Originally built in 1974, the Falcon is my third R/C powered plane. First was a
SIG Kadet and second was a Graupner 4-channel trainer that didn't last long enough
for me to remember much about it.
The Falcon, however, has always been one of the most fun R/C aircraft I've flown.
Now working on 37 years old and still going strong, especially since the restoration.
Pic on the right is the Falcon when she was new, back in the fall of 1974. Pic's of her as she is now can be seen at
the bottom of this page.
First modifications to the Falcon took place on Saturday, 9 September 2000. The original Kraft 4-channel radio
was removed and replaced with a Futaba 6-channel computer radio. This was due, mainly, to the new FCC
requirements for RC equipment. At that time, I didn't use the computer functions or set them up.
The Falcon went into semi-retirement in September 2001, when I transferred the radio to the CAP-21 and used
some of the computer functions at that time. With the demise of the CAP, I started thinking about restoring the
Sr. Falcon and actually started the work in March 2003. She's flying again now; restoration was completed in late
July 2003 and first flight was on Saturday, 2 August 2003.
MODIFICATIONS: The original Enya .35/RC engine (un-muffled) was removed and replaced with an old (NIB)
Fox .45RC, laid on her side, using a 11x6 prop and Pitts-style muffler. Fuel system was upgraded from the original
6 oz. tank to a new 12 oz tank because of the larger engine. The entire control-rod system (wooden dowels with
steel rod ends) was removed and a new Dubro sliding-rod system installed. Ailerons were removed and new ones,
about 30% larger, were installed, and the elevator was also increased 20%. Throws for both, ailerons & elevator,
were then increased - ailerons now throw about 60 degrees and elevator has 45 degrees in each direction. Then, a
completely new covering (monocote, of course - white overall with transparent green to show off her insides) was
put on her. She also got larger wheels, mainly to make her easier to handle in the grass at our flying field.
FLYING: With the computer-radio full-up, she's FANTASTIC! Better than ever before. I found quickly that
setting the ailerons & elevator to about half-throw (a simple flick of 2 switches) for take-off and landing is the way
to go. Once in the air, both switches go to full throw and she'll fly with the best of them. With the larger control
surfaces she maneuvers "wildly" all over the sky. Snap-rolls are just that, loops can be done in about a 25' circle -
and all this is at about 1/2 to 2/3 throttle. Power is now more than she'll ever really need for most things and I've
been playing with "3D-style" maneuvers - she stands still in the air, hanging on her prop, all day. When I've got her
hovering, it's a blast to increase the power a bit and watch her climb vertically.
.
SIG Kadet and second was a Graupner 4-channel trainer that didn't last long enough
for me to remember much about it.
The Falcon, however, has always been one of the most fun R/C aircraft I've flown.
Now working on 37 years old and still going strong, especially since the restoration.
Pic on the right is the Falcon when she was new, back in the fall of 1974. Pic's of her as she is now can be seen at
the bottom of this page.
First modifications to the Falcon took place on Saturday, 9 September 2000. The original Kraft 4-channel radio
was removed and replaced with a Futaba 6-channel computer radio. This was due, mainly, to the new FCC
requirements for RC equipment. At that time, I didn't use the computer functions or set them up.
The Falcon went into semi-retirement in September 2001, when I transferred the radio to the CAP-21 and used
some of the computer functions at that time. With the demise of the CAP, I started thinking about restoring the
Sr. Falcon and actually started the work in March 2003. She's flying again now; restoration was completed in late
July 2003 and first flight was on Saturday, 2 August 2003.
MODIFICATIONS: The original Enya .35/RC engine (un-muffled) was removed and replaced with an old (NIB)
Fox .45RC, laid on her side, using a 11x6 prop and Pitts-style muffler. Fuel system was upgraded from the original
6 oz. tank to a new 12 oz tank because of the larger engine. The entire control-rod system (wooden dowels with
steel rod ends) was removed and a new Dubro sliding-rod system installed. Ailerons were removed and new ones,
about 30% larger, were installed, and the elevator was also increased 20%. Throws for both, ailerons & elevator,
were then increased - ailerons now throw about 60 degrees and elevator has 45 degrees in each direction. Then, a
completely new covering (monocote, of course - white overall with transparent green to show off her insides) was
put on her. She also got larger wheels, mainly to make her easier to handle in the grass at our flying field.
FLYING: With the computer-radio full-up, she's FANTASTIC! Better than ever before. I found quickly that
setting the ailerons & elevator to about half-throw (a simple flick of 2 switches) for take-off and landing is the way
to go. Once in the air, both switches go to full throw and she'll fly with the best of them. With the larger control
surfaces she maneuvers "wildly" all over the sky. Snap-rolls are just that, loops can be done in about a 25' circle -
and all this is at about 1/2 to 2/3 throttle. Power is now more than she'll ever really need for most things and I've
been playing with "3D-style" maneuvers - she stands still in the air, hanging on her prop, all day. When I've got her
hovering, it's a blast to increase the power a bit and watch her climb vertically.
.
| This is one fun plane! |
| Click on any pic to see that one larger and clearer. Or, just click here to see them all at once in a much larger, clearer size. Click here to see the Falcon in one of her many flights. |
|
