Aurora_60

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I'm finally getting another Aquila Grande! My last one died in 1999 and I have been searching for a kit since.
Now I'm starting to miss all the Airtronics line..

Please share Pictures and comments on the ones you have, had or have always wanted.


Thanks!!!
DM

Aurora_60

My Feedback: (1)

Yeah!!
When it rains it pours!
I was watching a listing on flee bay of an old stripped down Aquila. It was just listed as a balsa r/c glider. I ended up getting it for just one dollar over the starting bid (mine was the second)!
So excited and cant wait to get this bird back in the air!
Worst thing about it; no tail feathers and no plans. Does anyone have the standard Aquila plans they could scan? If not, I guess I could scale down the Grande plans a little when they come in.
Here's some pics of the Aquila listed with no name:

check out those 70s Futaba S23 servos!



DM

Fleet

I built the 2 meter and Open class Sagitta.  Airtronic kits were just a pleasure to open up.  Good wood, great fits.   I've un retired the Open Sagitta and am about to re=introduce the Club to soaring as a lesson of what was before electric.   Good luck with the Aquilla.  One club member had one and just loved the ease.   I wonder where he went.

Aurora_60

My Feedback: (1)

The Sagitta lines are one of my favorite! I actually like the looks of those fuses more than the Aquila. Had a 600 but was destroyed before I could finish it, along with my Aquila Grande wings and tail. It was water damage. I still have my plans for the Sagitta and am planning on building another next year.



DM

Fleet

I found a site last year that re-kitted the Sagitta, Oly and Aquilla and now I can't find it. Figures.

Aurora_60

My Feedback: (1)

I think you may have found Aerosphere. They are pretty much dead in the water. [&o]
I'm planning to make a CAD cut list for my older kits that I have been lucky enough to stumble on to. I've found a Wanderer 99, SR7, and an RO8. I really want an Airtronics Legend.
I also have my old, damaged Aquila Grande fuse and the canopy that will work great as plugs for a mold.



DM

Fleet

That was one and here is another.... http://www.skybench.com/index.html?http://www.skybench.com/home.html

Aurora_60

My Feedback: (1)

Great link Ray!
I was trying to remember this site, but for the life of me I just couldn't.
There Oly III is really nice, along with the Viking.
I'll post some pics of the Oly III, since it has some Airtronics pedigree...


note: pictures are from Skybench website

Fleet

Nice bird.   I'm inspired to keep looking for kits.  

BarracudaHockey

My Feedback: (11)

I just got a Sagitta 900 kit and a fiberglass fuse. I'm going to clone the fuselage and have a couple of white ones in the mold made.

It's going to be slow going as review projects keep showing up and taking up my work bench but I've wanted one for years.

John Cole

My Feedback: (4)

Good idea for a thread DM. The Airtronics kits were professional in every way.

Here are a couple of my Grand Esprits. I built the yellow one in 1978. These are really good sailplanes.

John

HIr/cer

My Feedback: (74)

DM, great catch! Noticed the Aquila 'bones' on eBay when its auction was still active and am glad to know that it will be rebuilt and in the air soon. RCM Plans is still in business and they have the Aquila plans but from what I have heard it takes some time for them to fill orders.

A friend built the Sagitta 900 and he was very satisfied with it which influenced me to purchase the newly released at the time Sagitta 600 kit which I built with ailerons according to the plan instructions. The machine-cut parts were a pleasure to work with.

Bax

My Feedback: (11)

I lucked out and managed to find several old Airtronics kits, all new-in-box over the years. Haven't started any of them yet.

Sagitta 600
Sagitta 900
Sagitta XC
Grand Esprit
Aquila Grande
Acro-Star Biplane (Yeah, I KNOW it's not a glider!)

I've always loved their kits.

Fleet

Any thoughts on selling or trading any of them?   Just saying....

