Page 52 - MFW March 2024

The battery on –off switch is fitted under the scale port airborne, with extra oomph when needed. The Dart Kitten
storage hatch behind the pilot seat. The pilot sits on the was never intended to be acrobatic although she will
receiver with the receiver battery tucked up front. Luckily perform and graceful wing over given encouragement; so
the dummy radiator could be made from a number of gentle circuits are the norm; a lovely looking aeroplane full
shaped thin sheets of lead to aid the correct C of G. of nostalgia for the gentler things in life and a memorable
build.
I obviously choose the colour scheme and registration of
the surviving Kitten and obtained a CD from ‘Full Size Since moving to Tauranga two years ago, were I fly electric
Focus’ no. FF16 from www.traplet.com, giving me details only at the local Te Puna field with the Western Bay Model
–insignia etc. Flyers, I had to convert the Dart Kitten to electric. A 1.20
Rimfire electric motor was installed after modifications to
Litho plate is used for the cowl and covering for the wing the firewall and removal of some lead sheets up front. An
joining which simulates the full size. The wings are slotted 80 amp speed controller is fitted and an electric 16X8
into the fuselage via the carbon tubes and held in place by prop, powered with a 6 cell Lipo battery fitted up front
a locking sprung wire arrangement held around a large where the tank used to be. This set up flies just as well as
plastic nut head, all hidden away in the wings. This was with the ICE set up; albeit shorter flight times. I’ve yet to
later reinforced with a small O ring under each wing held in build and fit new dummy engine cylinders!!
place by screws set into hardwood blocks. The plans did A few years ago I read in the UK ‘Aeroplane’ magazine
not give the positive angle for the stabiliser but drawing that a new owner, Kate Howe had acquired the full size G-
additional lines to Pars drawing measured about 2 AEXT. I emailed her through the Lancashire Aero club and
degrees. sent her a photo of my model, telling her she was not the
only one to own G-AEXT!
The covering is solartex throughout giving a strong skin;
this material is great for covering tight curves. She replied describing her maiden flight--- ‘It levitates’ she
said, just like the model I thought. It must be the thick wing
The maiden flight was on the 13th Feb 2011 at the then section. Kate kept the plane for about 8 months and then
Papakura, Manukau club grounds at Clevedone near sold it to the Real Aircraft Company at Breighton
Auckland. Aerodrome where it resides.

Opening the throttle gently, she trundled along and soon
the tail came up and she then seemed to just gently raise
–a sort of levitation with slow forward motion. At about 70
feet she gently dropped the port wing , I gave a correction,
then she dropped the starboard wing and this continued
from side to side until I pushed a great deal of down
elevator increasing speed but now she was about 30 feet
from the ground. After my hands had stopped shaking, a
gentle turn to the right, gaining a little more height and
dialling in ALL the down trim, she still would not fly level
flight without lots of down elevator, but at least the
swinging from side to side had stopped. I assumed this
was gentle stalling, but unnerving on the maiden flight.

I brought her round and landed gently with down stick,
flaring at the last minute. Obviously I had got the angle of
the stabiliser wrong. Back at the shed, I packed 3 mm of
hardwood under the leading edge, tightened the locking
nylon stabiliser screw and waited for another suitable day.

Subsequent flights confirmed the new angle about ok, but
still needed a little down trim. The take-offs and flights
were still marginal and the home-made Par Lundquest
design sprung undercarriage was taking a hammering. I
decided to fit a laser 100 engine with a 15 X 8 prop and a
pair of Oleos from Unitracs UK as per the photo above.
This needed a complete modification to the engine
mounting, some lead in the radiator removed, new Litho
cowl parts and we were ready for further tests. My model
now had a total weight of 5.7kg, a little more than the
designed calculations and about a kilo heavier than Par’s
prototype.

Subsequent flights have proved a joy. Adequate power for
take-offs using throttle control for scale flying once

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