Flight Streak ARF

Hi Guys; I'm going to put together a Flight Streak ARF. I want to test several of my .15's for use in a future project. Anybody flying a Flight Steak ARF on a .15 successfully? I'm not looking to build a world beater or anything, just a solid sport flier to use as a test bed for engines. Might even us a Fox .19 on it. Anybody know how big the tank is? I put all the contents of the box, all the airframe parts, hardware, tank ,engine,.etc and the total weight only came to 20 ounces, so I figure a .15 ought to fly it.
Thanks in advance for the info.
Best Regards,
Dan McEntee

Dan

Are you thinking OS 15fp, 15LA, or Fox 15, or what? Big differences I would think.

>Dan
>
>Are you thinking OS 15fp, 15LA, or Fox 15, or what? Big
>differences I would think.

....All of the above

Mine works well with a NORVEL .15

See Ya

Peabody

LAST EDITED ON Jun-13-06 AT 04:05 PM (CST)
 
> Hi Guys; I'm going to put together a Flight Streak ARF. I
>want to test several of my .15's for use in a future
>project. Anybody flying a Flight Steak ARF on a .15
>successfully?

I haven't tried that, since I don't have an ARF Flite Streak, but, I would caution you that all 15's are definitely not alike. Based on my experience with the Skyray 35/0S15FP I would say you will be able to fly it, but it doesn't have the kind of performance I would like to see, and you will need to get all you can out of the engine. In good air I could get through patterns with it, but it wasn't much better than a Fox 35 in terms of performance. It was a lot smoother and a lot quieter, of course.

15LA, Fox 15 "slantplug", OS 15 Max III, even ST20/15, forget it, not enough ponies. Cyclon, Nelson, Verbitsky, other super-high-zoot FAI FF or combat motors, no problem except the astonishing sound. Norvel 15, maybe, maybe not.

A Veco 19, OS20FP (obviously), or any 25, will fly the airplane with authority. Fox 19, I don't know, I suspect it will be marginal, 25 (recent models) probably OK. McCoy 19, no chance. I could get my Skyray through patterns with a McCoy 19RR with some finesse, but it wasn't impressive at all.

I ran through a lot of motors on the very similar airplane, and I think a "normal" 15 is really at the lower limit.

Dan, check out the previous thread called "two new planes for my grandson". One of thes is powered by an older McCoy/Testors .19. The body is copied from a Flite Streak. the wing is my own airfoil etc. The combo works well. Dont forget that some folks here are among the best in the Country at flying, but they also foget to ask what your skill level is. If you are a beginner, simply give your chosen .15 a try. Just doing that will tell you much about just where you are and what you may need to improve apon.
Several flyers here in the NW,with different skill levels have tried the FS with numerous engine setups. I personally think a strong .15 is capable of sustaining any level of PA up to Advanced. One NW chap has been flying an El Diablo with a .15 and that plane is much bigger and heavyier than a FS, so it can be done. Just do it and have fun!

JJ

I don't know? I have a buster with a McCoy 19 on
it and it has alot of power to pull it around!
I think the Buster is just bit bigger then
the F/S. Hay maybe I have a new kind of McCoy 19
that no one knows about?

Hank

LAST EDITED ON Jun-13-06 AT 06:33 PM (CST)
 
Dan,
We've put together and flown a bunch of them up here with .25's to .35's, and all fly great. A .35 is way too much for the ARF version I feel, the model is so light that it's just a waste of an engine and power that will fly a 48" model. I think a .15 would fly it, but without much authority. I'd recommend a Fox .19 as a minimum amount of power personally. The PERFECT combos are the Fox .25 or O.S. 25 LA-S.
See ya at Sig!!!

P.S. An excellent and highly recommended upgrade/mod is Sig Fazer L/G

Dear Dan,
Finish your full body Cardinal and your Mackey Lark.
Let your Expert son fly your Shark, then you won't have to sort out so many airplanes at the contest! Flip and fly. (Wish I could fly a contest.)
Chris...

LAST EDITED ON Jun-14-06 AT 08:24 AM (CST)
 
Dan,

The only way to find out is to try it. The original TF Flite Streak was listed for .19-.35 back when all glow engines were baffle type.

The Brodak FS still lists .19-.35. I do not have the ARF one so I can't address that.

Remember also that now for stunt you can fly up to a .25 on .012 stranded lines with a 15 lb. pull test. I would suggest .012x52' to start since it is a standard size.

As Brett (I think) mentioned, the old baffle .15's probably won't have enough power. A Jr. FS is a good match for them.

Prop wise, I think most modern .15's prefer an 8x4 so they can rev a bit and still move some air. The baffle .19's (or hot diesel .15) may prefer a 9x4.

These, of course, are non-expert opinions. Just some considerations for you to ponder. Good luck.

George

Edit: Just remembered, GMA designed a FS-like plane called the Peacemaker (profile version) which is sized between the FS and the Jr. FS. Originally powered by an Oliver Tiger .15 diesel. I think you would need to build from plans, though.

