Flite Steak setup questions
 

A couple of questions on a Flite Streak

I just bench trimmed a Flite Streak built from a 1970's Top Flite kit. I mounted a Thunder Tiger 36 Pro with a Macs muffler on it, and discovered that I needed 10 ounces of tail weight to get the plane to balance at the CG point called out in the plans (at the Spar which is about 3.5 inches from the wing leading edge.) Now the TT 36 pro with the Macs muffler weighs-in at 10.5 oz. This is about 3.5 to 4.5 ounces more than the Fox 35 which the plane was designed for. The TT sits a bit more forward than the Fox, but I still can't believe I need so much tail weight to get it balanced. This setup makes for one heavy Flite Streak. Do I dare try to fly it this way?

The fuel tank setup is something I never have trried before on a control line plane. I mounted an 4oz R/C Clunk tank on the inboard side of the fuse. The fuel supply line is no longer than it would be with the tank mounted outboard behind the engine, and I did set it up to run on muffler pressure. I have never used a clunk tank on a C/L plane, nor have I ever mounted any type of tank inboard. Does anyone see a problem with this setup?

Thanks for your advice!

Pete

RE: Flite Steak setup questions
 

This is my opinion and should not be confused with what the expert flyers may have to offer. I have flown a dozen of these in the past 25 years and I really never worried to much about the plane being nose heavy. I flew with Enya 35,s and K&B 35 series 75 in slow combat and even had one I flew in profile carrier. The tank on the inboard side should work OK. I always used Veco profile tanks ,outboard. I have seen clunk tanks used on CL models and they worked OK. The only muffler I ever used was a DuBro stack with the spring in it. Not much of a muffler but passed the test. I still have a Streak with an Enya 35 that I fly when the grandkids show up. Lots of fun and its only 8 or so years old. To bad Top flite quit kitting it.
I hope you have good luck and enjoy it as much as I have.

RE: Flite Steak setup questions
 

George Aldrich's original FliteStreak plans show the CG just behind the leading edge log. I have seen a copy of his plans which have a CG placed over the spar. This CG has been mostly erased and noted "wrong CG" in George's hand writing. I would try your airplane with the CG close to the leading edge log, ie an inch or maybe a bit more back from front of the leading edge. If the airplane is not responsive enough to suit you then start adding tail weight. You may in fact be a little nose heavy.

I think your tank will probably work. It is going to want to go rich on you in flight so go ahead and lean the engine out. I'd do the first flight with not much fuel as you are just trying to get a base line to go from on the CG.

I'm building a Brodak kit FliteStreak which is an accurate replica of George's original airplane. I built a Topflite Streak long ago and recall it with fondness. No recollection as to where it balanced.

Jim