Satelite 1000 set up

[Anonymous]

Friend of mine is refurbishing an old Satelite 1000 and has asked “what the thrust line set up and CG position should be for this model”. What does the plan state (he hasn’t got one) and what is the best set up based on those who have flown the design. All help appreciated.

Ployd in OZ

[marauderbomber]

Greetings Pelaero,

Is the Satellite 1000 that your friend has tie down or VIT?

[Anonymous]

I have been building and flying Satellites for over 25 years. In 1985 I was looking for the plans for the Satellite 1000, NFFS did not have the 1000 plans at that time, so I wrote to Bill Hunter. I received a reply from Bill, He said he no longer had any plans for the Satellites but he had given my name and address to Jack Moreland who had the plans. When I received the plans I built the airplane per the plans, no modifications, big stab and all. I powered it with an OS 46 and it was a great airplane. Unfortunately it “Bit the Big One” at Lawrenceville due to pilot error. While I was out to Lost Hills I met Jack Moreland and he gave me the plan for a smaller stab for the 1000. The second 1000 has the smaller stab and is over 12 years old and still going strong.

[marauderbomber]

Greetings Free Flight Hank,

I don’t know if the set of plans you received from Jack Moreland were the set from F&F Hobbies ( Larry Fry & Alex Forsyth) here in AZ. (both have passed on)
I proto typed the first Satellite 1000 kit from F&F Hobbies made (Large Stab).
I then drew the reduced stab for the Satellite 1000 which F&F Hobbies added to the kit as an option. This model with the reduced stab had the VIT system. Great flier…
The wing and stab were Monokoted with clear with transparent red sunburst’s trimmed with 1/8″ transparent blue Monokote. The bottom of the stab and wing was covered with transparent missile red Monokote.
A beautiful model on the ground and in the air. She sure was a great floater.

[Anonymous]

Kenny my Satellite 1000 plans are the series 70 plans that were in May 1972 issue of American Aircraft Modeler. I said I contacted Bill Hunter for the plans, WRONG make that Bob Hunter. With that big stab and that flimsy narrow fuselage it shook like a broom straw in a wind storm. #2 is 1” rather than ¾” wide. I moved the CG forward to 70% from the 83% and took out all that down thrust and added some left thrust.

[marauderbomber]

Hank,

I can see moving the CG fwd a bit and even taking some of the down thrust out but putting “LEFT THRUST” in a Satellite of any size sounds like “DEATH” to the model.

I have seen many Satellites go up and start to roll or yaw to the left just to hear the screaming “Heads Up” (which for some unknown reason modelers and spectators look at the ground…Hummm) just to watch the model tuck its nose over to kiss the mother earth at max power. What a mess….

I for one don’t ever twist my wing panels. This induces drag and wearied gyrations’ in my eyes. Kinda makes me dizzy watching the model. (I guess that’s why I don’t do CL models). <>

The wing tips are the only surface that I wash out and I do that just because it makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. To date I run the VIT system on my models. To me it’s so much easier to trim. I always try to remember that this modeling stuff is supposed to be fun….<>

When I started flying AMA gas way back when, I cut my teeth on Satellites from the 226 all the way up to the 1300 which I still fly to this day. The funny thing about each model is I always learned something new and different about each model. Even though I felt that I built each model basically the same they were different. Great model to always keep me engaged and thinking….

I’m going to be building a Satellite 1000 with full depth geodetic w/LE sheeting (small stab…my design). It will be powered with a K&B side port .40 with VIT.

I’m shooting for 34 ounces finished. I had a 1000 years ago that was 34 ounces and completely Jap tissued. Man-O-Man did she ever scoot.

I know what you mean about the fuselage thickness…..Scary….

If I can find the picture of it I’ll post it.

[Anonymous]

Kenny I use a tad of left and a tad of down thrust in most all my Satellites along with a bit of wash-in in the right main wing panel along with wash-out at the tips. I use the Left thrust and the wash-in to hold that right wing up under power. I had a Satellite 320 that absolutely refused to hold that right wing up under power. I was using a TD .049 at the time. I fought that dud for weeks. I added more washed in that right wing, I added more left rudder and thrust all to no avail. In desperation I took all the warps, rudder, thrust out AND that little shim under the TE of the stab. It then went up like it was on rails. I have found that 1 – 1 ½ degrees incidences in the wing is about right. I had a Satellite 450 with a K&B 3.5 that wouldn’t hold that right wing up no matter what I did. I finally took the wash-in out of the right wing and put wash-out in the left main and that fixed the problem. Evidently the drag of the wash-in on the right wing was a more predominate force than the lift. I have an Archer Satellite 800 and I had an Archer Satellite 600 with just VIT. They both fly and flew well. The 800 wing is the same wing as the 788 by the way, just re-engineered with geodetic ribs and a “D” box L.E. I power the 800 with a K&B 6.5 for class “C” and swap the 6.5 out with a 6.6 and fly it in Class “D”. Satellites forever!

[Anonymous]

This was taken a few years ago at Muncie.

[Anonymous]

2nd try

[marauderbomber]

Hank,

Now that’s what I call a real FF model. “Great action photo”. Mr. Randy Archer and his wife Kathy are real good friends of ours. We had many of great trim sessions together here in AZ. I’m hinting at him to come back out and dust his AMA gas models off and fly with us again. Work in progress….

I’m going to make it to the Nat’s one of these years. Hopefully sooner than later…..

[Author]

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