Welcome! This site
was created to chronicle my lifelong model aviation hobby, and to provide some valuable resources for visitors.
- Kirt Blattenberger
AMA 92498

My Models:
Airplanes, Boats,
Helicopters, Rockets		Airplanes and Rockets
1/2A SkylaneAquila SpiritAstronomyBlade CPBuilding TipsClocksComics
DistributorsElectronicsEngines | MotorsEstesF4U-1 CorsairFlying ClubsForums
Hobby ShopMagazinesManufacturerOld PhotosOrganizationsPeanutsPlans Lists
RadianRadiosSaturn V | 1BShark 15SimulatorsSopwith CamelSparky
SpiritTaylorcraftTrainsVideosVintage AdsVintage RCWoodworking
Vintage Articles: Air Trails / American Modeler / American Aircraft Modeler / Popular Electronics
Modeling in Erie, PA
 
Airplanes & Rockets
Modeling Forums
©1996-2012
Kirt Blattenberger with E-flight Taylorcraft on Snow Skis - Airplanes and Rockets
Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) | Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) | Int'l RC Helicopter Association (IRCHA)
League of Silent Flight (LSF) | National Association of Rocketry (NAR) | National Free Flight Society (NFFS) | Society of Antique Modelers (SAM)

AAR-X1 C/L Electric Stunt Airplane

Supermodel Melanie holding my AAR-X1 electric control line stunt airplaneI have designed, built, and have begun test flying an electric-powered control line stunt model that I dubbed the "AAR-X1," which stands for Airplanes and Rockets Experimental #1. It uses an E-flite 380 brushless motor with and 8x6 propeller and a 3-cell, 1,300-mAh LiPo battery. a 30-amp E-flite ESC is used along with a Z TRON model CLT3 controller / timer (a really nice product). The wingspan is 32". It is covered in MonoKote. Ready-to-fly weight is 14.7 ounces.

The photos below show the construction details. No landing gear is used in order to save weight and keep down drag. That means of course that a launch assistant is required. I might eventually add landing gear so that they launch stooge can be used.

Airplanes and Rockets - AAR-X1 Electric Control Line Airplane, framework top view
Framework top view

Airplanes and Rockets - AAR-X1 Electric Control Line Airplane, Framework, rear quarter view

Airplanes and Rockets - AAR-X1 Electric Control Line Airplane, framework bottom view
Framework bottom view

Airplanes and Rockets - AAR-X1 Electric Control Line Airplane, bellcrank installation
Bellcrank installation

Airplanes and Rockets - AAR-X1 Electric Control Line Airplane, firewall
Firewall, battery platform to the left (right wing), ESC housing to the right (left wing)


A platform for the LiPo battery is built into the right wing top (held to the fuselage side with rubber bands), and a box for housing the electronic speed control (ESC) is built on top of the left wing panel. There is a ventilation hole in the back of the ESC housing to assure adequate cooling. The electronic timer/sequencer is also mounted with the ESC.

Airplanes and Rockets - AAR-X1 battery side view
AAR-X1 battery side view

Airplanes and Rockets - AAR-X1 ESC side view
AAR-X1 battery side view
The first few flights showed that the AAR-X1 needs a little more right thrust and a little more right rudder in order to keep the lines tighter. The power is plenty sufficient to vertical flight.

As soon as the weather is good, I'll be taking it out for another couple test flights and hope to get some video.



Stay tuned...

Here is a video I made of covering compound curves with MonoKote that happens to feature the AAR-X1.