My father built and flew a Sunray when I was a kid too. He flew in an area of north Phoenix, AZ called Paradise Valley back in the late 70's. I remember a Chauncy and a guy who flew a very scale Dauntless forever flying out there too. Anyway...my dad was flying the Sunray one day and the receiver battery disconnected. The plane hit a pile of construction concrete in the ensuing crash and was pretty much destroyed. He still has the remains in his hangar rafters. I'm going to have to get his plans and build one now after seeing this thread. I'm also going to have to find a Donald Duck to put in it like dad's did!

I take a picture of the remains and post them up here. I have the original instructions just not the plans. Dad still has those. I do have some original Hyperbipe plans though...hmmmm, I wonder........

Cool story. I put Garfield in one of my aiplanes. He crashed. GI Joe was my best pilot but he eventually crashed. I'm still looking for a test pilot that doesn't crash my planes. Haha.

The Hiperbipe is a neat biplane. I have the plans too. It's high on my list of must build airplanes. You should build a Sun Ray first and then the Hiperbipe.

I'm glad that I found this forum. I have had the plans for this aircraft for some time now. I hope to start building one soon. I am thinking of trying to build it as light as possible. I am starting with the bottom wing spar, by using 1/16th ply and cf sandwich.
If you can think of some way of saving weight, let me know.[:@]

I, personaly, would like to see some more of Mr. McLeodAviation's mastery in progress again sometime soon. I have really enjoyed this thread as well!



Brian

Did you finish it?

Brian

My Sun Ray should be tearing up the sky by now however I went on a hiatus from building. I've just been too busy with all kinds of other stuff but I'll get back to the Sun Ray soon as possible. It wont be much longer.

MFK ask about saving weight other than making a lightweight lower spar. You could save some more weight by using contest balsa. That stuff is super light but cost more. Maybe cut out some circular lightening holes in the fuselage sides, stabilizer and fin etc.

Anybody else begin building a Sun Ray biplane?

Well I started mine. I hope the changes I have planed work[:-]
I will be using some of what McLeodAviation said in his last post.

I will post as the work goes on.

This should give an idea of how I am putting the spar together.

I'm happy to see someone else is building a Sun Ray. Nice work on the spar. Did you use 1/16 ply? Are you building a light weight airframe for electric power? An electric powered Sun Ray would be very cool.

McLeodAviation:

I see where you have mentioned a Hot Kanary. Are you referencing the TopFlite Kit back years ago. I use to have one of these. Does anyone know where I can get a set of plans for the TF Hot Kanary?

Thanks in advance.

Yes, the Sun Ray reminded someone of the TopFlite Hot Kanary. Not too long ago, I almost bought a Hot Kanary kit. It looks like a fast fun little bipe. I hope you're able to find the plans. There might be a build thread on the Hot Kanary in one of the forums. Good luck with your search.

Great post on building. Very informative. Thanks a lot for it.

I got the chance to fly a sun ray today in Houston at the Huckfest of all places but....


WOW... I must have one. I flew knife edge and ZERO roll coupling with a slight push to the belly.

Not sure how much it weighed but it was a tad beefy. Still, landing was cake. It slowed easily and greasing it in is a little difficult as the gear does not give much.

I have a friend who built a 60 sized version and lengthened the tait and put a more modern tail group on.. flies like a charm as well i hear.

Also, there are rumors of a 2 Meter version being built.

Regards,

chuck

McLeodAviation-

I hope you have been eyeing up this project again. I'd like to see what it's going to look like finished!

Brian

I'm Back! With an up date to the build I started last year.
I now have both wings almost built, and will soon be working on the fuselage.

Here are some better pictures of the progress.

By the way, I found plans for a cool scale project on Ebay.

Gregor FDB-1

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Canadian-Car...item4162d050d2

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadia..._Foundry_FDB-1

Welcome back. Very cool to hear about the progress on your Sunray. I haven't touched mine in many months. I have no good excuse. Just been fooling with other stuff.

Did you ever get it in the air?

Brian

Sorry guys but I still haven't finished my Sun Ray biplane. I also built a Super Kaos 60 which just needs covering. I intend to finish both of them this spring or summer. I will post updates with pictures when things get rolling again and stay tuned for double trouble. I found another Sun Ray biplane! It's used but in great condition.

No Chuck -- U have to be this tall to ride -- working on fuse again ......

I built 3 so far -- working on a 73" top wing sun ray now -- add reinforcement to the bottom spars at the bends -- may fail on hard landing -- installing YS 170 on this build -- Jim in Baton Rouge -- Good luck .....

Really cool you built 3 Sun Ray biplanes and the enlarged version will be totally awesome! Please post some pictures if you get a chance.

Just checked my Sun Ray. I have both wings built, and all the parts cut out for the fuselage. I am in the middle of a Super Hots build, and will get back to the Sun Ray when its done.

3/18/14 ---- all sanding complete to rear of top wing -- working on foam canopy for template to make wood striped canopy then on to the tail -- I also flow with Jack Scarobough back in the 70's while in the Air Force and flew the Sun Ray in the pic's -- Many moons ago -- YS 170 is mounted with the nose shaped -- 3 1/2 " Tru Turn spinner being used ..... ( see U somewhere Chuck ) Jim Thompson ...

Finally finished. Testing it out tomorrow.

Nice job. Looks great and the electric motor is interesting. Good luck with the maiden flight. I'm sure she will fly awesome.