AIR WAVES

Model Airplane News, Dec 2004

WRITE TO US! We welcome your comments and suggestions. Letters should be addressed to "Airwaves," Model Airplane News, 100 East Ridge, Ridgefield, CT 06877-4606 USA; email man@airage.com. Letters may be edited for clarity and brevity. We regret that, owing to the tremendous numbers of letters we receive, we cannot respond to every one.

ON THE EDGE

I look forward to reading Model Airplane News each month. I generally read it from front to back, but I opened the November issue directly to the review of the giant-scale Edge 540 from Hangar 9. This is the plane I have been waiting to buy, and your review could not have come at a better time! I have a couple of questions, though. It looks like a great plane, but does it really fly as well as the author says it does? What does he mean when he says, "I couldn't get the plane to stall or snap at slow speeds (which is unheard of for a plane of this type)."? Is the author saying that the plane can't do a snap roll? If so, how can it be an aerobatic plane if it doesn't do a snap roll? Any information you can give me will be greatly appreciated. Thanks for a great magazine.

Josh Richling

Apple Valley, CA

Josh, I'm glad to hear that you read our magazine from cover to cover; it's good to know that people enjoy our efforts. I have been flying the Edge 540 since we reviewed it, and I am still extremely happy with its performance and aerobatic capabilities. It is an outstanding value and a great plane to introduce anyone to the world of giant-scale, 3D aerobatics. I can assure you that with the correct stick input, the plane does outstanding snap rolls. My comments about a plane stalling or snapping at slow speeds referred to how the plane handled when I slowed it down to begin the transition from normal flight to high alpha (3D) flight. A good plane (like the Edge 540) will maintain stable flight performance throughout the transition and won't exhibit any stall or snapping characteristics (such as one of its wings dropping). A plane that won't stall or snap out at slow speed gives the pilot a lot more confidence to practice close to the ground. Hangar 9's Edge 540 provides that type of flight stability and confidence. You won't be disappointed! JR

ARDEN'S INSPIRATION

Dave Gierke's "Glow Plugs Exposed" articles (in the August and September 2004 issues) were outstanding, and his "History of the Glow Plug" was of special interest to me. To complete the rest of the story, it should be mentioned that Ray Arden was initially inspired to make small engines by Augustus M. Herring, as documented by model historian Louis H. Hertz in his "The Complete Book of Model Aircraft, Spacecraft and Rockets," published in 1967.

Herring was apparently quite a character, but he deserves credit for encouraging the young Ray Arden!

Bill Hannan

[email]

BITTEN BY THE BIPLANE BUG

Thank you for providing such a wonderful magazine for all of us fliers-great job! I'd like to ask you for some advice about my next plane. I've been bitten by the biplane bug, and I would like to know which bipe you recommend. I want a WW I model-something like a Fokker D.VII or an S.E.Sa, but nothing as difficult to handle as an Ultimate or a Pitts. I also want a plane that's IMAA-legal, so I can enter my model in a big-bird fly-in. I have a well-broken-in Saito .91 to hang on it. I think that a 60- to 68-inch-wingspan would be about right. The Flair D.VII and Fun Aero S.E.Sa seem to be the best candidates so far. I enjoy building, so I would enjoy a kit more than an ARF. Any suggestions would be appreciated; I've been a subscriber for many years and value your reviews and opinions. Thanks, and keep up the good work!

Daniel Edwards

Topeka, KS

Daniel, I have to confess that I, too, am infected with the biplane bug; the only way to treat this ailment is to go out and build a favorite biplane, then another, and another, and .... Anyway-yes, the two kits that you mentioned are good choices, and I think you would be very pleased with either one. Fun Aero has two, 60-inch Albatros kits (a DJI and a D.III) that are also ideal for a .90 engine. Another good choice would be the DynaFlite 1A-scale S.E.5a that can accommodate a .61 to 1.20 engine, so your .90 would be just fine! With a wingspan of 64 inches and a wing area of 1,440 square inches, the 12- to 13-pound S.E.5a would be a great project. So take your pick; there are several good WWI kits out there. Find one that turns your crank, and break out the glue. Good luck! GY