RE: 3D Frenzy at Joe Nall
Right now the 50cc plane is a porky 16 lbs, but I'm confident that with a bit of work it can be brought into the 14-14.5 lbs range for a 2000 square inch wing. This is where the redesign and a bit of careful materials selection can make a big difference. I'd like to see it at about 11.5-12 lbs with a OS 160 on it. For the profile variants I want to see about 10 lbs with the OS160 on the nose, and the same sized wing. Of course, "Performance options" such as floating individual stabilators, full-flying ailerons, CF wing tubes and the like are all in the mix. The smaller you go ( under 1.20 sized planes) the less you can do and keep it light. The worst part, that no one considers, is that covering has weight, and the covering on the prototype added 18 ounces to the airframe.