Posts: 2894
Joined: 5/25/2004 From: _ , USA Status: offline
In the late 80s one of my fellow RC club members built and flew a FK SBA Speeda in pattern competition. He offered to let me fly it a few times and I really liked its flying characteristics. It was powered by an OS 61SF LS pumper with a 12X10W APC prop and pipe and had Spring Air retracts. It was super fast and so graceful, with incredibly large loops and it could do a slow roll from horizon to horizon. I loved the design but try as I may I could not get a kit from the US distributor, Mutchler’s hobbies located in Corydon, Indiana. I had one on back order for many months and finally in mid 1992 gave up and ordered a Great Planes Tiporare. You can see my Tiporare build thread at http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_2827386/tm.htm
I love my Tiporare but the awesome beauty and flight of the SBA Speeda kept pulling me back and after some research here on RCU I discovered that the SBA was actually a fiberglass knock off of the MK Blue Angel kit. MK no longer makes the Blue Angel but one of the RCU forum members generously agreed to send me a set of plans so I can scratch build one. The plans are on their way and I’ll be documenting the build on this thread.
I haven’t seen the plans yet but I understand the FK kit design is pretty complicated so depending how detailed they are I plan on paying for the setup cost to have a foam wing cores custom cut and build the fuse from the typical balsa and plywood. The foam wing should simplify the construction and be lighter than the built up wing used in the kit. I’ll build the fuselage light and glass the outside for strength. MonoKote will be used for the wing and horizontal stab and MonoKote paint for the fuselage.
I’ll be using one of my OS 61SF LS pumpers for power with a 12X10W APC prop and of course the requisite tuned pipe slung under the wing. Tri-gear Spring Air retracts will be used for the undercarriage to keep the tail up where it belongs on one of the great classics from the rocket ship era.
The image on the left is the MK Blue Angel and the one on the right is the FK SBA Speeda on a page from a 90s vintage Mutchler’s hobbies sales brochure. T.Yoshioka won the 1973 world championship in 1973 flying the Blue Angel.
Posts: 799
Joined: 6/1/2003 From: genoa,
IL, USA Status: offline
quote:
ORIGINAL: rainedav What year/timeframe is this plane from?
Believe it or not..... the first Bule Angel that Mr. Kato built was in 1963. There was 4 versions of this plane that he did. The 4th one is the one known as the MK Blue Angle kit that was offered in 1971.
Mr. Yoshioka built a Blue Angel and modified the tail of the plane from the original Blue Angel. He called this plane Blue Angle Modified. This plane won him the World Championship in 1973. The "Speeda" is this version of the Blue Angel.
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Joined: 2/3/2003 From: Palm Bay,
FL, USA Status: offline
I was reading the March '75 issue of MAN and an article is in it about the first TOC. World champ Yoshioka crashed his Blue Angel on the very first airborne maneuver. It seems that no one bothered to tell him that flying on 27MHz in America at the height of the CB craze wasn't a good idea.
_____________________________
I finally got a tattoo. It reads, "Born too loose."
Posts: 799
Joined: 6/1/2003 From: genoa,
IL, USA Status: offline
Yes I did. I tried to PM you back... but it appears that you have your PM settings set so that you have to OK a person to send you PMs. It said it was undeliverable. I tried to re-send it with the same results. I have it ready for you. It will be on its way 8178.
Posts: 2894
Joined: 5/25/2004 From: _ , USA Status: offline
quote:
ORIGINAL: impactiq
Yes I did. I tried to PM you back... but it appears that you have your PM settings set so that you have to OK a person to send you PMs. It said it was undeliverable. I tried to re-send it with the same results. I have it ready for you. It will be on its way 8178.
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Joined: 5/25/2004 From: _ , USA Status: offline
My benefactor with the MK plans sent me the plans. The good news is that the plans arrived in great shape but the bad news is that they do not have drawings of the root and tip airfoil for the wing and horizontal stab needed to make the foam wing templates. So I’ve contacted him and I’m waiting to see if he will be willing to trace the ribs I need.
View of the plans. Because the fuselage has so many compound curves the construction is very complicated but the beauty of the design is stunning.
Posts: 2894
Joined: 5/25/2004 From: _ , USA Status: offline
I pulled some images of the Spring Air retracts from their website then scaled them and printed them to use as templates to check their fit. I want to make sure I order correct type for the Blue Angel. I’m going to use the Spring Airs because they are the best quality and their service is absolutely super. I’ll get my Spring Air order in on Monday.
I will need to use a slightly smaller nose wheel to clear the back of the retract unit.
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Blue Angel - Build - 
