Constellation's First Flight
 

Last Friday, I had the privilege of test flying Frank Scott's new Lockheed Constellation. In my opinion (not too biased) this aircraft is magnificent!. This Connie follows Frank's last big project, the B-36 that I talked about in another thread here on RC Universe.

The Connie has a 14 ft wingspan, is powered by four OS 108FSR engines, and has fully operational Fowler flaps in addition to scale retracting gear. It weighs about 70lb. Frank made virtually everything on the airframe himself, incluing the gear and the flap mechanism.
The gear retracts in true Connie fashion, taking about 30 secionds to retract, with the nose gear retracting fully first.

After the hour of unloading it and assembling and checking out everything, we performed a runup of each engine individually, and then all four at once, while also doing a thorough radio range check. As the Connie does not have Brakes, Paul Kirby (flight engineer and backup pilot) walked the Connie down to the departure end of the runway. Phil Karafilis, a retired TWA Captain with lots of Constellation experience provided technical advice as to the takeoff flap settings and in general info about the Connie.

The test flight went well, with the Connie using about 150ft to get off the ground, and this was using about 70% power, as I was still slowly adding power when it lifted off. After takeoff, the gear was retracted, then the flaps, and we did a couple of flybys for the photos and to check out the trim and stability. The flight performance was great, with little trim change with power changes, and no roll or yaw problems. After about 5 minutes, we slowed it down a bit, lowered the gear and then lowered the flaps slowly and set up the approach. I came in a little too far out and low, but added a bit of power to make the runway as I expected it to float a bit more than it did. The landing was fine, and during the rollout, the two inboard engines quit. This looked just like when they used to taxi up to the gate with just the two outboards running. It couldn't have been cooler!!.

There were a few things that needed attention after the first flight, such as the left main gear door linkage coming loose, so we called it a successful day.

Here's some pics of the flight as provided by Phil. The first is right after takeoff, followed by a flyby, then the landing rollout. the last is just before the flight when we were checking out everything.

Stan

P.S. Edited to change the wingspan and engine type after getting the straight info instead of my memory (CRS)

RE: Constellation's First Flight
 

Stan:

Convey my congratulations to Frank Scott.

Very nice.

Bill.

RE: Constellation's First Flight
 

The word drool, does not cover this.
Congratulations............now........fess up.......how bad were the hands shaking??
Come on,,,,,,you can tell us.......we will keep it quiet.........trust me?????
Now you remember what a student feels like again.....shaking hands and knees.......TAKE A DEED BREATH!!
Fantastic,
Twinman

RE: Constellation's First Flight
 

Wow! What a beautiful machine. Congratulations on a successful maiden and may you have many, many more. I am going back to look at the pictures again... By the way, any video? I know you would have posted it if you have it but I had to ask [8D] ?

RE: Constellation's First Flight
 

One word...AMAZING! Those in flight shots look absolutely real! Congratulations!

Jim

RE: Constellation's First Flight
 

Hey Guys, Thanks for the compliments! I'll pass them along to Frank and the team.

We did take some video, but I've not seen it yet. I'll try to put it on here when I get a copy.

Test flying the Connie was not nearly as stressful as the B-36, but yes, the antenna was shaking a bit!

Stan

RE: Constellation's First Flight
 

Awesome! Absolutely stunning...

Jens

RE: Constellation's First Flight
 

Oh Man! That's just beautiful!!! and perfect timing for inspiration to start the Don Smith Constellation Precision cut kit that I just received 2 days ago! Can't wait to see the video!!! Was there much pitch change with flap and landing gear retraction?

RE: Constellation's Pitch change w/flaps
 

In answer to your questions, the gear didn't seem to cause any pitch change, and the flaps pitched the Connie nose down a bit on deployment. It was a bit more sensitive to pitch change with airspeed changes, with it pitching up a bit as speed increased. It was very neutral to power changes in regard to pitch change. It was only a couple of clicks of trim to offset the pitching in any case. Frank built in the full size incidences to be faithful to the design, but taking a degree of positive off of the wing should reduce this trait. Again, it was nothing to worry about, a very easy airplane to fly.

Stan

RE: Constellation's Pitch change w/flaps
 

Stunning ! Congrats [sm=thumbup.gif] !

