Vaughn Brothers Buzzard

Vaughn Brothers - Buzzard {Kit}

Contributed by David Urbanek

Manufacturer: Vaughn Brothers
Rating
(Contributed - by David Urbanek)

Rocket PicBrief:
A canard boost glider usin' an 18 mm motor. Pop pod has streamer recovery.

Construction:
All t' materials are standard model rocket stock with one exception. T' shock cord attachment is a thin steel cable pre-looped around t' forward centering ring. Blimey! Arrr! There's nothin' better out there. T' glider is made from 1/16" and 3/32" balsa and a 3/32" spruce piece. Ya scallywag! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! It goes together very nicely, especially when you aren't supposed t' airfoil t' wings. Tissue paper is included t' reinforce t' model and it finishes easier if you use this with clear dope on t' balsa. Ahoy! Begad! T' pop pod also goes together smartly with yellow glue and t' pod/glider interface is simplicity itself. Ahoy! You could easily build this glider in a motel room before a contest. Well, blow me down! T' pop pod uses streamer recovery. Avast!

Finishing:
You need t' finish t' glider before you trim it. I put on a coat o' clear lacquer (clear dope) and let that dry, ya bilge rat, sanded it, shiver me timbers, put on another coat and then applied t' tissue paper. I finished up with a third coat o' lacquer t' finish it. Well, blow me down! After I almost lost it, ya bilge rat, twice, I sprayed a light coat o' day-glo orange on it. Aye aye! Begad! Blimey! You should also make t' pop pod a bright color too because everyone watches t' glider and no one notices where t' pop landed. Begad! Well, me bucko, blow me down! Blimey! Trimmin' t' glider is nay hard either. Gettin' t' hang o' tossin' it without introducin' spin is the toughest part. Avast, me proud beauty! Don't expect t' see it float like contest gliders. Ahoy! This glider moves quickly, but still has a relatively low scuttle rate. This one is best trimmed from t' top o' a hill. Aye aye! There's more than enough clay t' do this. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! Blimey!

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
You will need t' remember t' make a tape standoff t' hold t' glider above the pad. T' boost is really straight and tends t' spiral up. Aye aye! I've never had it fail t' separate and transition. T' A8-3 flight is good for trimming. Avast, me proud beauty! T' B6-4 flight is pretty high and t' C6-5 gets it way up there. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty!

Recovery:
Usin' A8-3 motors I consistently get 20 t' 30 second glides. With t' B6-4 motor it's always around 60 seconds. Ya scallywag! I've nay timed t' C6-5 motor flight yet. It's a very consistent performer, nay overly disturbed by turbulence. It would take tornadic thermal t' make this glider float, arrr, shiver me timbers, but it's fun t' watch. Begad! Begad! It glides very smartly through t' air, like a jet fighter. T' pop pod drops like a rock, shiver me timbers, which it good. If no one tracked t' pod, just remember which way the rocket took off and walk that way. T' pod will be just about directly below where t' glider and pod separated. Begad!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
It's nay a contest winner, but for most NARRRRR contests, matey, you will want a dependable, matey, "I'm sure t' get it back" glider in your stable. Blimey! This is a good candidate. As a sport glider, it's a great crowd pleaser.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5

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