| The aircraft shown here was fondly referred to as the Coca Cola Biplane. Patterned after Chuck Cunningham's Tequila biplane plans, the model featured warren truss construction throughout. |
| The wings were based on a box spar built from tapered pine caps, internal balsa trusses, and ply and balsa shear web. Truss ribs attached to both the fore and aft faces were tied together with a balsa cap. Ailerons on the lower wing were based on a formed sheet leading edge with a warren truss rib structure. One servo controlled each aileron, and the surfaces featured 100% static mass balancing. Each 6 foot wing weighed in at 16 ounces and included more than 1,700 individual pieces. |
| The fuselage was built using typical warren truss construction from the firewall to the tail. Tail surfaces were laminated curves with trusses filling in the shapes. Flying surfaces were operated via pull-pull cables with 2 servos on elevator and one on rudder. The movable surfaces were 50% static mass balanced. |
| The model was powered by an O.S. BGX 1.09 glow engine turning a 14-6 prop at 15,500 on 15% nitro fuel. A Macs tuned pipe and a Robart pump helped in the power department. A Futaba FPT-7UAP provided control with handy computer mixing and adjustment. Ready to fly weight was 13.75 pounds (including 1.5 pounds of lead, despite a lengthened nose). Performance was awesome, with extreme maneuverability and unlimited vertical capability. The model was flown on both wheels and skis for about five years. |
| The demise of the model occurred when another model approached from below and flew through the right bottom wing panel while the Coca Cola was in the traffic pattern to land. The result of the collision was a spectacular explosion of the highly stressed wing panel. Although nothing remained outside the fuselage on the lower right wing, the model landed under a modicum of control on a direct course to the runway. Approach was at a high rate of descent owing to the very aft CG (later estimated at about 65%). Extensive damage from the high rate of descent precluded weight-conscious repair. The upper wing has been retained as a souvenir of a great model. |
