Topic: I just caught this big Fox in the back garden!

First I had a foamy Windrider Fox...

Then I got a Gerasis 2m Fox and still have it...

Then this turned up in the back garden..











It's 5.4m and 15Kg of Carbon/Kevlar/Glass loveliness from the defunct Purbeck Sailplanes  but I'm already terrified about flying it and might have to draft in a professional!  In the words of the designer and builder - "it's very fast and eats up a lot of sky"  Gulp.  Plus, it doesn't really want to land apparently...

It's got the ailerons split so that you can use them for crow braking in addition to pop up airbrakes AND a mechanical brake on the wheel - you'd think it would stop wouldn't you?!

I haven't actually got enough channels for all the servos in it (11) so I may have to link some (the split elevators and perhaps the pop up airbrakes and wheel brake perhaps?

It is truly amazing and doesn't feel like a model - the wings etc are so solid with no "give" in them at all etc

One or two physical things to do to it before a dare fly and one annoying cosmetic thing (cracked canopy) but overall it was much much better than I dared hoped when I went down to Dorset to pick it up.

Now, need to go and repair the Learjet!

Simon

Was that the one on flea bay Simon ..........looks lovely

when you said the pics didnt really show the scale of it, that last picture needs to be imagined as a video capture out of King Kong!
Well done Si, she looks amazing. I know she will grace the skies elegantly. three things..........

1. If im not there for the Maiden, i will set fire to your house
2. If Wobs there..... dont fly it!  
3. Ban any media devices for the intial event!

I cant wait!!

looks like any doubts have been overcome....just as well as it looks superb Simon

Si, simply awesome !   

Now after seeing Gregs Salto go at the wrecker on Sunday (WOW !), that has to be the place to fly a ship such as this.

Now go and put a decent battery pack and a Futaba 6008HS in it.

Jon

How on earth do you intend to launch it? Aero tow / slope ?

One of the guys here had a big one but smaller than your Fox, and used a catapult. A bit fraught but successful.

Perhaps you need to drop it nose first at 45 degrees off a mountain? Wow, you could charge entry fees for it's maiden....?

Fly it?  Fly it?  Are you mad?  It's purely a garage ornament...

Seriously it has so much wing area and "only" weighs 15Kg that a strong bloke (step forward John) with another steadying the wing means launch is supposedly OK.

Good idea about charging a fee on the maiden though!  I'm not sure I can guarantee to make it as spectacular as the Lear, but who knows?...

Si

Was that the one on flea bay Simon ..........looks lovely

Yes it was Andy.  I withdrew my bid at first when the owner cracked the canopy moving it for photos, but then decided I had to have it anyway.  Anyone good at repairing or making canopies?

The designer was in very close contact with the manufacturers of the full size Fox - they even brought one over for him!  Just for giggles, here is one of the full size tip extensions



It looks much nicer with the short red tips IMHO (I have those too) but then it's only 4.7m!

Si

Here you go - just to prove it can be hand launched - and he's an old geezer too!



On the other hand, I suppose he could have been ducking rather than launching....

nice   

Fantastic buy!  Congratulations! 

I'm just busy finishing a 3.5 m Reichard Fox right now (stickers, etc.).  Interestingly, the fuse of mine doesnt seem all that much smaller than yours ?  That makes me think that the wing on yours must be an extended version - possibly for more thermally type of work (I suppose like those full-sized tips?).  Do you have alternative (short) tips for the wings?

very nice 

good thing you've got such a big garden 

Phil.

Yes I have the standard tips and frankly it looks much nicer with them  - this is mine with the standard tips on



Any pictures of your Reichard Fox?...

Aah, that does look much better!  What is the wingspan with the shorter tips?

I must take some pics of my Fox..

You are completely mad Simon ! Well done - any ideas where to maiden it ?

Did the seller tell you what it's optimum wind speed range was ?

Thats one Wicked glider..

re the professional pilot - I'm sure Rocket Ronnie would fit into that cockpit, with a bit of padding to stop him rattling around too much of course..

Not quite decided which is biggest - the model in the pics or the grin on your face 

Best of luck with it anyway...

Tim

Interesting.  I think I was there the day the picture was taken at the Mynd.  Is that Terry White launching?

The Fox will love good lift at the slope.  The tips will extend the conditions that it will fly in, but it will be more difficult to launch in light lift - probably better for aerotow with the extensions.

I know how you feel about Foxes Simon.  I have the same passion for Swifts.

May it bring you much joy. 

I haven't actually got enough channels for all the servos in it (11) so I may have to link some (the split elevators and perhaps the pop up airbrakes and wheel brake perhaps?

Simon

Are you aware of the electronic channel expanders out there, like the JR Matchbox, Futaba SR10, and (the cheapest) the EMCOTEC DPSI V-Match?

That looks great Simon. We get the full-size Fox flying over our garden several times a year from RAF Bicester. It's always worth a watch. Lovely planes. Pity there's only one full-size in the UK. Mind you, yours isn't much smaller. 

Fly it?  Fly it?  Are you mad?  It's purely a garage ornament...

