Mikie 1

Sorry...that's a "Lanier Shrike"

otrcman

Mikie,

Back in the 1960's I inherited a fully built Hustler Delta. The plane had gone through two owners prior to me, but nobody had ever gotten it airborne. Both prior owners had flipped it over at pretty high speed, trying to take off. Needless to say, it was a mite scuffed up when given to me.

After some careful listening to eye witnesses of the prior flight attempts, I decided that the model was "wheelbarrowing" due to the excessively tall nose gear. If you notice on the plans, the model sits at a quite nose-up attitude. When a plane wheelbarrows, it is lifting the main landing gear off the ground before the nose gear. At that point the model becomes directionally unstable and begins to swerve. Because of the large sweep angle of the delta shape, any directional divergence results in a corresponding rapid roll. The end result is what appears to be a sudden tumble at the moment of liftoff.

My cure was to shorten the nose gear as much as possible, including installing a smaller nosewheel. This required a smaller prop. I was using an O.S. 40 engine, and wound up with a 9-6 nylon 3 bladed prop for ground clearance. With the flatter deck angle the model tracked much better and took off and flew easily.

The other thing I found was that the model could be made to spin, but didn't readily like to stop spinning. To fix this I added a ventral fin to the bottom of the wing as far aft as I could place it. The fin was about 3" fore and aft and about 2" tall. It was tapered in height such that the tip was parallel to the ground with the model in a nose-up landing attitude. I also experimented with two ventral fins, one mounted on the bottom of each wing tip. Both versions were more resistant to spinning and promoted easier recovery.

Overall, the plane was fun to fly and I put many flights on it. The only other thing I did was to paint the top and bottom different colors to make it easier to visualize attitude. Mine was orange on the top and yellow on the bottom.

Dick

Mikie 1

Dick - Thank you for detailing your experiences, for us, with your Delta Hustler. Both sinerios were easy to understand after you explained them. Your solutions were also good ideas. For this Delta, I'll not be using a landing gear. I'll hand launch it - and land her on her belly (more about that in a minute...).

I do like the idea of the ventral fin. I've heard deltas do like to spin. I've never experienced it ... yet, but I will plan to incorporate your idea into this plane. [I was just thinking, I wonder what would come of a delta plane that did use a ventral fin / with a small rudder included...? HUMMMmm...] Anyway...

My build is stalled, for now. Not because of the Holidays, but because the Jett 35 engine, I pictured for you guys, on December 6th, won't fit the plane. The muffler hits the starbord leading-edge shoulder of the aircraft and won't bolt into place (see photos). So, I contacted Dub Jett and have purchased the same engine - now with a rear exhaust. Dub wrote back to say I'll have it sometime after the Holidays.

For now - MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Mikie 1

OH, I love the Holidays..., but the project is still paused - waiting on the new Jett 35 rear-exhaust engine.
Dub Jett was nice enough to e-mail me to say the engine would be sent after the New Year.... So, I wait.

Mike

rcflyer0623

Hey guys my Delta I will take some pictures of so everyone can see it. I have it with a O.S. Max 46VF tuned pipe. The original engine i had on it was a Pylon Racing Engine with tuned pipe. It had been clock at 140mph with the pylon engine. I ruined it with fuel that i will not name here. It has been retired since 2003. I forgot to add my Delta has a steerable nose gear. the only thing i regret is that i dont have working rudders. it is very forgiving to fly.

Mikie 1

OK!!! I've been notified, by Dub Jett, the engine I've ordered was shipped yesterday (Saturday). I expect it'll arrive the first few days of this coming week. Then I can begin again to complete my Delta Hustler build.

I forgot to mention a Christmas present (I purchased for myself and set under the Christmas tree) I got this year... A Bushnell radar gun!!
This should help put some arguments, at the flying field, to rest. Some of the guys like to argue at guessing how fast thier planes fly. This should be a hoot to see who's close to guessing correctly.

I'll start sending more photos along as I get back into the build.


Happy New Year all!!


Mike

P. S. rcflyer0623 - I'm looking forward to seeing the photos of your delta. Also, please tell us more about the plane. M.

Mikie 1

OK!!! Look what arrived yesterday. I was so excited I almost peeed my pants!!
Now I can resume working on the Delta.

Lifer

My Feedback: (1)

Nothing else looks nicer than a bar-stock engine!

Mikie 1

Lifer - Have you had one of these engines before?

Lifer

My Feedback: (1)

I had a bar stock engine many years ago and it was a great engine. I have never bought a Jett engine, but their reputation is excellent.

KenUSA

This is a Delta wing originally built by Bob Baldwin. I believe it pre dates the Hustler, sort of a prototype. Flies great! I'll post pics of Bobs name stamp inside later.

Steerable nose gear
single dorsal stabilizer
silk and dope
rudder
sewn hinges
evolution .46

roughly 6lbs AUW
I was told by a flying buddy of Bob's that it was built in the 1950s

Mikie 1

KenUSA - Can you post some more photos of that delta? I'de like to know more about it!!
Thanks, Mikie 1

KenUSA

I'll post some more soon

KenUSA

The small wheels in the fins underneath would certainly protect the model when flying off pavement. Landing gear is stout.

KenUSA

Black mark behind nose gear is from wheel. It had to take quite a bit of force to bend that 5/32" gear spring all the way back. This is a tough plane.

KenUSA

KenUSA

The sewn hinges are smooth and move effortlessly, throws are generous.

KenUSA

KenUSA

I've never posted on rcu before, so if my pics are too big or too many or I've breached any rules of etiquette, let me know.

KenUSA

It's a really nice flier. Rolls are tight and straight, plenty of elevator, easy loops. I had the CG forward for maiden so landing was HOT. I have since learned a little about setting up a Delta ( I hope), so I think I'll get a better glide. I found it to be quick with a stock.46 12x4 APC. I bought the tuned pipe and an 11x7 I hope to get 15,500 RPM and be able to call it fast. It's immediately obvious that this would be a great plane to fly really fast.

ukengineman

Wow, that's quite a historic model. The plan form looks very similar to the Hustler

[email protected]

My Feedback: (1)

i found a hustler kit still in the box at a yard sale i made one when it first came out so i made this one also just got it hanging on the wall i have oictures of my first one>

warbird51

My Feedback: (12)

I scratch built a Delta Hustler in the late 70's. I cowled the OS 25 FSR in and put Goldberg retracts in. It was great flyer. My best friend has it in his storage attic. I would put in a OS 46 in if I was to fly it again.