> Remember also that now for stunt you can fly up to a .25 on
>.012 stranded lines with a 15 lb. pull test. I would suggest
>.012x52' to start since it is a standard size.

Where is that change? I thought most modern 25's outmuscled a Fox 35 so .015 lines (stranded) were the rule.

I fly .15's on .012's but .015's on .20-.40 stunters. My LA 46 powered Tutor II has .018's (and it tugs pretty hard).

It is in the AMA rulebook which the AMA does not want you to have. Remember when every AMA member received a rulebook with the membership card? Now you have to either print it out yourself or buy one from the AMA. So far as I know, nither PAMPA or any of the other competition SIG's have had any comment on this anti-competition move.

>> Remember also that now for stunt you can fly up to a .25 on
>>.012 stranded lines with a 15 lb. pull test. I would suggest
>>.012x52' to start since it is a standard size.
>
>Where is that change? I thought most modern 25's outmuscled
>a Fox 35 so .015 lines (stranded) were the rule.

Unfortunately, no. The rule is .012 stranded, which is probably safe enough if they are in perfect condition, and 15 lbs, which is not.

I think the problem is that there is too wide a range to be covered by the 15-25 category. That means a Fox 15 slantplug and the 25VF are the same in the rules. If you make it ideal for one end, it's completely screwed up for the other end.

>>> Remember also that now for stunt you can fly up to a .25 on
>>>.012 stranded lines with a 15 lb. pull test. I would suggest
>>>.012x52' to start since it is a standard size.
>>
>>Where is that change? I thought most modern 25's outmuscled
>>a Fox 35 so .015 lines (stranded) were the rule.
>
> Unfortunately, no. The rule is .012 stranded, which is
>probably safe enough if they are in perfect condition, and
>15 lbs, which is not.
>
> I think the problem is that there is too wide a range to
>be covered by the 15-25 category. That means a Fox 15
>slantplug and the 25VF are the same in the rules. If you
>make it ideal for one end, it's completely screwed up for
>the other end.
>
> Brett

Not claiming to be current on this, but while John Leidle was doing pull-test duty on my Cheater Streaker at the NW Regionals, I believe he mentioned that the .012 lines were not a problem but that the pull test had been bumped up to around 20 pounds.

Something about a between-cycles ruling, although I would not swear to any of this, let alone there having been an emergency/safety change.

But it was John's responsibility to be current, so I assumed he knew what he was doing, a pretty safe bet in any case.

>>>> Remember also that now for stunt you can fly up to a .25 on
>>>>.012 stranded lines with a 15 lb. pull test. I would suggest
>>>>.012x52' to start since it is a standard size.
>>>
>>>Where is that change? I thought most modern 25's outmuscled
>>>a Fox 35 so .015 lines (stranded) were the rule.
>>
>> Unfortunately, no. The rule is .012 stranded, which is
>>probably safe enough if they are in perfect condition, and
>>15 lbs, which is not.
>>
>> I think the problem is that there is too wide a range to
>>be covered by the 15-25 category. That means a Fox 15
>>slantplug and the 25VF are the same in the rules. If you
>>make it ideal for one end, it's completely screwed up for
>>the other end.
>>
>> Brett
>
>Not claiming to be current on this, but while John Leidle
>was doing pull-test duty on my Cheater Streaker at the NW
>Regionals, I believe he mentioned that the .012 lines were
>not a problem but that the pull test had been bumped up to
>around 20 pounds.
>
>Something about a between-cycles ruling, although I would
>not swear to any of this, let alone there having been an
>emergency/safety change.
>
>But it was John's responsibility to be current, so I assumed
>he knew what he was doing, a pretty safe bet in any case.
>
>Dan

Well this explains it. I had an old bookmark to the AMA Competition Regulations which must have been pointing to an old publication. Upon snooping around the AMA web site, there is this disclaimer:

"Please note: Effective January 1, 2005 the web version of the Competition Regulations is the official version of the regulations."

There is a link to the C/L Aerobatics section and, viola! There it is.

Total Engine Displacement (ci)	Required Line Length (ft)	Min Line Dia (stranded)	Pull Test (ft)
.0000 - .0800	25 - 70	.008	5
.0801 - .2550	25 - 70	.012	15
.2551 - .4028	25 - 70	.015	30
.4029 - .4600	25 - 70	.018	40
.4601 - .7628	25 - 70	.018	45
.7629 - .9153	25 - 70	.018	50

A whole bunch of answers and some do not apply. Rules, what rules? A TEST BED for various .15's. Well, the only way to find out is to assemble the beast, install each engine, try various props and fuels and fly it. Keep a written record of each flight, engine, prop, fuel lines, etc. Then, and only then, will you have data from which to make future decisions. I do highly suggest that you make a small aluminum plate to put under each mounting lug, as that FS has very soft motor mounts. It will not take much to crush them and this can and will give you false data, as at various times you may have the engine pointing in or out. That can be fun!

Hey, Dan!

No one seemed to mention the Fox 15 Schneurle... The BB version particularly has quite a bit of urge. Iron piston in steel sleeve, so 22%-25% oil, mostly castor, of course. 10%-15% nitro. APC 8-4 and plenty RPM. Not much noticeable difference on the Fox muffler or open stack, except CG move with the extra metal on the noisy end.