Si

It appears from your photos, that you live in a mansion. Surely your groundsmen can build you a hill to lob it off  

Let me know if you're interested in a ride in a full size one  

It was a magnificent sight wasn't it?  Probably no model like it before in the UK.  It really came to life once Rick took the controls.

Strange that we were both there but didn't know each other then Mike.  Did you take a ride in the full size with Guy Westlake at the controls?  I remember Mark of Wolves club climbing in and looking rather ashen when it landed.

That looks great Simon. We get the full-size Fox flying over our garden several times a year from RAF Bicester. It's always worth a watch. Lovely planes. Pity there's only one full-size in the UK. Mind you, yours isn't much smaller. 

Only one? I was sure I'd seen one flying at the Bristol club in Stroud/Selsley Common...?

Only 4m but nice ! Turn the sound up.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe87q14R6x8" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe87q14R6x8</a>

Only one? I was sure I'd seen one flying at the Bristol club in Stroud/Selsley Common...?

There was one at Nympsfield but it's not based there. Pat Greer, the bloke who taught me glider chucking has a share in one.

Cracking aircraft, Simon! - we were holding our breath that it would fit in your car!

You are completely mad Simon ! Well done - any ideas where to maiden it ?

I reckon aerotow first to get the feel of it and then when you are happy take it to the slope . . .  but the safest way to launch is another issue.
Another thought - The Invicta Club has a number of powerful winches and a big flat field - have a chat with Robin Sleight and Rod Potts and see if their winches and lines are man enough for the task.

Anyone good at repairing or making canopies?
Si

I've got a couple of contacts for you that could help out.

Eric

First I had a foamy Windrider Fox...

Then I got a Gerasis 2m Fox and still have it...

Then this turned up in the back garden..











It's 5.4m and 15Kg of Carbon/Kevlar/Glass loveliness from the defunct Purbeck Sailplanes  but I'm already terrified about flying it and might have to draft in a professional!  In the words of the designer and builder - "it's very fast and eats up a lot of sky"  Gulp.  Plus, it doesn't really want to land apparently...

It's got the ailerons split so that you can use them for crow braking in addition to pop up airbrakes AND a mechanical brake on the wheel - you'd think it would stop wouldn't you?!

I haven't actually got enough channels for all the servos in it (11) so I may have to link some (the split elevators and perhaps the pop up airbrakes and wheel brake perhaps?

It is truly amazing and doesn't feel like a model - the wings etc are so solid with no "give" in them at all etc

One or two physical things to do to it before a dare fly and one annoying cosmetic thing (cracked canopy) but overall it was much much better than I dared hoped when I went down to Dorset to pick it up.

Now, need to go and repair the Learjet!

Simon

Wow Si! that makes the discus look minuscule!  can't wait to see her fly. 

Simon,

I launched Greg Dakins large Baudis Salto on Sunday (at the Bwlch).   If you have a reasonable slope where you are launching in lift, then not much of a push is needed.  I held the model over my head with my right and left hands holding the wing leading edges at the left and right wing roots respectively.   Palms against the LE, thumbs on underside and fingers on the top side (so hands sort of point backwards).  Let the model weathercock into the wind (vertical and horizontal aligned to wind).  It was an easy push (well sort of 'pull' really) straight out away from the slope, and the model launched very cleanly with no drama into the 20-25mph wind. 

Trying to hold a large diameter fuselage is probably a recipe for disaster.

Simon

Simon,

I launched Greg Dakins large Baudis Salto on Sunday (at the Bwlch).   If you have a reasonable slope where you are launching in lift, then not much of a push is needed.  I held the model over my head with my right and left hands holding the wing leading edges at the left and right wing roots respectively.   Palms against the LE, thumbs on underside and fingers on the top side (so hands sort of point backwards).  Let the model weathercock into the wind (vertical and horizontal aligned to wind).  It was an easy push (well sort of 'pull' really) straight out away from the slope, and the model launched very cleanly with no drama into the 20-25mph wind. 

Trying to hold a large diameter fuselage is probably a recipe for disaster.

Simon

And just to add, it was a super launch Simon - entirely unconventional, but absolutely perfect for the conditions (i.e. strong vertical lift). Just had a monumental day with the Salto at Great Malvern in 25mph NE winds and big, big thermals...could be another option for the Fox maiden!


Cheers

Greg

I've got a couple of contacts for you that could help out.

Eric

Eric, any chance you would recommend a canopy "creator" to me? I've got a PSS F4 Phantom in need of a new canopy as i've just cracked the existing one. It's MUCH smaller than the type Simon is looking for. Any help would be very much appreciated.
 

Simon,

I launched Greg Dakins large Baudis Salto on Sunday (at the Bwlch).   If you have a reasonable slope where you are launching in lift, then not much of a push is needed.  I held the model over my head with my right and left hands holding the wing leading edges at the left and right wing roots respectively.   Palms against the LE, thumbs on underside and fingers on the top side (so hands sort of point backwards).  Let the model weathercock into the wind (vertical and horizontal aligned to wind).  It was an easy push (well sort of 'pull' really) straight out away from the slope, and the model launched very cleanly with no drama into the 20-25mph wind.  

