A brief history of Ravens, by Bob Parks (resumed): [When Bob refers to "Bill", that is his son] Raven-9 Spring 2005 intended to be a simple kit with bagged Phil [Barnes produced] wing. Bill and I flew them in the 2005 flyoffs, I flew the flyoffs model (prototype) at Baikonur [2006 WSMC] (but gave it away after the meet so I would have to build something new!) Raven-10 S8d model 170 sq in, custom airfoils (imaginatively called R10root and R10tip) Some photos of the prototype are included. Some of them are with the sole remaining Raven- 3. Interesting progress. Same wing area, same span. Ashardalon boosts just about as high on a D3 as Karen's R3 did on an E6. And some small photos of Bill's Ashardalon R10 (Molded pod) from when it was new. Raven-11 designed for S8e at Baikonur. Very large, nearly 300 sq in. 4 channel, spoilerons. Never flown then due to the problem with lost engines [the 2006 US Team engines were stuck in Russian customs]. Later converted to a new molded pod (the original was pretty tight with all the cables), flown a few times and then sold to Greg Stewart. By that time I had been flying full 6 channel crow DLG's, really liked them but it was not possible to convert that wing. R11root and R11tip airfoils, based on the R10 airfoils. Raven-11b, 2008. Same airfoils Double taper, more elliptical planform, mainly to have the thickness at midspan to fit the aileron servos. Very long tailboom. New molded pod. DLG throwing peg. 6 ch with crow. Kevlar and carbon wing. There are a couple early photos attached of the 2 Raven-11 models, along with Bill's DLG conversion model. The models have temporary boost trim motor pods, or no pods at all in the photo. |