SLOPING OFF...
...the Newsletter of Christchurch and District Model Flying Club for...December 2023
GEORGE WORLEY’S BELLANCA SKYROCKET
Last year I found the same plan that my father used to build a free flight semi scale Bellanca Skyrocket. I was around 10 years old when he built it and we used to fly in the middle of Epson Downs Racecourse in Surrey.
I’m sure most of you have heard of Charles Lindbergh and his Ryan NYP called the “Spirit of St Louis”who made the first solo transatlantic flight from New York and landed 33 hours and 30 minutes later just short of Paris.Most people don’t know was that Mr Lindbergh’s 1st choice of aircraft for the trip was a Bellanca WB-2 Which looks similar to the ellanca Skyrocket. Due to some contractual problems with Bellanca and legal battles, Mr Lindbergh chose the Ryan NYP instead. Mr Lindbergh made his record breaking flight on the 20th of May 1927.
On the 4th of June 1927, exactly two weeks after Charles Lindberg made his solo Trans Atlantic flight, Mr Clarence Chamberlin and Mr Levine took off in the Bellanca WB-2 Names “Columbia” from the same airport in New York and headed East towards Paris. They overshot Paris and headed on to Germany However, as soon as they reached Germany, they became lost. Urged on by Levine to reach Berlin, Chamberlin pushed the plane to the extreme. When the fuel finally ran out, they were forced to put down at Helfta near Eisleben.after a non-stop flight of 3,911 miles in 42 hours 45 minutes, having beaten Lindbergh's record by just over 300 miles.
More about the model. It has a 51” wingspan and is a traditionally built model with a few modifications.It was originally designed by H.G. Bowers and appeared in “Model Aircraft” in 1965.It is a very simple and quick model to build.
I downloaded the plan from Outer Zone https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=9925
I try to build very light and this model came out at 2.58lbs (1171g) which is pretty good for a 51” model. It has got a small PO-2834-1020 motor, a 20A ESC and uses a 3S 1300mAh LiPo to give 6-7 minutes of gentle scale like flying I had to add a shed load of lead up the front to get it to balance so in hindsight I should have made the rear lighter and used a larger heavier motor just to help with the C of G.
Just like my father’s free flight version, this R/C version also flies very well. My model has my father’s name on one side and Clarence Chamberlin on the other.
Thanks and Best Regards
George Worley
www.4-Max.co.uk
The UK Fixed Wing Electric Flight Specialist
In the beginning, at least 10 years ago I believe,shortly after joining the committee l came up with the idea of the Bits box. The committee at that time were a little sceptical, not surprising really as who could we persuade to run the darn thing. Back in those days I still had a yacht in Lymington marina and so was hard pressed for cash, not much left over for model supplies l can tell you, even the yearly club fee of £15 was a struggle. Anyway that was one of the reasons that in the end I decided to go ahead to see how it would work. I think it has been very successful. Mainly I hope because I kept prices rock bottom and returns if not a satisfied customer. It was.a slow start until about 3 members in quick succession give up the hobby, their bits being donated to the club. I cannot say it to be a pleasure to pick up donated bits as it is really quite a sad thing to do. Sorting through everything on getting it home is time consuming, but for me quite exciting and I enjoy doing it. A steady trickle of donated bits has kept the members happily going through the Bits box on club nights looking for gold.
Alex