Trying to hold a large diameter fuselage is probably a recipe for disaster.

Simon

Actually, you were top of my list as being a potential pilot Simon!  Interested?....

Thanks very much for the info.
Yes, that was Terry White and I bought the Fox from his Son Rick.  He reckoned that she would fly in down to about 10 mph if the day was nice and warm but that stopping it on landing would be tricky (I never like that word when experienced pilots use it!)

Rick was saying that he loved emmulating the aerobatics the full size one does - one of which is pulling up and then stalling back through the smoke trails from the tips - easy peesie I do that all the time!!

Woodstock, wingspan without extended tips is 4.7m

Simon

Only one? I was sure I'd seen one flying at the Bristol club in Stroud/Selsley Common...?

Sure I read that somewhere on the Swift team web site last year, but darned if I can find it now. 

There were two foxes in the Uk but one was sold off to Texas ( If I am not mistaken)
 The other G-CFOX is now based between Bicester and Saltby. I was lucky enough to get a flight in it late last year, and before I knew it was parting with some money and buying a glider that I am far from ready for... Oh well, its worth it just for the odd time that I get to fly with Guy Westgate in the back seat.
 I am also just in the process of getting a 50% scale fox from Germany ( Strangely enough based on the full size G-CFOX which was totally by some strange coincidence)
 Back toward the original post...
 I too own an old Purbeck Fox. I bought it what must be close to 10 years ago from the father of the father and son team that ran Purbeck. I think it was the very same model that is pictured in this thread being launched from the slope.
 Great flying plane. I didnt fly it that much before it fell from the celling of my essex shop and smashed the canopy   ( and some of the fuselage )  I decided to fix it and have it repainted in a sport colour scheme, my painter has had it for the past 4 years and is still only about 1/2 way through.. You dont want to rush these things is what he tells me  
  Out of interest.. the tip extensions are now prohibited from the full size that we fly. I was told that it's an aerobatic glider designed purely for aerobatics. Its never going to be any good at soaring and all the tips did was make the stall even more aggressive when it did occur.
 One last thing to bare in mind..  I was soaring one of my clubs single seat junior gliders this week, and was chuckling as even with a boot full of forward stick I was struggling to get any more than 70 knots out of the old girl.  The fox on thew other hand as a minimum approach speed on that same day of 70 knots    Not so bad with the model foxes I have flown, but definitely worth bearing in mind and keeping just a tad more speed on, especially in that final turn.
 Good luck with you Fox, it does look superb!
 Regards Al

Thanks for the great info Ali - yes I bought mine from Rick White too - yours was the first he built I think , mine the second.  One of my canopies is cracked, did you fix yours or have a new one made or just live with it?

I am so nervous about landing this thing - I might do another years practice before I try, unless you want to fly it for me?!...


Simon

I am so nervous about landing this thing - I might do another years practice before I try, unless you want to fly it for me?!...


Simon

Simon

I have now come to terms with the fact that I'm gonna hurt all my planes (infact I have, every single one lol).
Does not mean I like it or will ever find it less painful, but it does mean I would never give up the shear pleasure they give me for the fear on damaging them

and that plane is sure to give you SOOOOOO much pleasure !!

Just fly it somewhere with a nice LZ and do lots of nice high circuits testing how well she slows all will be fine

Hi Rick.
 No problem at all. What I also found made the models even nicer to fly was running 2mm of reflex in the ailerons. Effectively adding washout. No to so good for it aerobatic performance but it does make the stall softer and more predictable.
 My canopy was smashed to pieces but I managed to get in touch with the company that did the vac moulding for purbeck... I cant remember their name now.. Something odd beginning with a V or an X I think... sorry.  They had the plugs and knocked me up a canopy nice and quickly.
 Dont take this the wrong way... But hows bigs your crack   If it's a diddy one then just drill a hole at each end to stop it from spreading down the canopy.   Two of the full size gliders I fly have this so its a scale touch!
  I would be more than happy to help you with a test flight and some advice when its in the air, but something tells me you are quite some way from where I live... Although I keep promising myself so slope soaring time..
 Regards Al
 Dont be nervous.. Remember that bigger models fly better/ easier. In fact I once flew a little composite 3m ( ish) span Fox for a guy up a slope to help him out...... What a dog!  Give me your Purbeck one any day of the week.  The only time when I see models like yours getting into trouble is when people try and squeeze them onto a small/ rough landing area.

My little Fox.. (Windrider Fox for scale).

Vortex Vacforms ?

I think they advertise in the BMFA mag iirc.

No, this was a company that was not model related.
 Sorry I cant remember.

No, this was a company that was not model related.
 Sorry I cant remember.

Thanks Ali, I will ask Rick who did the formings for him.

The crack is very small (and some would say un-noticable!).  I did wonder if is was possible to wick thin CA into it

I live in kent

Simon

What about the stuff they 'fix' car windscreans with?