Aero Engineering

R/C Aircraft

Conair Number 22

This full scale Douglas A-26 B (Conair No. 22) was used by Conair for aerial fire suppression.
It currently resides at the British Columbia Aviation Museum in Sidney, British Columbia. A-26s like this (another view of Conair No. 22) are still used by Conair and Airspray in active fire-fighting roles. Douglas Invaders, while originally designated "A-26", were re-designated "B-26" after World War II. This change can cause confusion with another aircraft known as a B-26, the Martin Marauder.

The Douglas A-26B and A-26C airplanes are twin-engine, mid-wing, land monoplanes with tricycle type landing gear. Power for these airplanes is furnished by two Pratt and Whitney Double Wasp R-2800 dash 21, dash 27, dash 71, or dash 79, 18 cylinder double-row air-cooled radial engines. Each engine is equipped with a single-stage two speed blower and an injection type carburetor with an automatic mixture control. The engines are fitted with Hamilton Standard constant-speed propellers.

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The R/C Model Project
Douglas A-26 Invader

The current R/C project is the design and construction of a 23% scale A-26 B "Invader". Since the prototype has a wingspan of 70 feet, the model wing will span 16.1 feet. The landing gear for this aircraft is nearing completion. It is being manufactured to replicate the prototype gear in my home machine shop using appropriate materials obtained from Boeing Surplus and other sources. The retractable landing gear is operated via air cylinders and features air operated drum brakes. The main gear McCreary tires are 10 x 3.50-4 aircraft tailwheel tires that are 9-3/4" diameter. The nose gear uses a McCreary 2.80/2.50-4 tire of 8-3/4" diameter. The nine-spoke, two-piece aluminum wheels are machined from 6061 T-6 aluminum stock.

The nose landing gear is constructed in modular form with an integrated mounting for attachment to the airframe. The torque links (scissors) extend forward on the nose gear.

The nose gear is steered by a servo linked to the radio receiver rudder channel. During the retract cycle the nose wheel is mechanically rotated 90° to a horizontal attitude for clearance within the fuselage.

Other R/C Model Aircraft

Some other R/C aircraft models include two built my son, Glen; the Coca Cola biplane and the 7 Up. Two large models I built are the Big Stik, and two versions of the T-170.


Academy of Model Aeronautics	Alaska Radio Control Society	British Columbia Aviation Museum
Member - 66377	Past Member	Member

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