Builder_Title
BIG HOTS

Chuck_RonThis is a Dan Santich designed Big Hots being readied at the flight line.
The model was received from a friend. The plane needed to be gone over to make sure it was flyable.
The engine is a Tartan Super Twin Glow. It had become gummed up (from the caster oil in the fuel). The engine was freed up using after run oil (automatic transmission oil). In the photo below, notice the plug and velocity stack are plugged to prevent foreign "stuff" from getting into the engine. Special work was performed on the carb by Cline and Associates (http://www.billsroom.com/pcfs/). Mr. Cline does great work for a real reasonable price!)

Tartan_Twin_Glow
Big_Hots		 While going through the plane, the following items were addressed:
  • Throttle servo was replaced - it was gummed up with oil
  • Onboard glow system was added
  • The carburator was cleaned up
  • Crankcase tap (Could be used for a smoke system) is now plugged up (it caused the servo failure from blowing fuel in the cowl.)
  • Electrical connectors cleaned up and extensions replaced - elevator servos had major jitter
  • APC propeller blades were nicked and tips broken - replaced blades and rebalanced
  • CG and lateral balance were set and verified
  • Elevator throws weren't matched - one of the servos were resoldered (reversed) making the linkage on both elevator halves a strraight line to the control horn.
  • Servo throws and rates (3 rates for rudder, aileron, and elevator on the JR PCM10s)
  • Fuel tank seal was checked - not sealed - whole tank system and lines were replaced. A 32 oz tank was installed.
The plane is incredibly easy to fly. The maiden re-flight was in 40 mph winds (not recommended). After the first flight, the linkage was adjusted mechanically to center. The plane flies a knife edge in both directions without coupling or mixing the control surfaces. This is a nice airplane design. As easy to fly as the venerable VK Cherokee, but much nicer the high wind conditions. With its 4-inch thick 20.5-inch chord, the 96 inch wing span, 20 lb airplane is a great one.
Some technotalk:
  • Main Wing
    • Wing Volume: 4.56 Cubic Feet
    • Calculation is (wing thickness inches x chord (wing width) in inches x length of the wing in inches/7872 (cubic inches in a cubic foot)
    • Surface Area:13.67 Square feet
    • Calculation: Wing length in inches x wing chord in inches/144 sq inches per square foot
  • Weight: 20 lbs - used a tripple beam balance accurate to 1/10 of a gram.
  • Wing Loading: 23.4 oz/sq ft
  • Calculation: plane weight / main wing surface area
  • Engine:
    • Power ~ 5 HP
    • 1.097 hp/cuft wing volume
    • Calculation: engine hp/wing volume in cubic feet
    • 0.36 hp/sq ft.
    • Calculation: engine horsepower / main wing surface area.
Lots of power and plenty of lifting area is what this adds up to.

Last Updated 10/17/00

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