Jump to content

Ben Buckle KK Falcon.


Recommended Posts

Well, at last, after 16 months in the build, my KeilKraft Falcon from a Ben Buckle kit is complete!

Today was a calm day at Greenmires, our North Yorkshire flying site, and so a fine day for a maiden...

 

I was somewhat worried that take off would be skittish, due to the very forward undercarriage, but it was really just a pussycat!

The model weighs 8lb 5 oz, no ballast required with the cg at 130mm, just 5mm behind the plan cg.

Engine is an OSfs56a, turning a wooden 14"x4" prop. Took off at half throttle, and spent most of the flying time at 1/4 throttle.

Eventually tried a few aerobatics(!!), it loops reasonably, barrell rolls interestingly?, but the stall turns are excellent!

 

A few pics, with many thanks to club photographer Nigel Castle...

 

1933356079_Falcon1.thumb.jpg.69cc9eb4fbce0b28d2acb66ff85a9fa4.jpg987754530_Falcon2.thumb.jpg.42ee9c04fd20fb1cf45ee1a80ae6a21c.jpg

Edited by Steve Dunne
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wonderful Steve.

 

Your pictures have persuaded me to get me to get mine finished and  ready for the next flying season.   I started mine quite a few years ago  , ended up being distracted on other projects  . I have also been able to find a NIB OS fs60 open rocker to fit into this (hidden in a tea chest from a house move some 30 years ago).

 

So thank you for the timely reminder.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...
45 minutes ago, 911hillclimber said:

Just caught up with this plane.

What a real cracker! And it has a pilot, nice change.

Makes me look forward to 2022 when I hope to be competent enough to fly my BB Buccaneer.

 

The plane looks really good, an inspiration to a newbie!.

 

You are probably already competent enough to fly the Falcon Hillclimber, after all, it was designed as a free flight model so it will be very stable. I wouldn't advise flying it in a wind though!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hillclimber, the bloke who built that knows the structural limitations of the airframe if he looped it, and still had it after the loop. A loop done without wing stress is not as easy as it sounds.

It is easy to steer round the sky, but,

1. it weighs half a stone or so, it has energy to dissipate.

2. it’s a free flight model, loops were not in the designers mind. 
Lovely thing, but know it’s limitations before you pile half a soul of hours into making one.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...