Few people let alone modellers will not have heard of the Stearman. This highly successful training aircraft of the second world war was responsible for thousands of airmen gaining their wings. Since that time the Stearman has been used in large numbers for crop spraying, such was it’s versatility. More recently though it has become a much loved restorer’s project and thousands still fly today Bigger and heavier than the Tiger Moth the Stearman is impressive when seen doing lazy aerobatics.
The model tkes slightly more work to build than the Tiggie and requires slightly more experience to fly but both have been kitted so that they can be transported in the average mid to larger size car.
Specification
Wingspan &bsp; 2260 mm
Weight 9~11 kg
Length 1750 mm
Engine 1.50/1.80 2 stroke/ 4 stroke
Radio 4 Chanel / 5 servo
Reviews:
Flying Scale Models - Nov/Dec 2001 - Stearman feature issue - ighly recommended - UK
Aviation Modeller International - kit review July and August 2002 - UK
Flying Scale Models - kit review May/June 2002 - UK
Read a full R/C Scale review here, our thanks to Traplet Publications and Simon Deaney, (editor)
Sept/Oct 2002 iss. 32 and Jan/Feb 2003 iss. 34
Model Airplane News - December 2003 - USA
Kit Contents:
CNC and die cut parts
All strip and sheet wood
All hardware
Wheels and fully sprung and damped undrcarriage
Dummy engine, as in picture
Glass fibre forward fuselage mouldings
Complete Closed Loop Control System for Rudder and Elevators. Die Stamped Steel Bracket Components. Steerable tailwheel
Various mouldings for windscreens and fairingsBR>3 massive sheets of full-size plans
55 page instruction booklet, hundreds of photos and diagrams.
Only Adhesives and Coverings are required to complete the airframe.
Tony Shortell built this Flair Stearman. It is finished in the colours f an example his son flies in the USA. Powered by a Laser 360 (much more than adequate) it has over 200 flying hours logged and is still going strong, (logged March 2005).
Tony Shortell did a very good job of hiding a Laser 360!!!in the Stearman - adequate as Rolls Royce say.
I have spoken to a number of Stearman pilots and have concluded that the Flair model flies in much the same manner as does the full size. This is very gratifying and justifies the work involved in prducing such a kit. If scale modelling is about recreating the full size in miniature with accurate shape, finish and flying performance then in our opinion the Flair Stearman has achieved this objective.
As stated above the Stearman flies much like thereal thing. It requires the use of rudder for take off and for smooth accurately aligned turns. It requires a shallow dive prior to aerobatics such as loops, rolls and stall turns and it takes off in a sedate manner after a scale looking run. These notes pply to our prototype fitted with a Laser 150 which is plenty of power for those with reasonable flying experience. If you are a pilot who regularly "gets the nose up" or if you are in the habit of having engines go sick just after take off then more powe is recommended such as the Laser 180 or 200 twin.
Take off
Line up the model into wind.
Get your assistant to restrain the model whilst you rev the engine to clear it, then bring it back to idle.
Ask your assistant to eave the runway.
Apply a little up elevator and open the throttle gently to full power.
Apply rudder to correct any swing.
As the model starts to accelerate gently release the up elevator and the tail will rise.
Build u speed on the ground and then gently apply a little up elevator to lift the model into the air.
Climb out in a straight line until at a sensible height. Note any tendencies to yaw, pitch or roll.
Trimming
Turn into a circuit and adjus the trims to give a well balanced straight and level flight at slightly reduced power, (Laser 150, more powerful engines can be throttled back more).
Don’t be tempted to check the stall yet; get a feel for the sensitivity of the controls first. If themodel is very sensitive on elevators then you may have a rearward CG or elevator throws which are too large. If this is the case proceed to a landing being careful not to loose to much speed on finals.
Landing.
This model has a high drag facto. If you cut the throttle to idle it will come down at a very steep angle.
Enter a standard rectangular circuit with about half power and assess the sink rate. Adjust the power level, (not too low), so that by the time you are on finals the model is si