Navion
 

I have always wanted to build a Ryan Navion. Does anyone know where I can get a good set of plans? Thanks, Skip

Navion
 

This was discussed back on the 28th in this forum.


Wm.

Navion
 

OK What did they come up with?

Navion
 

RCM has a set of plans

Navion
 

I have the RCM plans. Junk! The forward 1/3 of the wing is practically solid balsa block!! Find AN old Berkeley models Navion on Ebay. I think the RCM plans catalog list a guy that has new plastics for thier plans Navion, that just happens to fit the Berkeley. A friend did one a few years ago, and man was it beautiful. It was fast too, but light and able to slow down. It really turned heads!! Expect a lot of crunched wood in those old kits. Its like they were die crunched during an earthquake. And expect to replace some wood and do a little modifying. The kits were capable of FREE Flight. So , there is a little work to getting one right. The inboard wing section is semi symmetrical, and the outboard sections are under cambered. Wow. But it did fly great!!!

Navion
 

Thanks, It may take some doing to find a Berkley kit. I remember them from the fifties!! , Skip

Navion
 

skip
I built the rcm plan navion it is not a dificult build and yes there is cowl and canopy from fiberglass specialties the plans are a little old fashion but it flys wonderful
don

Navion
 

OK You say there are plans from RCM and f/g parts to be had. What were the specs of the plane?

Navion
 

skip
wing 67in span 660 squares 54 in fuse length 60 2 cycle
mine was glassed with auto paint slider canopy- interior- rivets- panel lines etc etc -ended at 11 lbs if you dont care about all the extras probably would be 9 lbs nice scale flyer

Navion
 

Thanks, I just checked f/g specialties catalog and they list the cowl and canopy etc. I will order plans from RCM, Is it suitable for a four stroke? Best Regards, Skip

Navion
 

skip
yes I had an old os 90 in mine a freind of mine used the plane for a season with his os 91 four stoke if you send me a email at dolsen@coslink .net i will send you some pics and a page of the plan
don

Navion
 

WOW,
Thats great news! I had lost the old RCM catalog and wasn't sure whom had the glass cowl and canopy. I love Fiberglass Specialties work!! The Berkeley is 66", so they fit.

Don,
Didn't mean to slam your Navion. Us Ryan boys have to stick together!

Navion
 

Everybody has their own opinion on every thing under the sun so i take negative thoughts with a grain of salt Navions are cool get a ride in one sometime- solid- smooth kinda like ridin in your dads old roadmaster

Navion
 

I am a recently retired airline pilot and as a boy in the early sixties I finagaled a ride in the back seat of the old un-modified Navion. As you said the plane was as smooth as a 55 Caddy and I did notice the performance with the older less-powerful engine was not exactly stellar!! I have always loved the Navion especially the upgraded ones with the bubble canopy, tip tanks, and a bigger engine. Thanks, Skip

Berkeley Navion
 

This is a highly prized kit among the collectors so if you see even a partially complete kit on eBay, be prepared to pay dearly for it. Best bet is to get the plans and patterns for it. You can control the wood and the weight. BTW the airfoils mentioned are scale. Using an undercambered airfoil out towards the tip added low speed stability. Wash out performs the same function.

Navion
 

Had conversation with Walt Musciano last year on the Navion which was presented for the magazine. He says the airfoil is poor choice now considering the higher H.P. engines. Walt redesigned the wing just a tad, used new airfoil, but changes are not included in magazine plans. May be simplier to contact him direct in New Jersey.


Wm.

Navion
 

Does this Walt Musciano offer an updated set of plans? Skip

Navion
 

coos bay
do you have an address for walt ?I would consider building another. mine has been retired to hanging in the office of an airpark a friend owns.
don

Navion
 

I did this in about 89 my first plans built

Navion
 

2

Navion
 

Beautiful Model. I would also like to get this guys address to obtain the revised plans. Skip

Walt Musciano
 

The plans of interest are from Walt Musciano. He sells these, 2-3 sheets at $18 per set. Personal cheque OK. No postage req'd, and he is still pretty quick at mailing out. They are 2 inch scale for 40-60 power. Ask for substitute sheet of airfoils, and for a list of "other" plans he has completed for arounf 50 years.

And, as an extra, have him sign the plan. I always feel this to be a certificate of authenticy. Ask EasyTiger in the vintage forum for a reference on Walt.


Walt Musciano
133A Dell Glen
Lodi New Jersey 07644

Navion
 

not to get off the subject here but most of us are old enough to have seen or built walts planes .Do you remember scientific models he did a lot of those they all flew well what makes us think any different for rc ?Walt is one of the the truly great people of our hobby- just my opinion of course - Nick ziroli would be a modern time counterpart again my opinion
don

Navion
 

Thanks for the address etc. I built Scientific models when I was a kid and had a lot of fun with u-control. I think I built every plane they had due to my propensity for crashing!! Skip

Navion
 

If you want a beautiful model, ought to consider the one (two) Walt did on the Jimmie Mattern Lockhead Vega he did with all the bird feathers sculpting.


Wm.