Sean, while he was out here, and I were flying that setup on a 400 sq in, 22 oz profile I'd built in early 1980s . (I finally got around to busting it, since. An original, still have the plans, may do another. Can include some upates if I do.)

If it works at 5,000' above sea level, it should go better where there's some air in the air...

Hi Guys; Thanks for all the replys. I don't intend to fly competition with this airplane, just use it for testing engines and for a little sport flying. I have all the necessary componants to make it into a "dirt-mobile" and may do that also. I have plans for a Fierce-Arrow 400 that I want to build and it calls for a .15. Not having a lot of practical experience with .15 size stufflately, I thought I would throw the ARF together and see how the various .15's I have in my collection fly that airplane. I haven't checked out the wing areas of each to see how they compare with each other, but just eyeballing them, they look similar. I have the "kit laying around and getting in the way, so if I put it together, I can at least fly it every now and then and use it to test engines. I have already thought of interchangeable metal motor mounts.
The main reason I thought a .15 would fly it is the weight. Like I said, the whole contents of the box, including an OS Max III engine and some of the plastic bags only came to 20 ounces! The wing must be filled with helium!!!!
Hey Chris: Work keeps getting in the way of finishing offf the Cardnial and the Southwick Lark, but I'm working on it slowly but surely. These ARF's help me keep something in the air so I can at least get some fun flights when the oportunity hits. I can take the Flight Streak up to the local park and fly it for giggles and grins and save the Shark and such for contest work.
I'll keep everybody posted on what I find out.
Dan McEntee

> Hi Guys; Thanks for all the replys. I don't intend to fly
>competition with this airplane, just use it for testing
>engines and for a little sport flying. I have all the
>necessary componants to make it into a "dirt-mobile" and may
>do that also. I have plans for a Fierce-Arrow 400 that I
>want to build and it calls for a .15. Not having a lot of
>practical experience with .15 size stufflately, I thought I
>would throw the ARF together and see how the various .15's I
>have in my collection fly that airplane. I haven't checked
>out the wing areas of each to see how they compare with each
>other, but just eyeballing them, they look similar. I have
>the "kit laying around and getting in the way, so if I put
>it together, I can at least fly it every now and then and
>use it to test engines. I have already thought of
>interchangeable metal motor mounts.
> The main reason I thought a .15 would fly it is the
>weight. Like I said, the whole contents of the box,
>including an OS Max III engine and some of the plastic bags
>only came to 20 ounces! The wing must be filled with
>helium!!!!

> I'll keep everybody posted on what I find out.
> Dan McEntee

Hi Dan, I have seen a kit(orig) Flite Streak fly very well with an
MVVS 2.0cc diesel, that's a .12 cu" engine. It flew very well, but
I don't know what line length He used. So you have the option of
using shorter lines if neccessary. I'm flying Diesel .15s in a CLC
Tomahawk,kit(orig) Flight Streak,Veco Tomahawk,and a CLC Super Clown.
all on .015x60' lines. As already suggested, if you use a .15 engine,
it should have ample power to fly the Streak.
tony

Problem is, concerning the .012 lines, that there is a WIDE range of power for a given displacement. An old baffle .15 has nowhere near the power of a modern (?) Fox, OS, MVVS, NORVEL (AME OR Big Mig), PAW, etc., not to mention the powerful specialty (Expensive!) ones. Same for other displacements.

For sport flying, or a profile test-bed plane, .012's should be OK.

For competition, I would guess, and it's only a guess, that with a modern .25 on a PA type plane you would suffer line stretch, forcing you to go up to the .015's for better handling.

Just a thought.

I have a kit built Flite Streak with ST G20-23. I felt beter with it on 015 lines. I think a ST G20-15 diesel would fly my FliteStreak just fine. I haven't tried it because of balance issues (heavy hub on the 23). As to 012 lines one of my Shark 15's got a 30 lb pull test and survived just fine with 012's and one of my wooden 4 in bellcranks.

Hi Dan,
I flew Whitely's Southwick Lark with an ST 46 and really liked it. It flies smooth, like on rails with a real good corner. Just a hint of wingdrop in the last corner of the hourglass or tringles if you go too far. You would really like it too as it flies a lot like your style.
Chris...

A lot depends on what type of flying you want. The kit was originally a 35 combat ship, and for fast combat flying needed a 35, although I believe Fox was the "in" engine at the time.
If you want stunt type flying and lap times, any average 0.15 is adequate. I've had a couple of kit built Flite Streaks with Oliver Tiger 0.15 diesel power, and they were quite adequate. Even flew one like this in the '59 Euro Champs, but that's another story!

Ian,

Tourist info: I remember reading on one of these boards (or perhaps a video) that George Aldrich's original Flite Streak had a longer nose and a Fox Combat Special. The nose was shortened due to vibration (not sure if it was by GMA or Top Flite), which is why there is little room for a tank.

Perhaps someone has more details.