K-12 STEM Links

April 25, 2020April 25, 2020 / Spencer Gould

Some good news with our current world, A middle school teacher contacted me letting me know the value that she & her students are getting out of the web site while studying from home. She let me know about an interesting WWII Car, Airplane and Tank article on:

https://www.titlemax.com/articles/cars-tanks-airplanes-of-wwii/

There are 3 main very high value community based organizations (CBO) I recommend for any K-12 STEM program. These 3 are also where I got my start in middle school in the early 90’s

EAA Experimental Aircraft Association

Young Eagles:

https://www.eaa.org/eaa/youth/free-ye-flights

Find a Local Chapters:

https://www.eaa.org/eaa/eaa-chapters/find-an-eaa-chapter

The 3 largest airshows in the US are (in normal times):

Airventure in Oshkosh Wisconsin put on by the EAA (July / August)

https://www.eaa.org/airventure

Sun-N-Fun in Lake Land Florida (March / April)

https://flysnf.org/

Copper State in Buckeye Arizona (usually early in the year)

https://www.copperstate.org/

AMA Academy of Model Aeronautics

very accessible and low cost, a good foundation to learn about aviation & turn it into a life long passion.

https://www.modelaircraft.org/

http://amaflightschool.org/programs

Flite Test is another CBO that has strong low cost / easy access RC aircraft & Multi Rotors.

https://www.flitetest.com/

Model Rockets:

Tripoli Rocketry Association, Inc. the main organization that puts together model rocket launches, works with FAA & local government to make sure everything is good to go. They focus on high power rockets but they also have the smaller ones at the launches as well. http://www.tripoli.org/

Estes Rockets a supplier of A-E impulse model rockets https://estesrockets.com/

Hope this helps with your schools programs, feel free to share with other educators.

Spencer Gould

Aerospace Engineer.

Pitts Model 12 – Aircraft of the month

April 5, 2020April 5, 2020 / Spencer Gould

The Pitts Model 12 is the #1 aircraft I think of when it comes to Sun-N-Fun. Because the event canceled for now due to COVID-19 I won’t get to see it. Likely the reason it comes to mind is they always have one displayed on a corner in one of the highest traffic areas of the aircraft company display area.

Curtis Pitts design /built the aircraft between 1993 – 1995 and completed it on his 80th birthday. Curtis is well known for a series of acrobatic biplanes that set the standard for IAC contest. The model 12 is the largest of the Pitts series and uses the legendary M14P Radial Engine.

The model 12 can be built from a Kit or Plans. 92nd West Aviation Inc is the contact.

Aircraft Spruce also sells components and supports the model 12

I got a good amount of experience on Pitts biplanes when I was the Composites & Aerodynamics engineer for Team Jamaica Mistaka, Race 68 owned & piloted by Jason Newburg (inverted.us now viperairshows.com) in 2006. This highly modified Pitts took home gold @ Reno the same year for that category. I’ve always been impressed with the simplicity & structural efficiency of this design.

There are quite a few YouTube videos on the model 12, here are a few I found interesting.

For the R/C crowd I could find no real scratch built plan options. However Outerzone does have options for other Pitts bipe models.

Amazon does carry a 1070 mm (42.1″) wing span pre-built electric RC model 12 made by DYNAM.

The design team at Dynam has captured this wonderful biplane and stretched the fuselage to improve on pitch damping. It optimizes flight performance without losing the classic lines of this incredible aircraft. The span is a compact yet respectable 1067mm and with the clever use of; EPO foam, carbon and phenolic composites, the resulting aircraft is incredibly lightweight and rigid.

A 4S Li-Po is the battery of choice and paired to this is the perfect balance of oversized brushless motor and ESC giving a potent punch of pace and performance that we haven’t seen in a model of this size.

Featuring a fabulous showroom finish using quality paint and decals this bold scale scheme and contrasting colors will stand out in flight and take center stage on the deck. The aircraft devours snaps, gyroscopic tumbles, flat spins, prop hang climb outs and gives ample grace and poise in slow, point and ratchet rolls that will have all levels of pilots grinning from ear to ear.

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Airborne immune system supplement – Product of the Month

March 26, 2020March 26, 2020 / Spencer Gould

Since the whole world is on the COVID-19 band wagon thought I could bring up my go to for when ever I get a cold or flu.

