by Chris Kiekens

This be t' crate... Well, blow me down! pretty excitin' really. Ya scallywag! It sat in t' fridge long enough (about 10 minutes after I realized that it be very thin plywood). Blimey! I have been playin' with boosted gliders lately, ya bilge rat, but balsa gliders don't seem to do well with a D engine attached...
I thought t' wood may be a little heavy... Aye aye! but hey, me bucko, ya bilge rat, t' price was right!

T' wings are pretty basic... Arrr! rounded top and bottom, upper win' slightly forward... Avast! It is way faster with t' upper win' forward! A speaker must be used to clamp t' wings while t' glue dries... this is essential t' makin' it loud!

T' tail section is basic too... Avast! I had concerns about t' thrust o' a D engine tearin' off t' stabilizers. Well, blow me down! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! And visions o' it crashin' through me car's windshield...

I cheated some for t' fuselage and used a piece o' aircraft plywood, me hearties, arrr, and a 1/4"X1/4" piece o' balsa. Ahoy! I had concerns about usin' t' short pieces of t' box, glued together, me bucko, so shoot me, I cheated a little...

Same parts... I had another picture, arrr, you can rent this space for advertising if you like... Cheap, me hearties, really, ya bilge rat, really cheap!

A view from t' front, with t' motor tube installed... Aye aye! I used a 1/4" launch lug because it is what be layin' on me desk...

A shot from t' side... Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Notice how far back t' motor tube is t' compensate for t' weight distribution... Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Also notice that t' nose sticks out further than t' motor... Begad! Typically, arrr, shiver me timbers, me bucko, it seems, me bucko, me bucko, t' motor tube hangs off t' end o' the glider, but i found with t' heavy win' assembly it needed t' be move back somewhat.

Just another filler shot...

Consider this a scale shot..see me hand...

First Flight:
It be slightly windy (10MPH); me choices for t' maiden flight were a D12, or an E9. Well, blow me down! I chose a D12, because I wasn't sure what t' flight would bring, me hearties, and the Estes E motor burns for quite some time. Arrr! I also figured that if it could take t' thrust o' a D12, arrr, then it would definately be good t' go on an E9. Ahoy! The OCOD leap off t' pad in a screamin' fiery fury! At around 100 feet, arrr, ya bilge rat, it's flight course went goofy. Yes, that be t' technical term, goofy. Begad! Blimey! T' three people in attendance shifted noticably, shiver me timbers, matey, as 100 feet isn't a great deal o' space between a flyin' orange crate, matey, shiver me timbers, me bucko, and your head... Well, blow me down! Ahoy! T' flight seemed t' stabilize, and t' motor kicked out t' bulkhead... Bein' slightly more nose-heavy than intended caused it t' come in faster than t' design called for, and minor damage ensued. Arrr! It will be easily repaired, shiver me timbers, and checked out on an E... Aye aye!

Second Flight:
T' second flight was on an E9-6, me bucko, with a new bulkhead installed. I used a 6 foot 1/4" rod t' launch from this time, me bucko, in an attempt t' cause it t' fly straighter... Avast! Blimey! I have no idea what t' acheived altitude was..but it be a cool flight!