Airplanes and Rockets' history & copyright Google search American Modeler Air Trails American Aircraft Modeler Young Men Hobbies Aviation Flying Aces Saturday Evening Post Boys' Life Hobby Distributors Amateur Astronomy Engines & Motors Balsa Densities Silkspan Covering Comics Electronics My Models Model Aircraft Articles Plans Model Boat Articles Plans Model Car Articles Plans Model Train Articles Plans 1941 Crosley 03CB Radio Model helicopter articles & plans Crosswords Model Rocket Articles Plans Restoration Projects Photos Peanuts Collection Model Aircraft Articles Plans Sitemap Homepage Hints and Kinks Amateur Radio Archives of the homepage R/C Modeler Electronics About Airpleans and Rockest, Disclaimer, Terms of Use Model Topics Please Donate to Airplanes and Rockets Parole Plaza, Annapolis, Maryland Hobby Items for Sale Airplanes and Rockets Hero Graphic
Cafe Press



RF Cascade Workbook 2018 by RF Cafe
Advertise your products and services on RF Cafe

Plans-Built, e-Powered Carl Goldberg Junior (Jr.) Falcon

Kirt and Supermodel Melanie with Carl Goldberg Jr. Falcon - Airplanes and Rockets 

Kirt and Melanie with Carl Goldberg Jr. Falcon. 480 electric power, 4 channels.

As published in the July/August 1963 issue of American Modeler magazine, Carl Goldberg Models released a ½A-powered version of their highly popular Falcon model airplane - the Junior Falcon (aka Jr. Falcon). Having always been a fan of Goldberg models, I decided to build a Jr. Falcon from plans. I was originally going to use a Cox .049 engine for power, but ultimately decided to go with electric power since glow fuel has gotten very expensive. The resultant 4-channel Jr. Falcon has a 480 brushless motor, ESC, and a 3-cell, 380 mAh Li-Po battery pack.

The photo to the left shows the Jr. Falcon at the end of is maiden flight. I flew very well, but was also very fast due to the relatively high wing loading. Its 37" wingspan and 6-3/4" chord for a 250 in2 wing area. The specified flying weight with a single-channel escapement R/C system is 16 oz., which resulting in a wing loading of 9.2 oz./ft2, which is quite reasonable.

My Jr. Falcon, with the 480 motor, esc, receiver, and three servos came out at 20.0 oz., for a wing loading of 11.5 oz./ft2. The semi-symmetrical airfoil adds to the flying speed, as compared to the 1/2A Skylane, with its flat bottom airfoil.

No being particularly happy with the flight flight speed, I decided to do a weight reduction and wing area increase in order to get the wing loading down. The ailerons were not very effective, so I removed the servo and hardware and glued the ailerons to the trailing edge. 4 inches was added to the wingtips, for a total wingspan of 45", which increases the wing area to 303 in2, a 21% gain. With a flying weight of just 20 oz., that works out to a final wing loading of a mere 9.5 oz./ft2. That's still a bit higher than the spec loading, but it results in a much more docile airplane. It was definitely worth the effort. By comparison, my 85% Airtronics Aquila sailplane has a wing loading of 6.2 oz/ft2. It's a real floater, as you might expect.

 Carl Goldberg Jr. Falcon wing ribs - Airplanes and Rockets

Carl Goldberg Jr. Falcon wing ribs.

Carl Goldberg Jr. Falcon w/wingspan stretched to 45", no ailerons - Airplanes and Rockets 

Carl Goldberg Jr. Falcon w/wingspan stretched to 45", no ailerons.  

 

 

Carl Goldberg Jr. Falcon built and ready for covering - Airplanes and Rockets 

Carl Goldberg Jr. Falcon built and ready for covering. 

 - Airplanes and Rockets 

Carl Goldberg Jr. Falcon 480 motor installation.

Carl Goldberg Jr. Falcon w/original 37" wingspan - Airplanes and Rockets 

Carl Goldberg Jr. Falcon w/original 37" wingspan.

Carl Goldberg Jr. Falcon w/wingspan stretched to 45" - Airplanes and Rockets 

Carl Goldberg Jr. Falcon w/wingspan stretched to 45". 

 

 

Posted July 1, 2024

RF Electronics Shapes, Stencils for Office, Visio by RF Cafe
Model Aircraft Museum, AMA - Airplanes and Rockets



Academy of Model Aeronautics Government Advocacy Coalition - Airplanes and Rockets

Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) - Airplanes and Rockets

Academy of Model Aeronautics

Tower Hobbies logo - Airplanes and Rockets

Tower Hobbies

Horizon Hobby logo - Airplanes and Rockets

Horizon Hobby

Sig Manufacturing - Airplanes and Rockets

Sig Mfg

Brodak Manufacturing - Airplanes and Rockets

Brodak Mfg