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This model was started before the internet became more than a means of one scientist talking to another, and certainly well before RC Groups started eating onto our building time. The fuselage was taken to one of my Club's evening sessions some 15 years ago. At that time it was fitted out for a geared speed 600 and an 8 cell NiCad pack. The tail group was built, then covered in white Litespan as part of a Club evening technique demo. Then the bits languished on a shelf until three years ago I built the wings, covered them two years ago, painted the whole thing in Ford Apple Green last year, made a dummy engine, clad the front in litho-plate, gave the pilot a white scarf. Markings are by my good friend Tim Calvert.
Span is 52" and the thing was built to be as light as possible, and weighs just 2 lbs 3 oz with a 2-cell 2200 LiPo.
The motor is a HexTronik DT750 Brushless Outrunner 750kv with a 12 x 6 prop. Even without the rigging, it's capable of gentle flight without stressing the wings. I put this down to the fact that there are eight struts, all glued firmly into their slots. However, some rigging is necessary, if only for my peace of mind.
The model is a 1/7th version of a Sopwith Grasshopper, a one-off built to test the past WWI market. Its failure may be down to the agricultural Anzani 10 cyl, 2-row radial engine that was out of date in 1919. The plane was much the same size as the Avro 504 but just didn’t make any impression. After testing by Harry Hawker at the Brooklands race track it was sold for private use and passed through the hands of one “Dangerous” Dan” Watt via the famous land and water speed record holder John Cobb, ending its life in Northumberland.when its C of A ran out in 1929.
Flying was carried out late one afternoon in May at Stanpit and was a complete non-event. It just rose off grass and flew around on half throttle with only a few clicks of right trim needed to fly hands off. The photos were taken by a guy who happened to be there checking out his parascender canopy - thanks mate!
So there we are, the maiden flight of my first Sopwith for ...I dunno, eight years?
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