Don Juan II
06-23-2018, 07:53 AM
#1
Don Juan II
Just got back from the field this morning after a successful first flight, it was a bit windy but at least I now know that I built a model that will fly! Tomorrow the winds are forecast to be better so I'll give it another go then. Power is a new O.S. .65 which seems to run good and the model has fixed gear so it will be SPA legal, weight came in at 6.25 lbs without fuel.
I hope to get it dialed in so I can attend the Knoxville SPA contest and get my feet wet flying novice class.
I just enjoy building and wanted a model that was not something that you see everyday at the field, that wing was a challenge to build but I think I got it straight because it required no aileron trim first time out. Now I just need to learn how to fly the novice routine
Larry
I hope to get it dialed in so I can attend the Knoxville SPA contest and get my feet wet flying novice class.
I just enjoy building and wanted a model that was not something that you see everyday at the field, that wing was a challenge to build but I think I got it straight because it required no aileron trim first time out. Now I just need to learn how to fly the novice routine
Larry
Last edited by 1qaz; 06-23-2018 at 04:11 PM.
06-24-2018, 07:24 AM
#3
Thank you Ralph,
Today the wind was a lot less and I got 2 good flights in before the heat ran me off. I am very happy with the trims, it did not require any trim at all to fly "hands off", and man that little plane goes fast! I am still running the OS 65 rich and from what I have been told it is a bit under propped with an old Zinger 11X7 wood prop. This morning I started to fly a few of the required SPA novice maneuvers and the thing really stays put thru the loops with no tendency to drift or corkscrew out of a loop. It rolls very nice I just need to get the rudder & elevator inputs timed right to make it pretty, my stall turns were ugly so I may up the rudder throw just a bit (or it could just be my flying).
Today the wind was a lot less and I got 2 good flights in before the heat ran me off. I am very happy with the trims, it did not require any trim at all to fly "hands off", and man that little plane goes fast! I am still running the OS 65 rich and from what I have been told it is a bit under propped with an old Zinger 11X7 wood prop. This morning I started to fly a few of the required SPA novice maneuvers and the thing really stays put thru the loops with no tendency to drift or corkscrew out of a loop. It rolls very nice I just need to get the rudder & elevator inputs timed right to make it pretty, my stall turns were ugly so I may up the rudder throw just a bit (or it could just be my flying).
06-29-2018, 06:46 AM
#4
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Great looking plane Larry..nice job.
Don Curtis is the designer of the Don Juan and is the person who taught me to fly RC. He is still alive and kicking..living in Bryan Texas and is a super nice guy...flys helicopters now I think.
He built another later version of your plane which features a little longer tail moment and a little shorter wingspan. By the way, Don still has the original stored away.
Tommy S
Don Curtis is the designer of the Don Juan and is the person who taught me to fly RC. He is still alive and kicking..living in Bryan Texas and is a super nice guy...flys helicopters now I think.
He built another later version of your plane which features a little longer tail moment and a little shorter wingspan. By the way, Don still has the original stored away.
Tommy S
06-29-2018, 07:57 AM
#5
Hi Tommy,
Thank you for the info, I was able to find an old copy of RC Modeler Nov 1971 that had the article which Don wrote. I will see if I can find a web site for the Bryan R/C club and find Don, I would love to see some color photo's of his original Don Juan II as all the old magazines were printed in black & white.
So there is a Don Juan III? I really like the way this model flies and I'll bet with a stretched fuse it would be even more stable.
I made up some fake fiberglass gear doors to put on the main landing gear, it gives it a little better look I think getting rid of the bare 5/32 wire sticking down.
And thank you for the compliments on the model, I tried to do justice to Don's old design!
Thank you for the info, I was able to find an old copy of RC Modeler Nov 1971 that had the article which Don wrote. I will see if I can find a web site for the Bryan R/C club and find Don, I would love to see some color photo's of his original Don Juan II as all the old magazines were printed in black & white.
So there is a Don Juan III? I really like the way this model flies and I'll bet with a stretched fuse it would be even more stable.
I made up some fake fiberglass gear doors to put on the main landing gear, it gives it a little better look I think getting rid of the bare 5/32 wire sticking down.
And thank you for the compliments on the model, I tried to do justice to Don's old design!
06-29-2018, 08:14 AM
#6
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The main color was a sorta medium blue with pale yellow inset on the wings and stab with black and white trim...pretty airplane.
I have a color picture of the DJ III somewhere...I'll see if I can find it.
Tommy S
I have a color picture of the DJ III somewhere...I'll see if I can find it.
Tommy S
Last edited by tommy s; 06-29-2018 at 09:46 AM.