Didn't u have any problem with these .91FX ? Do u use the stock remote needle valves ? Any pump ?

Thx

RE: Constellation's OS91FX Engines
 

EDIT: Engines are OS 108 FSRs

The OS 91FX's are stock, and with the rear needle valves. Ther are no pumps, as the tanks are in the nacelles. I believe that they are 16oz, but could be 20oz. I'll have to ask. We do have glow heat on all four, and Frank set up a three position switch on each nacelle that allows the heat On at all times, only at idle, or Off

All four engines had some bench time, and then into the Connie. All four run very well. We will have to adjust the idle mixtures and maybe the low trottle positions, as they don't all run the same at low throttle, as was evident when the two inboards quit on touchdown on the first flight.

Stan

RE: Constellation's OS91FX Engines
 

Great work. You've got a beauty there. The flight shots look great too. Congratulations.

The Connie was the first plane I flew on, as a young boy, and so I've got a soft spot for that one. Nothing like looking out the window at night, and seeing those flames shooting out of the engines, too!

Thanks for posting the photos.

RE: Constellation's OS91FX Engines
 

Congrats! Magnificent!

RE: Constellation's OS91FX Engines
 

FYI- In Topeka Kansas there is a small Air Combat Museum that has a military connie that is open. Correct me if I'm wrong but I think it said it was an AC-121. Anyway, it was great crawling around inside that thing and getting up close to it. Their second hanger is actually a work in progress shop. They even had a full scale BF109 made out of fiberglass that was a movie prop.
Edwin

RE: Constellation's First Flight
 

Simply fantastic-I run an O.S.91FX in an older pattern aircraft and have found the 91FX's performance Idle,mid.and top end to be absolutely reliable (as long as you ensure your muffler pressure line(s) are connected before flight......... Could you tell us a little about the construction process and FINISH for your magnificent Lockheed Constellation-
TKS,
Richard

RE: Constellation's First Flight
 

Stunning and way cool.

Soft and gentle landings always,
Bobby of Maui

RE: Constellation's First Flight
 

Spectacular!!! Well done!
-E

RE: Constellation's First Flight
 

Richard,

The Connie was lofted up from three view and Frank drew his own structural plans. The construction is traditional, formers of plywood and balsa, with planking on the fuselage, ribs and sheeting for the tail and wings. There is a lot of plywood for the LG mounts, main spar, nacelles, and firewalls. I believe that the Connie is glassed with .75oz cloth. I do not know what the finish color paint type is.

In regard to OS, In my experience, the only bad OS has the wrong fuel in it or a bad glowplug. As I mentioned in my edit of the lead thread, the engines are 108FSRs instead of the 91FX's. I wonder if the 91FX would have the edge on power, being a later design?.

Stan

RE: Constellation's First Flight
 

I believe that attempting to put 4 OS91fx on the same airplane is a real challenge [:@][:'(].

RE: Constellation's OS91FX Engines
 

How did you get it past AMA ,70 pounds?

I have been to that musem, it is great!

RE: Constellation's First Flight
 

Stan:

You mentioned a Phil Karafilis in the post you made concerning the Constellation model. Do you know if this is the same Phil Karafilis who had a large T-28 model that was pictured in a RC magazine perhaps 10 or so years ago? I have often wanted to find out more about that model.

Eric
[email protected]

RE: Constellation's Weight
 

Actually, the 'Official Ramp Weight' is 69 pounds according to Frank Scott. I was in error (guessing).

I don't know whether he weighed the whole aircraft, or weighed each sub-assembly and added them for the total.

Stan

RE: Constellation's Weight
 

I live in the flight path of New Century Air Center outside of Olathe, KS., (this is the old Olathe Naval Air Station). I see the real Connie flying around my house quite often, as the Kansas City dowtown pattern is often congested, so the boys fly Connie at New Century for VIP tours and touch and go practice. I watched her do a pass at 50 feet off the deck once. What a sight! Your Connie looks very realistic. Beautiful job!
"Keep 'Em Flying!"
Flak

RE: Constellation's Weight
 

It just doesn't get any better than that...CONGRATULATIONS!!!

RE: Constellation's First Flight
 

TO VF169XO