BarracudaHockey

My Feedback: (11)

Bill, if you ever need to clear some space in the closet please give me a call

Aurora_60

My Feedback: (1)

Nice Bill!!!

There is a Grand Esprit for bid on... you know where. going out of my price range.

A bunch of us had been starting work on CAD to get some patterns out to laser cutters. hese were the old F3A pattern kits, MK, Bridi, Yoshioka, etc...
Would be nice to get a few of these Airtronics kits to that point.
I do plan to tackle the ones that I have. I definately have to do this to the Sagitta 600 plans, since my kit is destroyed.
Plan to start it up later this year, in the winter time after I move to Utah.

DM

ibindn

My Feedback: (2)

So your the one who beat me out. I contacted the seller to see if I could do LPU, he agreed.. I put in a starting bid, then forgot about it. I recognized it right away.. I guess if you snooze you lose.. Hope it works out for you...

Aurora_60

My Feedback: (1)

[&o]Sorry for your loss ibindin. I know I get pretty sour when I plan to get something and I lose it on that site.
I do have that Aquila Grande coming in soon. I plan to make a PDF copy of the plans and the ribs that aren't shown. You (or anyone here) could have it sent out to Kinkos or another drafting outlet for a full size copy.
Keep watching this thread, I'll upload the file here as soon as I get it.



DM

beaverboy

Another Airtronics Sailplane kit enthusiast here:

Olympic - Sold in 1974
Questor - Crashed
Super Questor - Flying
Aquila - Flying since 1979
Sagitta - Flying
Sagitta 600 - Flying
Grand Esprit - In the box
Cumic - In the box
Whisper (Airtronics Prototype) - In the box
Olympic III (Skybench) - In the box

lbarnes

I got one for sale. 90% built. This project is not mine but a older club member that is selling all his gliders and kits. I need to get the plans for it as they were not included in the box. One thing I noticed is the wing tube on the fuse is about 1/8" off and will need to be taken out and repositioned so it will line up with the wing (not a big deal). I have posted pics. If someone is interested in buying it I will post it on the RCU selling site.

Larry Barnes

Aurora_60

My Feedback: (1)

Wow! That looks really nice. Shouldn't be too much to ship since the wing panels are still seperate. What kind of price is your friend looking for? Or is he just taking offers right now.
I wish this was out before I bought the one on e$ay. This looks much nicer, and complete... Maybe two standard Aquilas for me??
of course, you'll get first over me ibinden

DM

Aurora_60

My Feedback: (1)

beaverboy, thats a huge collection. Ok, so which one do you like the best overall?
[X(]and are you the original builder of that Heathkit Tx??


DM

Aurora_60

My Feedback: (1)

Found a Cumic Fiberglass fuse earlier today and thought I'd share it here.
220989360297

DM

beaverboy

That's a hard question to answer. Here are comments on the ones I have flown:

Original (undercambered) Olympic 99 - Great for learning to thermal fly, but definately not an aerobatic plane. I put a lot of flying hours on this one.
Aquila - Great plane for thermal flying but pretty slow airfoil
Sagitta 600 - I have never gotten it to fly properly. Mine is unstable and touchy.
Sagitta - I'll let you know once flying weather is here in the NW.

I've had other sailplanes that were great flyers:
Windfreak (RCM Plans) - Flying wing. Wide speed range. Impressive in the air
RO-8 - Fun small field flyer but the kit has terrible balsa that has to be replaced

Ken Kehlet

My Feedback: (89)

Hi Aurora 60,


I have an AQUILA Standard Class Sailplane kit by Airtronics/Cox. It's about 75% Built. The Wings and Tail sections are built, the rest of the kit is still in the box. The Plans and instructions are still there.

I have Macular Degeneration in both eyes, I get Hypo shots directly into my eyeballs every 30 days, I can still drive, but difficult to build or fly anymore.

If someone has interest in this 99" Standard Class Kit, please PM me, I would like to sell it if someone is interested.