydrogen powered planes for zero carbon travel. Hyper-sonic flights to take the London to Sydney journey to under two hours. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct9bth

[Bargle]

OK, moving forward. All flying surfaces are cut out. 1 set of ribs glued on. Wheels are made and painted, but in the garage drying. Still need to make wing mount. The lost one had a balsa prop, but I'm going with plastic Peck on this one.

[Prosper]

Today, 1650 GMT I heard an intriguing rumbling noise from the sky and dashed outside with my binocs to see two wing-walking Stearmans (PT-17) in formation. I think they were going home to Rendcomb. At least that's where they were based when I still kept up with GA stuff. Lovely sight and sound. I once taxied a Stearman - for a ground test after maintenance. Taxied for power test and compass-swinging, sadly never flew one. Huge things compared to a Tiger Moth, but did exactly the same job.

Stephen.

[Pete Fardell]

Drove my dad over to Breighton where we spent a lovely lazy few hours having a spot of lunch and sitting outside the clubhouse cafe watching the comings and goings. Highlight for me was the Fairchild 24, that put in several flights, closely followed by the close formation flight of the Aeronca C3 and Dart Kitten, and a stunning aerobatic display from one of the three Bucker Jungmanns in action this afternoon. Lots of other interesting stuff on the ground and in the air too. Not an airshow- just a normal Sunday afternoon at the Real Aeroplane Co! Absolutely magic!

[Prosper]

Lovely, lovely video Pete. And the sounds, too! Many thanks for uploading.

Stephen.

[dputt7]

Have to agree whole heartedly with Stephen, great video and thanks for sharing

[Squirrelnet]

Yes great video Pete

[Pete Fardell]

Thanks chaps. It really was a delight to be there. Here are a few still shots.
Two things really struck me:
1. Why on earth haven't I visited before?? This place is essentially just up the road from me and I've even passed the gate a couple of times.
2. How unbelievably relaxed and easy everything was.

You just roll up the drive, park, order a burger and sit and watch the action. I think, these days, you're technically supposed to be a Real Aeroplane Club member (which I now am) but there's no one on the gate, and no one asking you who you are, or to stay back or anything like that. You can even mosey along to the other carpark and get a perfect view of the other end of the runway too. Ordinary private light aircraft come and go in amongst the historic stuff, and next to the cafe are the fuel pumps where the planes pull in to top up between flights. It was all a real eye opener for me. I shall certainly be back.

(And I feel another Guillow's Fairchild coming on, maybe with yellow undersides and a camo top!)