2001 Orion shuttle R/C rocket glider

[burkefj]

Something I just decided to sit down and crank out this morning. I decided to go with a simple box fuselage and then round the gusseted corners to get the effect which was much simpler than trying to do any kind of sheeting and formers. The stabilizer and top planform/Wing are 6 mm depron and the sides and top are 3 mm depron. I'll do more panel lines and details after I fly it. I didn't want to have a built up rear hump to avoid more tail weight and just went with the decal on the vertical stabilizer to give that effect. I may paint the vertical stabilizer flat black so it's not so obvious in flight. I made the stabilizer kind of mimic the wing shape. I curved the tail down a little further than scale so I could have the motor thrust line just above the wing.

38 in Long 20-in wingspan, fuse is about 4 inches across and three and a quarter inches tall, 4.9 Oz with radio equipment installed just over 6 oz ready to fly.j

 

[burkefj]

Some more construction photos

 

[burkefj]

Here she is with the tail painted flat black I used a fine strip of silver to set off the hump detail I don't think it looks too bad.

 

[Ez2cDave]

Wow, Frank . . . Very cool !

I'm thinking that "rudder" migh be a lot less visible, if painted light blue to "blend in" with the sky . . . Thoughts ?

Dave F.

 

[burkefj]

It was really gusty 10mph winds, she handled it well for such a large light model, but struggled against the wind on boost, I think with calmer days I can get a long glide time. If I had built it for 24mm E I don't think the elevons would have enough leverage to trim out a more nose heavy model and I'd need to add another ounce or more to the flight weight and have to stiffen the tail for the higher boost speeds...

 

[tab28682]

Pretty cool!

 

[burkefj]

I finished up the panel lines and I couldn't find my other Pan am decal so I put TWA on the other side. I'm sure both TWA and Pan Am operated them..It should be calm weather tomorrow so I'll get some more video.

 

[tab28682]

Too bad that clear plastic is so much heavier than Depron. The black fin is a cool way to help hide the fin.

I bet this is a landmark event. First RC model ever of the Orion from 2001.

 

[burkefj]

I believe so I know RC demon driver did a really nice EDF version but a lot of his stuff he never gets to fly right and I never saw a video of it doing anything but coming off the runway stalling and crashing

Too bad that clear plastic is so much heavier than Depron. The black fin is a cool way to help hide the fin.

I bet this is a landmark event. First RC model ever of the Orion from 2001.

 

[burkefj]

Much better conditions, added a few more details, cockpit and passenger windows, etc...

 

[Vitruvius]

That is truly awesome!!!!!! VERY well done!

 

[Ez2cDave]

Much better conditions, added a few more details, cockpit and passenger windows, etc...

Very cool, Frank !

Compared to your other gliders, the ORION looks like it's a real "handful", in glding flight. As expected, it's no duration model, but the "cool factor" more than makes up for that !

The music added a lot to the experience, too !

Dave F.

 

[tab28682]

I believe so I know RC demon driver did a really nice EDF version but a lot of his stuff he never gets to fly right and I never saw a video of it doing anything but coming off the runway stalling and crashing

Lets make it the first successful....

 

[burkefj]

A couple more flights today..