Gallery
Submission from Charles T. Young, November 2006
Professor Emeritus (Geophysical Engineering)Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences Michigan
Technological University Houghton, MI 49931 USA
Telephone: 906 487-2072 Fax 906 487-3371
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Ken Fisher (about 83 years old!) working with students |
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Craig Kimmer working with students |
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Teacher Deb Sage and students |
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dramatic launch in auditorium |
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moment of release in auditorium |
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dramatic followthrough/victory dance |
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in flight in the auditorium |
From: Charles T Young
Sent: Tuesday, November 07, 2006 6:24 AM
To: sqirrel@siteware.com
Subject: squirrels at Houghton Middle School
Hi Darcy:
We* are building Squirrels in the Houghton, Michigan 7th grade middle school science class. We are devoting three class days to the project, and have completed the second day. Most all the Squirrels are flying today. We will devote the third day to fun flying in the school auditorium and some scientific measurements such as the relation between the number of turns and the flight duration. As you know, the construction involves a lot of following directions and manual dexterity in building. We found a pack of tissue in many bright colors at the local Dollar Store.
We will send you some photos.
*"We" are Chuck Young, Craig Kimmer and Ken Fisher, the remnants of the local RC club.
Notes after the last day: We had some contests: longest distance, greatest time in the air, most acrobatic etc. So, some kids that had corkscrew flight paths thought it was great fun, etc. Greatest casualities are the glue joints in the wing corners and breakage of the wing leading and trailing edges. Craig and Ken staffed the repair station. We may make it a point next year to have the students read and follow your written directions carefully rather than rely on our spoken instructions.
We sighted an airplane lodged in the rafters of the auditorium since last year. It has been there all year, so everyone who has sat in the auditorium could see it.
Chuck Young
From: George and Donna Clarke
Sent: Saturday, November 11, 2006 10:18 PM
To: darcy@Siteware.com
Subject: My pet Squirrel
Hi:
I thought you'd get a kick of of my rendition of your interesting plane. This one is 10 grams, and has a 12 in. wingspan with a 2 in. chord. The only prop I had on hand was a 9 in. hand carved model, and it is way too much for this little plane. It was hilarious to see the results of a too-big prop. After about 200 winds, I let 'er rip. The plane rocketed up about 20 ft. and began doing a twirling tail dance. The prop was obviously turning the plane. A small(about
5 in.) prop is forthcoming, as is a 28 in. wingspan model, currently on the building board. Thanks for giving me an enjoyable few hours away from the building of my unlimited rubber job.
Cheers
George Clarke
From: Victor I Smedstad
Sent: Saturday, June 10, 2006 2:50 PM
To: darcy@siteware.com
Subject: Squirrel
Got Squirrel from the Internet a month or so ago. I have been trying to build model airplanes since about 1941 with a nickel or dime Comet Curtis Robin. Most of my so called scale attempts flew like rocks, so much of what I have built has been flyers. For the past 7 years I have been volunteering three days a week at an elementary school in Bremerton, Washington, adjoining the Naval Base. I wanted to work on flying models with kids, but until Squirrel, they all required Xacto or razor blades and that meant risk of injury which could only be minimized with one adult to one kid, a ratio I could not come even close to. So no building.
Then Squirrel!!
After my third Squirrel, I made some modifications, none of which modified the basic design. A fifth grade teacher was willing to work with me and I found that most shoe boxes were 11 inches or more in width, but few were as much as 12 inches in width. So the first modification was to reduce the wing span to 11 inches.
Because time was a problem, and fifth graders are not too good at measuring, I made a Sharpie mark at the middle of the wing leading and trailing edges, and at the middle of the horizontal stab LE and at the middle of two 2inch ribs for the end ribs.
In addition I redrew the instructions as plans on my $10 CAD program. Found out later that fifth graders have difficulty dealing with plans, but could do what they were told to do.
I tried it out first on a fourth grader, just one. As tying the tooth pick on with thread was more that kids could do, I eliminated the thread and added a 3/8 inch X 3/16 piece to butt up against the tooth pick.
I then got a group of five kids who were willing to stay after school and used two sessions to make sure the white glue had time to dry thoroughly.
They then acted as classroom experts when we then had the remaining 20 kids do the Squirrel.
Attachments: First, a shot of the classroom: Flegel class 00. Because there was no way we could get 25 kids flying squirrels in the gym, we flew outside. Flegel class 06. And all 25 flew: Flegel class 17.
I am impressed as were the kids.
Victor I. Smedstad
-----Original Message-----
From: Ondrej <<Andy>> Mitas
Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2006 12:41 AM
To: darcy@Siteware.com
Subject: new Squirrel derivative...
Darcy, inspired both by your Squirrel and the Dandrieux butterfly (you must be familiar...see photo "copter") I have come up with a ridiculously simple parlor mite that, after some refining, really does fly and is about as easy to build as the Squirrel, including the innovative glue-and-fold prop I came up with. I thought you might like to see this airplane but I also wanted to ask about selling a kit of it....I thought it would be polite to get your thoughts & make sure you were OK with me selling something like this, considering how closely it resembles the Squirrel. I took a lot of your ideas....
* leading edge only wing and stab
* vertical wing tips
* same basic configuration (tractor, rubber powered monoplane w/single fin) There are some differences....
* It's tiny! 5" span, weighs about 1/2 gram
* paper rudder
* unique paper prop that I'm real proud of :)
* more typical alu bearing and wire hook
* even ctr wing is leading edge only
* with 1/32 sq wood, not good for kids :)
So...anyways...let me know what you think. The Dandrieux butterfly copters will definitely be out there as kits too. In all cases the # of kits I make will be ultra-limited...just haven't the time...basically will make as many as and when I feel like. They will sell for $3 each but you'll get a couple gratis, again, for your ideas.
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Ondrej "Andy" Mitas
art, music, airplanes - http://ondro.net
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-----Original Message-----
From: Ondrej <<Andy>> Mitas
Sent: Sunday, April 16, 2006 3:36 PM
To: Darcy@Siteware.com
Subject: Re: RE: RE: Re: Re: squirrel!
Darcy, at last I got around to building the Squirrel. I did some things differently so it took me a little longer; still amazing airplane for the time investment.
I was getting ready to draw a plan, when I realized that a single-letter size sheet wouldn't be enough, as the wingspan is 12 inches. How inconvenient...you're right...very little would be gained from having a plan. Glad to see the video on your site. I hope lots of the Small flying Arts guys watch it & build squirrels.
OK, here's what I did differently - I wanted a Squirrel for the living room. I used the Ikara 6" ("butterfly") prop, hanger, and hook. I cut the top off the prop hanger so I could glue it at a steep angle for lots of sidethrust. I used 1/16 sq for all flying surfaces. 3/32 x 3/16, very hard, for the fuselage stick, tapered to 0 over the last 2 inches. I used vegi-bag plastic instead of tissue for covering, it's lighter (cannot be cut w/scissors). No wing seat on the fuselage, instead the wing rides on 3" x 1/16 sq piece, slightly off center against torque, taped to the motorstick so wing position can still be adjusted. Otherwise it's just your Squirrel.
Weight is 2.5 grams.
enjoy
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Ondrej "Andy" Mitas
art, music, airplanes - http://ondro.net
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Inventors' Association, June 2005
McNabb, March 4th, 2005:
Workshop at Jack Purcell, February 26th, 2005:
Workshop at Jack Purcell, February 19th, 2005:
After a quick building session heading for the gym.
