Big Birds Page 2

Moonraker F & G power,    60" span, prototype kit - 1994 Moonraker was a concept Ed LaCroix & I had for doing a model similar to the first Big Bird. Since the Raven-7 by Bob Parks did not come out as an Aerotech kit, we thought there would be some interest for a 32mm F13 or G12 powered model, as an easy to build model that was aimed towards duration rather than aerobatics at the Aerotech Phoenix. The fuselage design was very simple. Mostly balsa a bit of 1/8" lite ply, with a rectangular cross section. So, sort of like an all-rectangular Synchronicity, Flagship, or the Delta "Bison" R/C R/G models. The wing was foam core. To save money over using 1/16" balsa, the wing skins were 1/32" Obechi, as used for the old Estes Sweet Vee kit. This proved to be a problem, as the Obechi soaked up epoxy like a sponge. When I built the prototype, I did not know this until it was too late. So, I kept mixing and applying more epoxy, adding weight. And even then ,there were a few voids. Later, I built a Sweet Vee kit, and had learned that the trick was to first apply a coat of clear dope on the inside of the Obechi to seal it, then the epoxy would not soak in so much. If I had known this trick when I built Moonraker, the wing would have come out significantly lighter, with no voids. I built my prototype wing so the outer 15" of the wing could be removable for transport. That was not going to be a feature of the kit though. The Stab bolted on, and was going to be mentioned as an option for the kit. Ed LaCroix also built a prototype. The foam cores were made by Rol Klingberg, of Klingberg Wings, who had produced the Phoenix kit. Ed arranged for Rol to skin some wings for Ed, so Ed did not have to deal with the problems I did with the Obechi. Ed's was built with the wing in one piece, at 60". Around Spring of 2004, I made a trip out to Phoenix to visit with Ed, and we each had our Moonrakers ready to fly. Both flew quite nicely. The boosts were slow. Actually a bit too slow as the weight was somewhat more than we would have liked, particularly for the wings. But once up, they had a pretty decent glide, and able to work any light thermals we found. Indeed, we played with thermals too much, having hopped THREE different thermals and flying for over 30 minutes, which become 40 minutes, Ed's Moonraker just stopped responding and flew off on itself. The 100 mAh niched battery pack had gone dead, and the servos were frozen in perfect glide trim in a slight circle. Ed went off chasing it, but no luck, as it hit another boomer and flew away. Ed built a replacement, which also worked well. Tom Beach was invited to build one of the prototypes, to give feedback on instructions and so forth. He built his successfully but had a bit of problems with the Obechi skins as I did. He flew it successfully, but did not fly it much. The project was nice, but it just did not pan out to go into production as a kit. Ed flew his a bit, I flew mine a bit, then we went on to other models. Eventually, Ed sold his to Kevin Creamer, and I sold mine to George Rachor. I still have some foam wing cores left that I would be willing to sell.

Moonraker configuration Ed LaCroix's Moonraker on Boost Ed gives Thumbs-Up for both birds.

Moonraker Fuselage Plans & Details Above plan as PDF File Prototye Instructions Text file Parts List Text file Fuselage sides are 1/16" balsa. A second 1/16" set of fuselage sides were used as "doublers" from the nose to 1" behind the wing, making the sides 1/8" from nose to 1" behind the wing. At right, a template for cutting the wing cores. The airfoil was the Bob Parks BP-3d, but could be replaced by any suitable R/C R/G airfoil. The fuselage wing saddle area would need to be reshaped for any other airfoil. Wing was designed for 1 degree of twist from root to tip - washout (if zero at root, then -1 at tip).

Ed's Moonraker on Boost	Ed's Moonraker during glide	Ed's gliding around
George's Prototype with removeable tips	Myself & George Rachor at NARAM-43 (2001)	George R. prepares for his first boost
George R. boosting Moonraker	Both of us as George R. flies	George R'.s glide at NARAM-44 (2002)

Keith Vinyard's "Midwestern Omlet"    7 Foot span, 3 E9's - 2004 At NARAM-46, Keith flew a 7 foot wingspan model that was built much like an old-fashioned R/C Saiplane. The wing with an open-bay structure, covered with Monokote, with the front part of the wing sheeted in a "D-Tube" fashion for structural strength. It was usually powered by a cluster of two E9's plus an R/C ignited third E9 about when the first two burned out. He flew it for Sport, and also during the Imagination Celebration. At NARAM-47 in 2005, Chris Taylor provided some thumb-dive sized video cameras to strap onto it. In one video, the camera is out at the right wingtip, looking towards the engines. So, you can see the two E9's ignite, then the 3rd E9 air-started. Keith was trying to get the model to land before the camera ran out, that is why a lot of altitude was lost in a dive. In another video, my Stingray-Flap model can be seen flying below starting at about 1:09 til 1:27. And Keith & Chris can be seen after "landing",

Keith Vinyard & Chris Taylor