R/C Fun Flyers

Fun Flyer designed and built by Tyrone Parker, originally for an O.S. .26 four stroke

Every one who flies r/c should have a plane like this. A proper fun flyer is a curious mixed bag of flying qualities. Blindingly fast roll rate, loops 5' in diameter. A good one will hover with only partial throttle, then accelerate rapidly up out of sight. Yet you can drag one in at a walk and then take your pick if you want to roll along on the tail wheel or fly the length of the runway a few inches up and then turn around and make another pass.

Sadly, the fun flyers that most modelers are buying are a full pound (or more) over weight. With their oversized control surfaces they will roll quickly and since most r/c modelers read ".35" and instantly bolt on a hot .46 they will do something that looks like hovering. But a pig is a pig no matter what kind of neck tie he's wearing.

I am privelaged to own one of Tyrone's older planes. It has been through many owners and many years of hard flying. When I got it, the right wing was smashed by the curious interaction of gravity and a chunk of firewood. I learned about reverse engineering and Mica Film with this plane. Installed on the nose is an O.S. .32 SX. It's a light engine which compares well with anyone's .40 (but sadly it is no .32 F).

So here's the cute story behind the picture. I got the plane ready to fly with it's brand new motor and test flew it 3 times on a friday evening. Mind you, my only glow powered r/c plane was the Kadet I had cratered nearly a year before and in the mean time I had flown a small hand full of electric school yard stuff. What a scream. Saturday morning marked the beginning of a two day Fun Fly contest and I entered it. Combine what had to be the quickest handling plane I could fathom with never having been entered into a flying contest in my life-I could have keeled over during the first round. Fast forward to Sunday afternoon and I managed to sacrifice my main gear in order to make a spot landing (cough), taking first place in my class by 9 points (with an 1100 cumulative score). I'm here to tell you that luck and this aircraft played a major roll in the win because it sure wasn't me.

In the weeks that followed I not only made friends with the plane, but it taught me a ton. I have dumped it on the runway twice now doing something stupid and risky when the engine crapped. As I type this it sits against the wall a few feet from me with significant damage. I have considered it written off, but I just can't bring myself to throw it away. The one thing I know is that if I don't repair it, it will be because I build a new one just like it.

For reference, Tyrone Parker has published many designs in both Model Builder and Flying Models magazines.