Hello All,

I recently joined the Jetex.org www.jetex.org forum. Two other Jetex.org forum members have filmed their Rapier-powered "Wing-Ding" Flying Wing models in flight and posted their videos on the forum (see: http://www.jetex.org/scripts/yabb2/...=1235365303/2#2 ) and on YouTube. Here are links to them:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=eojNLMQTC_w
www.youtube.com/watch?v=303qfpY97kw
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBTUZ2StOWo

In one of the videos bagpipes can be heard in the background, and in another one the descending model flew past the surprised bagpipe player just before touching down! These models are powered by the Czech-made Rapier rocket motors www.rapier.cz , and they (and models such as the "Wing-Ding") are available in the USA from "Shorty's Basement" (see: http://www.shortysbasement.com/inde...viewCat&catId=5 ).

The "Wing-Dings" in the videos used Rapier L-1 motors, which are the lowest-impulse Rapier motors. I'm surprised that the "Wing-Ding" video-shooters didn't get whiplash from trying to follow their models in the viewfinder--that's a fast-moving Flying Wing under power!

__________________
Black Shire--Draft horse in human form, model rocketeer, occasional mystic, and writer, see:
http://www.lulu.com/content/paperba...an-form/8075185
http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6122050
http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6126511
All of my book proceeds go to the Northcote Heavy Horse Centre www.northcotehorses.com.
NAR #54895 SR

I saw the wingDing on Shorties basement website when I bought some tissue, and almost bought one of those, too. Thanks for posting the links. Actually, tho, the Estes Nighthawk might make a good conversion for Rapier Motors - hmmmmmmm.

S.

Middle-aged minds think alike! :-) In addition to posting about this on the Jetex.org forum http://www.jetex.org/scripts/yabb2/...?num=1238268954 , I also suggested this to Semroc. (They could sell just the Nighthawk's glider portion with a short pylon, a Rapier motor mount tube, and a Rapier motor retainer clip [it's very similar to model rocket motor clips].)

Also, a similar 1950s-vintage British glider called the Spook (the plans are here: http://www.jetex.org/scripts/yabb2/...um=1122318788/0 ) would make a good Rapier powered rocket plane. (I will eventually get a "Wing-Ding" and a 27" wing span classic Wilmot & Mansour Jetex Flying Wing [available from "Physics of Flight" www.physicsofflight.com ], but since these kits use tissue covering on balsa frames and I've never built such a model before, I want to get experience with this construction method by building a simpler model of this type first.)

I just bought a pack of 10 Rapier L-1 motors and an electric igniter (it's actually a vasectomy cautery tool--a "gelding iron," as my kind would say!) from Shorty's Basement, and a modified Nighthawk or Spook glider will probably be my first Rapier powered model.

__________________
Black Shire--Draft horse in human form, model rocketeer, occasional mystic, and writer, see:
http://www.lulu.com/content/paperba...an-form/8075185
http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6122050
http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6126511
All of my book proceeds go to the Northcote Heavy Horse Centre www.northcotehorses.com.
NAR #54895 SR

Those are all cool. Thanx for the post!!!

You're most welcome. Also, yesterday I was at my local Michael's Crafts store when I noticed a new, rather large balsa "chuck" glider that is made by Revell. The "Tuff Birds" Jet Glider (Product Number: RMXA3428, see: www.revell.com/misc/rmxa3428.html ) is 8.27" long and has a 12.80" wing span.

This glider is made of thicker, heavier balsa (or it may even be Chinese Tung wood) so it should be able to handle the stresses of Rapier L-1 motors, at least. It has a conventional "inverted cruciform" tail assembly, which would necessitate affixing the motor mount tube to the bottom side of the fuselage. However, since the fuselage's wing mounting slot allows for up to about 1" of fore-or-aft "play" in the wing's location, trimming the model for good powered and glide characteristics should not be too difficult.

Also, the glider could be adjusted to circle by sliding the horizontal stabilizer and/or the wing sideways so that one panel would be longer than the other. In the case of the wing, sliding it sideways would also tilt its dihedral (on the plane's roll axis) with respect to the fuselage.

__________________
Black Shire--Draft horse in human form, model rocketeer, occasional mystic, and writer, see:
http://www.lulu.com/content/paperba...an-form/8075185
http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6122050
http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6126511
All of my book proceeds go to the Northcote Heavy Horse Centre www.northcotehorses.com.
NAR #54895 SR

I grew up on those things. If I started attaching engines to them I'd be locked up soon after. We used to dream of doing things like that...