Staggerwing near completion

I neglected this project for two years but some serious guilt prompted me to finish it – so, here it is, done except for a few details. (Controls are tucked inside the fuselage during clearcoat)

Span – 50”
Area – approximately 820 square inches.
SAITO .56
Retracts, including tailwheel and landing light.
Throttle.
Z-tron.
Take-apart.
Finished in silk with Randolph’s, Brodak & Aero-Gloss dope.
Modular “power unit”.
Weight is around 64 ounces, ready to fly.

The Staggerwing is considered by many to be the ultimate general aviation aircraft and it is quite coveted as a classic that can hold its own with many modern planes. People who know both compare its mystique to that of a Ferrari 250 GTO.

Nifty!
Will it be done in time to compete in the GSCB Balloon Bust and Follies on New Years Day?

See Ya

Very Nice!!!
I know you said the lead out are tucked away. Where do they come out the wing?

Very nice craftmanship!!!

Thanks
Paul

LAST EDITED ON Dec-08-04 AT 09:45 AM (CST)
 
Sure looks better than the one I had. Will we see it at the Nats? Beautiful work as usual, keep it up. Later, -DOC

PS: Is this a take apart??

Bob, we have been waiting for you to finish the Staggerwing.... It was well worth the wait! It looks very good. I can't wait to see how she flies. It's going to look great in the air with the retacts. You seem to have a nitch for building awesome bi-planes. I still remember your original design take apart bi-plane a while back. It was very nice as well. Will we see the Staggerwing Thursday night? Mike

LAST EDITED ON Dec-08-04 AT 10:29 AM (CST)
 
Hi Bob,
Is this the Jack Sheek's Staggerwing, or your own?
Really nice job!
Thanks
Bill <><

Beautiful workmanship! It really makes me embarrassed by the stuff I fly.

Hi, Guys - glad to hear from you. Heare are some answers:
Rich - Balloon bust? Don't think so!!
Paul - The leadouts exit as shown in the picture. The guide is removeable and adjustable. I machined the eyelets from Vespel.
Doc - yes, it's take-apart, NATS - no.
Mike - The original take-apart bipe will fly again - I must make a new lower wing.
Bill - It is 100% my own design, including the retract system. I redesigned one R/C servo to handle all three functions.
Chris and all: THANKS for the compliments.
Bob Z.

Gosh - I can't spell heare - heer - heere - heree!
Sorry about that!
Bob Z.

Just too cool Bob, one of my altime favorites!

Bob,
Nice job.Looks great! Do you know how much the retracts added as far as weight. It would look real cool in my Tony. How does the gear work?Are hooked together or independent from each other?

Gordy

Hi, Gordon. The linkage is actually quite simple and self (kinematic) locking. I estimate around three additional ounces max, depending how it's configured. Yes, everything, mains, tail and landing light are interconnected - the latter two slaved off the mains.
I few years back, I wrote an article in Stunt News called "Throttle and Retracts for PA - Why Not?" or someting to that effect. Erroneously credited to someone else, it described in some detail the exact scenario I used on the Staggerwing. The only difference is that the article described and open-loop actuator drive while the Beech uses a closed loop servosystem.
If you or anyone else would like a copy, I can scan the article and e-mail it. I will attempt to find the issue.
Bob Z.
Yes - it would look great on the Tony!

Bob,
Thanks for the photo`s.Do you have any photo`s of the gear before you installed them.It looks plenty strong,but simple.I`d like a close look at them.I`d like to copy them if you don`t mind.Is the servo legal for AMA? I think you said you use the Z-tron to control the gear? Thanks for your help.

Gordy

Hi, Gordon - how about if I send you a series of digital photographs? You can look them over and if you need more info, we can go by phone. Also, check into that article - it greatly simplifies the system.
Regarding legality, I'm not sure what the rules mandate.
I built the Beech more as a fun-type experiment than for real competition.

Bob

LAST EDITED ON Dec-08-04 AT 05:42 PM (CST)
 
Absolutely beautiful. With a Saito 56 to boot! Now that's what I call class.

"Last Sunday,I had the best result all season. I won by default. I told the CD that I mix my own fuel. Everybody split. A win is a win."
"Homer J. Simpson"

Are ya gonna build too and get in the circle with BigIron for some more of that Bi-Slob saber dancing?

Nice ride.

LAST EDITED ON Dec-09-04 AT 00:58 AM (CST)
 
Bob:

Rembrandt would be proud. That is a work of Art!

About 30 years ago, when I was still an active pilot, I had the honor of an all too brief flight in a Staggerwing, including a few minutes to add to my log book. Not a hot rod but more of a Rolls Royce. Luxurious by standards only topped in todays bizjets, absolutely impeccible workmanship both from the factory and in the restoration, near perfect flight manners, and mechanically "silky smooth" controls with superb coordination. The only other thing I ever flew that came close was a beautifully restored Stinson "Gull Wing" Reliant, another big radial engine luxury barge. Not as fancy but also a work of fullsized art.

I only got to do a few turns and some level flight in either plane but just being a couple of feet behind those throbbing Radial's for a few minutes is an unforgettable experiance.

Your model certainly does justice to Walter Beech's finest effort!

OOOOOOHHH WOW!

Bob,
**************WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!