Aeroic Firebird 60inch Moulded Glider

 

 

Firebird: The next generation high performance 60” Slope racing model from successful Aeroic designer, Dr. James Hammond.

 

 

Philosophy:

Continuing technical development of previous designs which have gained him a worldwide following, Dr. James Hammond is very pleased to announce the latest entry into the 60-class slope racing sailplane market; the Firebird 60”.

 

James designed as a modern, sleeker, and higher performing replacement for his first 60 design, the ever-popular Sunbird; one of the best selling all–moulded 60” models ever. Refined in every way, the Firebird incorporates all of the great things about the original design – and a lot more.

 

Test flying the Firebird has surprised us.

 

With a single piece wing incorporating completely new and radical wing planform, new aerofoils, new, sleeker and stronger fuselage and the game-changing sine wave spar, the new “Doc J” weapon is extremely quick, yet has all of its older Sunbird brother’s great flying characteristics.

 

Now here’s how:

 

Overall design:

 

Firebird has a highly optimized wing planform and completely new and improved wind tunnel tested aerofoils. Slimmed down from previous designs as servo technology has improved and become more widely available, the layout has enough room to allow plenty of ballast in the Fuselage, while the operating servos can be situated in the front radio bay or in the fin. A smile magnetically attached canopy and a fin hatch makes it all accessible.

 

Aerofoils: 

 

The sections used are the most recent highly smoothed developments from James’s highly successful original aerofoil designs: These are really fast sections.

 

Wing: 

 

Completely different from the previous design, and made possible by the revolutionary Sine Wave Spar that is now a feature of all Aeroic planes, the highly optimized wing planform has undergone a series of changes throughout the development and testing of the model resulting in the somewhat “radical” swept elliptical shape that we now see.

 

The descending thickness, optimally cambered sections will let you go from really slow landing speeds with the flaps down to heart stopping passes with a little reflex. Large ailerons, large flaps and the new wing plan form each add to the overall performance of the airframe.

 

Like all Aeroic planes, the “standard” wing is carbon type.

Horns are factory fitted with well thought out geometry to allow flush servo installation using 100mm flap and 8mm aileron servos. Using conventional linkages, you can get a clean, practical and most importantly serviceable wing installation optimized to use full servo travel to give high torque and low slop.

 

 

 

Aeroic Sine Wave Spar:

 

Used in several military aircraft, which is actually Doc J’s designer background, the Sine Wave Spar has been adapted for the first time to make up the heart of a model sailplane wing, is a revolution with its low weight, and ultra high strength. Unlike a conventional spar the Sine Wave Spar adds terrific torsional strength and yet actually weighs considerably less than the older non-optimized “Box” type spars.

Now used in all Aeroic airframes, the Sine Wave Spar is lighter and far stronger than “conventional” spars and raises the level another couple of notches.

 

 

 

Fuselage: 

 

The practical but curvaceous fuse is strong, light, and stiff with Carbon/Kevlar reinforcement and gives far more strength to the boom than most 60” models. Electronics area is 2.4 GHz friendly with access to the radio and ballast through a slip-on nose cone. The long nose area accentuates the rakish lines but also provides plenty of space to easily balance the model without resorting to shoehorning lead in every available crevice. 

Snakes and/or rear mounted direct servos can be used for Rudder/Elevator control. These are all positioned to take the ‘head scratching’ out of installing the radio gear.

Wing stub fairings with location dowel holes finish the fuselage with “green” Multiplex type connectors to connect the electronics pre routed.

 

Tailplane: 

 

Here the aerofoils were specifically designed for Aeroic sailplanes and this time for maximum control response with minimum deflection. At 10%, the tail airframe section is thicker than is the norm but the infinitesimal increase in drag is easily offset by the increased control response for less deflection. 

To further increase the efficiency, pitch control is accomplished by using an elevator. No wobbly all moving tail and the elevator is driven by either an optional ball raced bell crank from a servo in the fuse, or where ultimate control is required, a servo can be placed in a hatch through the fin to give solid elevator control. The tails remain removable for convenient transport or storage.

 

 

Production: 

 

The Firebird 2M has been designed with far greater capability potential than any average sports model, and this, coupled with the fact that like all Aeroic sailplanes the pre-production models underwent thorough testing, not only in flying performance, but also in making the installation straightforward and practical, leads to an airframe that is a snip to fit out, and flies like the true thoroughbred it is.

 

 

Colour schemes, photos and model versions:

 

From November 2019 all Aeroic models will be available in sports or WMD layups.

From mid 2020 all models will have an electric fuselage option available.

For colour schemes and colour available plus photos please contact me.

 

 

Technical specs:

 

Span:                                                                          60” (1.5M)

Length:                                                                       38.0” (965mm)

Wing area:                                                                 348.75 Sq” (22.5dm/2)

Wing aerofoils:                                                         JH3680, JH3675, JH3670

Tailplane aerofoils:                                                  JH10SYM

Ballast                                                                        3/4” (20mm) round slugs

 

Controls: 

Ailerons, Flaps, Elevator, Rudder