MrChaz

Recently I saw a picture in our local newspaper of C. David Gierke of Lancaster, NY holding what appears to be a vintage airplane called a "Cavalier".
If anyone out there knows where to acquire plans for that airplane I would appreciate hearing from you. Thanks.

CoosBayLumber

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Only thing I can think of with similar title is a large A/C from the 1950's called the Custom Cavalier by Berkeley. Only thing I can come up with similar name. It was advertised well, but not too big in selling due to not too many glow engines avaialable for it at the time.

These A/C are rather gracefull in operation, but a kit of such are well up into the several hundred dollar range now when found.


Wm.

RCPAUL

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David Gierke is a contributor to Model Airplane News and a manufacturer of an engine cleaner and has published an engine book. He has been in the hobby - both UC and RC - for many years. A Goggle search will get you the picture you saw plus many other references. I met Dave at a pattern contest many years (30+?) ago. You might be able to contact him through MAN or his company - its name I cannot remember.

The Cavalier you saw was a Berkley kit - but they had four others.

If AMA releases the John Pond plans, you could get a copy there.
Why not put a request in the plans section of RCU - you might get lucky.

Paul

R. Smith

If you have the Zaic Year Books there is a small scale plan for this early, little known RC model. I am not sure which edition includes the plan but it's there.

Berkley did kit the Cavalier, shortly after WW2. It was also released in a twin engine variant at the same time.

This is a very large model with a fully planked elliptical fuselage. You will need a balsa forest to construct one.

Richard Smith

4Stroker

My Feedback: (33)

A plans business called "Orbit Electronics" in Horizon City, TX, sells plans for a Custom Cavalier at 78" span. This fellow bought the plans business from Bill Effinger's widow about 3 years ago. He was out of the business for a while but apparently is back in. I bought some plans for the big Spad this year; I'll try and find his e-mail address for you and post it here. BTW, the catalog I have says this model originally had a wing span of nine feet!

Here is the e-mail I had from an earlier post: [email protected]

The owner's name is John Melvin. BTW, I have not seen these advertised since I bought my set of plans; I hope this is not a hit-or-miss kind of deal. Anyway, good luck!

RCPAUL

My Feedback: (1)

I just found this site and remembered your request. This place has plans as well as partial kits. Enjoy!

RCPAUL

http://www.klarichkits.com/

Slowflight

I built a Cavalier from AMA plans. It is the best flying 3 channel plane I have ever had my hands on. It is pure joy to fly. An old OS .40 LA is far more than enough power. I usually take off at half throttle and cruise at a click or two above idle. Turns are tight and with almost no tendency to spiral. Mine weighs exactly 5 pounds. Not good in wind, but a beauty in the air on calm days.