RSM's Fierce Arrow

I just received my Fierce Arrow 875 "short kit" from RSM yesterday. This is a kit of the laser cut parts and the builder supplies hardware, sheeting, etc. Even though it was a special order item not listed on the RSM web page I received it in just a few days of placing the order. Really fast response! This is not the classic era version. But, rather an up dated version. There are a few minor changes: The fuselage is changed a bit, the nose is a little shorter, and the elevator does not have the dynamic balance area ahead of the hinge line. The leadout exit is at the furtherest forward possible corner of the wing tip. The plans show aluminum "conventional" landing gear although this material is not included in the kit. The supplied materials are the the usual RSM high quality. Plywood is REAL birch plywood, not the cheesey "lite-ply" stuff, Balsa is top quality - very nice. There are tabs on the ribs so the wing can be built straight on a flat surface. A nice touch since the wing does not readilly lend itself to wing jigs (at least not any jig in my possession) due to the high taper ratio and construction style. I also had the pleasure of talking directly with Mr. Netzband about this version of his Fierce arrow. At first 875 sq. in. seemed like a lot for a 40 powered plane. But when you consider that it really is not too far from the combined area of the wing and stab of a more traditional 40 size stunter it seems pretty reasonable. This should be a fun airplane! Now if I just don't get washed away by Rita...

Just give Eric a call and you can have one on the way to your door.

Hi Ron,

That's pretty quick delivery! Didn't we talk about that kit just the week before? I spoke with "Wild Bill", too, and he said a good Fox .35 is plenty of engine. I have a couple of really good Foxes, but that seems like a HUGE plane for such a little old engine.

What did you do for Rita? We're still up here in NW Arkansas, and League City says, "Just stay there, for now. Don't come home 'til Wednesday".

See you soon,

Ralph, my daughter and her family live in Houston, just inside Beltway 8 between Westheimer and Briar Forest. They left here (Burleson County near Snook) about 6AM today, and they were home at 7:45. They have electricity and all the services. Of course, you're down toward Galveston, and that's probably a whole 'nuther story. FYI......Glen

>Ralph, my daughter and her family live in Houston, just
>inside Beltway 8 between Westheimer and Briar Forest. They
>left here (Burleson County near Snook) about 6AM today, and
>they were home at 7:45. They have electricity and all the
>services. Of course, you're down toward Galveston, and
>that's probably a whole 'nuther story. FYI......Glen

Hi Glen,
It was a 12-hour drive home from NW Arkansas - usually takes 10½, so not too bad. It only got terrible around Willis, where there was some construction and for some !@#$% reason TXDOT blocked off the frontage roads in the same area! Fortunately, few folks were interested in the Hardy Toll Road, so it was 80 mph from just south of Conroe.

I guess if we'd known that Rita was going to turn right and soften to a 3, we'd have ridden it out; but after she went from a 2 to a 4 Tuesday night, we just tucked tail and ran. Been hearing war stories since we got back; 19 hours to San Antonio (usually 3); 29 hours to Dallas (usually 4). Y-e-c-c-h!

Ralph, glad you and yours got back safely to an intact home. My brother-in-law and his family live in Channelview, and they didn't have any damage, so it looks like Houston and environs dodged the bullet. Hope to see you at Scobee sometime so we can meet and swap lies......Glen;)