Hello,

I have been trying to learn more about this plane. As many people, I like the fact the Dragon Fli looks like a real plane.
The most information can be found in this thread: http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_7517736/tm.htm , but I haven´t seen any post from anymebody who has /flies this plane.
What´s wrong with Dragon Fli???

I am considering to reduce the size and build it for Saito .56
Good idea or not?

Regards,

Marian

Here is my Dragon Fli that I flew in 1973. Kit was Fiberglass and Foam by Reddi Flite out of PA. Flew nice and smooth on OS 60 Gold Head and Goldberg Retracts.
Radio was Hinode 4 channel on 27 Mhz. If you reduce size and keep it light should do fine on your Saito Four Stroke.

That's a beautiful model zastarri.

Marian, I'm trying to finish drawing up the plans so I can get some laser-cut parts made. I just keep getting distracted. When I finish the plans I can send you a copy that you can reduce to any size you want.

However, there is a .40-size Dragon Fli. too, that was published in AAM, I think. I will dig up the magazine and scan the plans.

David

You have an address on Reddi Flite???? Wonder what happened to the Fuselage mold..


Dan

I tried to find them but had no luck. I think it was a PO Box. They sold the kit out of the back of their car at the Dahlgren VA Navel Air Station RC Pattern meet probably 1972. This
was the meet where Tony Bonetti, Phil Kraft, Jim Martin et al where there. I beleive the pictures of Martin's Banshee that have been circulating around were
taken at this meet. The kit was 60.00 bought by my dad. Fuse was Polyester resin with gel coat color and wings and elevators were plastic covered foam.
I have no idea who the guys were but the kit seemed very nice to me. I also saw a wood plug for a Banshee that a guy was carrying around. In the formula
one pits smelled Banana Oil for the first time. Whoa what an oder! Harold goldklank and buddies were there. He seemed like a Rodney Dangerfield character with
his cigar and Brooklyn accent. Probably Bob Violet and Cliff Telford as well.

Presumably a 40 size Dragon Fli would not have retracts?

For info. I looked up the Slik Fli which looks like a mid wing version of the Dragon Fli and found it is now listed by Xlist plans in England www.xlistplans.demon.co.uk Slik Fli is plan number RC 1035

Dragon Fli is based on Slik Fli.
I have read the article about Slik Fli and it is described as "experiment to determine desirability of several aerodynamic features". The general feeling from the article is that the plane was "so-so".

Rainedave, is there any plan you do not have?
It would be nice to see that one for .40 size Dragon Fly. At least to know the wing area and if symmetrical or flat stab was propossed.

I have made some comparison:
(Plane / engine / wing span / wing area)

Dirty Birdy .60 / 64" / 688 sq. inch
Kaos .60 / 58" / 623
Dragon Fli .60 / 60" / 645
Tower Kaos .40 / 55" / 566
Peppemint Pattie .40 / 56" / 504

I guess .40 Dragon Fli should have wing area about 550 sq. inch

Marian

The Dragonette was in the 4/72 AAM.

David

Goldclank was a card. At the '70 Nats, we were too busy laughing to score his flights. He was funny and a genuine guy.

Dave, keep us informed on your progress, would still like a copy of the plans or even better, a short kit!! Saw your kits on that other auction site, Good luck with the venture![8D]

I have no idea how could I compare that modified K&B .40 to Saito. 56 (except that Saito will be much heavier) but scale factor 0,8 seems too small. The plane would have wing span 48" and wing area 412 sq. inch.

I guess that reduction to 89 % of original size would be better: wing span: 1357 mm (53,4") and wing area: 33 dm3 (511,5 sq. inch).

Marian

Here's a copy at 112% for a wing span of 53.75"

David

Thank you. Could you send me a tif image at 100%?

Marian

Hello,

I have compared the plans for Dragon Fli and Dragonette. There are more differences that just scale.
I include two pictures of wing airfoil and stab airfoil (black: DF; red: Dragonette).

Do you think that the aifoil was changed in order to increase speed of smaller model?

Also I haven´t seen on the plans any specification of dihedral / anhedral on stab. The airfoil on tip is thinner. Which of the three options would you use?

Marian

Marian, I think airfoil choices have always been the designer's "auteur" mark, so to speak. There's still a lot of mysticism attached to them. With model airplanes I've always felt like there are too many other variables like wind, the model's weight and size, etc., for slight mods in an airfoil to make much difference. But, they are probably more critical with competition sailplanes and pylon racers, I guess. At least those folks put a lot of significance on choosing the right one.

I've made some progress on the Dragon Fli plans. I basically redesigned the fuselage construction. It can now be built straight using a very simple jig; the top edge of the fuselage side is straight all the way back and follows the thrust line at 0° from nose to tail. All you'll have to do is build the fuselage upside-down on blocks which are all the same height. The top edges of the fuselage sides will rest on these blocks ensuring that things are straight. Then, you just use side clamps or blocks (like the RCM fuse jig) to bend the sides in at the nose and tail. This is a lot simpler than trying to use blocks of various heights or even building the fuse in two halves.

David

David,

It was very clever to modify the fuselage to make it possible to build on flat supports.

I will use the airfoils from Dragenette plans (not DF). There is also minor difference in aspect ratio of the wing.
But it still will be possible to downscale your plans and simply change openings for stab and wing.

The plans include ribs, but I am planning to make foam cores.
I have drawn templates. I can send them to you, just in case you decide to make also kits of Dragonette.

Marian