Electric Control Line Model Aircraft
Surfing the "Net" last year I found the following. "Can anybody offer me any advice on how to teach someone to fly a control line plane?" Now this is speculation but as I read this, I believe I also 'heard' the plea of a father, who had watched his son build his first model and then taken him to a nearby venue. Only to bring the boy home shortly afterwards, his tears soaking the remains of hours of dedicated work cradled in his lap.
Now maybe, in this imaginary scenario, his father was even an experienced flyer himself who had taken time to help with the building and flown the plane himself first. Then he took his son with him into the circle, and had his hand cover his as he tried to impart that feeling; to no avail. On his first solo attempt the boy nervously shouted, "now!" and the little model skipped once, lifted off, and the youngster over corrected sending the model spectacularly nose-diving into the ground to shatter into tiny pieces.
What control line modeller hasn't done this or something similar? Despite that disappointment and even perhaps because of it, the knack is acquired, eventually. But how many quit at this point and take up model boat building?
Myself, I can remember coming home from the flying field after 2 hours of trying to get that diesel engine running sweet and failing. In retrospect (and in truth) perhaps I didn't fail but was just too scared to say it was running OK because then I'd have to launch it! Anyway, I was greatly relieved that the latest model off the production line was still intact. To me, to bring a plane home in one piece was success…to my friend who I had dragged out with me; it was just another reason to believe me a total fruitcake!
Yes, the walk out to that control line handle could surely be likened to the walk to the headmaster's office, when the knack has not yet been acquired. When your friends have all gathered or the whole flying club turn to watch, then surely it's more like the walk to the gallows!
Only running out of fuel or a concrete landing strip, is going to stop that engine when she's tweaked to optimum. I wonder, on average, how many failed attempts are made before a misfiring is heard and a stuttering flight observed, heralding the end of a first successful flight? Providing of course the aircraft touches down on her undercarriage!
So, revitalising a goal I had years ago and coupled with the knowledge that electric powered flight was in the ascendancy, I set about designing, building and possibly marketing an electric control line model trainer, the definitive trainer. It was the whole idea of an on-off switch to the motor that spurred me on. I was acutely aware however, that even this wasn't going to guarantee a 100% crash free model but I was certainly determined to get pretty close.
After seven prototypes and untold moving of chairs at my church building I arrived at "The Hummingbird". A 400mm wingspan, slab sided, no frills little cutie.
Flying on a 6-metre line, a flick of the switch, as many circuits as you want on the ground, a slow raise of the arm and presto! Or if the nerves are trembling, switch off before lift off to gain composure. Once airborne, lower the arm and she's back on the ground, motor still at full bore, ready to go again or switch off to bring to rest. Certainly a stable flight pattern and a gentle response to the controls had been achieved.
As a trainer, she exceeded my expectations. A sports model she's not but guess what's coming off the drawing board next?!
Peter Cripps
Buzzflight
167 Duffield Road
Derby
DE22 1AJ
England
44+1332 601693