Airborne supplements have helped me get over it faster then any other over the counter product I’ve found. While everyone is hording up on TP, Mask and Gloves I’m surprised Airborne and other immune boosters are not flying off the shelf’s.

Per the talking heads on TV Most people who fall ill to this new strain will not need hospitalization and for those people I would do what ever you can to kick up your immune system.

I usually get the drink dis solvable tables or powered version like this:

The chew able tables is another convenient way to go.

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And for the aviation connection:

One of my main Aviation role models Howard Hughes was a big proponent of Vitamin C (the main active ingredient in Airbourne) to cure illness.

And in closing:

Anderson Kingfisher – Aircraft of the Month

March 15, 2020March 19, 2020 / Spencer Gould

For those interested in a cabin class 2 seat home built amphibian the Anderson Kingfisher “EA-1” is worth checking out. The over all configuration is similar to Grumman sea planes from the 40’s (G-44, G-21, HU-16).

I’ve seen them at Oshkosh & Sun-N-Fun before and they look like a real solid design. This one looks like its the one from Sun-N-Fun behind the 4 expo buildings and next to the large pond. (credit to Adrian Share from Air-Britain).

The first flight was in April 1969 and a few hundred kits have been sold.

To help expedite the build, the kingfisher uses Piper cub wings.

Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anderson_Kingfisher

EAA: https://www.eaa.org/eaa/aircraft-building/kits-and-plans/h—l/kingfisher

The aircraft has a popular Face Book following: https://www.facebook.com/andersonkingfisher/

Kits / Plans:

Warner Aviation, Inc.
Thunderhill Aerodrome
Rt. 4, Box 401
Covington, LA 70433

Wing kits (J-3 Cub type) are available:
Carlson Aircraft
60642 S.R. 14
PO Box 88
East Palestine, OH 44413

For those wanting to learn more about American sea planes this book may be worth checking out:

It’s available in Paperback & Kindle.

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One of my favorite self designed RC aircraft had some kingfisher influence is this plane called the barracuda (built in 2003). It has over a 7′ WS and is powered by a Tower Hobbies .61 2 cycle engine. Uses 6 TS-53 Futaba style servos and is fully covered in Monokote with a conventional truss frame / 1/32″ ply fuselage & foam / balsa wings / tail. It’s a great flyer but an even better display model.

The Kingfisher is a popular RC Aircraft as well, owing the same simple configuration as the full size original, here are some RC options:

108″ Wing span RCM plan from 1990 by Dennis Tapsfield

https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=6038

72″ Span from Champion Models, 1983

https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=11867

Sphinx Moth natures inspiration for flight

February 13, 2020February 13, 2020 / Spencer Gould

Fueling up at a gas station today next to the car was one of my favorite insects, a Sphinx Moth, also known as a hawk moth

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphingidae

https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Eumorpha-fasciatus

It’s black and sand gold color pattern is quite striking and the delta planform while resting reminds me of some delta wing RC aircraft I’ve designed in college (green) and when I worked for piper (blue)

of course in flight the Sphinx is no different than any other Moth or butterfly 🦋 with a tandem / low sweep planform

PC Parts Picker – web site share

February 12, 2020 / Spencer Gould

Watching a recent Le Drib video on YouTube I learned about an excellent online resource for anyone looking to build a new PC.

https://pcpartpicker.com/

Here is the video where I learned about it.

Grip Lock Ties – Product of the month

February 4, 2020February 4, 2020 / Spencer Gould

This Months product of the month is called Grip Lock Ties.

I learned about it by watching Mike Patey’s Scrappy update video (see below) This is one of his companies products and is a perfect solution for both Home Built aircraft and UAV’s / RC / Drones.

Typical zip ties while cheaper can slide and or cut wiring and soft tubing. The unique feature with these is the rubber lined grip that keeps the tie in place and cushions what it is gripping. They are also removable unlike traditional zip ties that have a one way only function.

See more about these on Mikes latest video.

https://www.griplockties.com/

Perfect for:

Electrical wiring
In powerplant cable management
3 phase wiring & power distribution on Drones / UAV’s
Pitot Static Systems / Break lines

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