RC Motorized Flight: Canard SC

Why do all airplanes look the same these days?

Back in the early days of aviation, every “wannabe pilot” tried to design and fly their own airplane based on their own ideas. From peacock feathers to wooden planks, bouncing machines, and ejector seats—or simply, airplanes that looked different from the rest.

The first manned flight lasting several seconds was carried out using a duck-wing biplane built by the Wright brothers. Charles Lindbergh crossed the Atlantic for the first time in 1927 aboard the “Spirit of St. Louis.” Today’s airplanes have not changed as drastically in form from the design seen with the “Spirit of St. Louis.” Perhaps due to its enormous success, aircraft were developed further based on a single, rigid design right up to the very end.

Fortunately, you still come across something unconventional every now and then at air shows—for example, the super-fast “Vari-Eze,” ultralights, delta wings, and others. There are no limits to aviation!!!

While building a Vari-Eze—a project during which I learned a great deal from the "Duck"—I found myself wondering why this airplane had such

It achieves such high top speeds despite its low engine power. It became clear to me right away. The "Duck" definitely has better aerodynamics than those of conventional designs.

• For structural reasons, the fuselage can be designed to be shorter.
• The wings can be designed with a smaller wing area, and the airfoils can be tailored to the specific application (similar to a jet).
• Drag coefficients can be kept to a minimum (induced + interference).

I took advantage of these important—yet significant—points and designed my own “Duck” based on the following criteria:

• Engine: 3.5–10 cm^³—ideal for a 4-stroke engine!

• High speed –
  good slow-flight characteristics –
  suitable for aerobatics –
  Transport: fits in a car trunk –
  Landing gear integrated into the wing tips. My
  prototype (Speed Canard) flew right away
  with a 3.5-cm³ engine. It reaches speeds
  comparable to those of conventional and
  10-cm³ engines.
  Its low-speed flight behavior is incredible
  . A “stall” is simply
  impossible, even with abrupt
  control inputs.
  The subtlety of the aerodynamics is evident
  throughout the entire flight. The “Speed Canard” responds
  superbly
  to even the slightest movements of the control stick and
  can be flown in the smallest of spaces. Its appearance takes some
  getting used to.
  It is therefore essential to
  “never” take your eyes off the aircraft! Takeoffs
  and landings are extremely simple
  , even under extreme conditions. In ground effect
  , the SC can be run down almost to a standstill
  . After
  an entire afternoon of flying
  , not a single drop of oil was visible on the aircraft
  , thanks to the tail-mounted engine, which runs on synthetic
  fuel.
  So, a real joy, whether you’re a beginner or a pro
  ! I’m currently working full steam ahead on further
  developing the “Speed Canard”
  !
  The new model (SCZ) will feature even more refined aerodynamics
  , including air brakes.
  The SCZ will have
  a 10-cm³ 4-stroke engine, and the nose landing gear will be
  retractable. In my
  opinion, airplanes have been “built
  backwards” for over
  half a century!
  1:1 construction plans are available from the designer,
  as well as wing and fuselage parts.

Valentino Fry, 8633 Wolfhausen