MAAA Wingspan

29 NOVEMBER WING SPAN product review: bush planes A POPULAR AND GROWING TREND OF RC MODEL PLANES. ARTICLE BY MIKE O’REILLY A full-size bush aeroplane is typically one used for flight services into remote and poorly developed areas. They first came into use in the north of Canada and parts of Alaska and are now widely used in those two regions as well as in Africa, the Amazon and the Australian outback. The Ontario Provincial Air Service is thought to have been one of the earliest organisations to recognise the usefulness of a bush plane in dealing with bushfires. They helped in the design brief for the Buhl CA-3 Air- sedan in the late 1920’s that was one of the earliest bush planes, and coincidentally was the first plane that a Pope flew in. So why have they become such a popular style of model for RC enthusiasts all over the world? The aerodynamic and mechanical traits that make for a good full-size bush plane are just what you want for an easy to fly, rugged and funmodel plane. • STOL capabilities which are usually achieved with higher aspect ratio wings, and the use of high lift devices like flaps and slats. • High wing configurationmakes for a stable platform with more ground clearance with the flaps fully deployed. • Tail dragger landing gear is reliable and is easy to fit tundra tyres to, that work well on rougher club fields. It also allows for easy fitment of floats. If the model designer, then uses oversize flaps and ailerons these become very capable 3Dmodels on high rates and docile slow flying trainer like models on low rates. This gives us a model that can be flown low and slow, from a short rough take-off area and then perform aerobatics and 3Dmanoeuvres, before landing via a short and steep descent back on to that rough strip. Lots of versatility there all from a model that can be a good- looking scale replica of a full-size plane. One of the first RC model bush planes to be released was the electric powered HobbyZone Carbon Cub that was followed by the 15cc powered Hangar 9 Carbon Cub with 2.3 metre span. Other bush models that are now available include: • E-Flite Maule M-7 • Seagull Rans Raven S20 • Multiplex Fun Cub XL • Moustache Model Works DeHavilland DHC-2 Beaver • Phoenix Models Turbo Beaver • Seagull Maule Super Rocket • Flex Innovation Cessna 170 With more sure to follow!