Pistachio scale planes - under 8" in span, (hopefully) under 2 grams in weight, lots of fun!

These are two pistachio-scale models of glider tugs. The Zlin Akrobat, on the left, is built from a scaled-down peanut plan, available from Thayer Syme's site. The Pilatus Turbo Porter on the right is built from a scaled-down peanut scale plan that is available from Peck-Polymers. Both models are covered with Esaki tissue. The Zlin flies patricularly well, with a steep ascent. The Turbo Porter started flying well, too, after I replaced the prop with a more typical two-blade. Click on each airplane to see it in flight.

This is my first carved-foam rubber-powered model, a P-39 Airacobra. It's very sensitive to trim changes but the flexible surfaces make it easy to trim and even add dihedral. When properly adjusted, it's really impressive in the air. Click on the picture to see it in flight.

Do you build pistachio scale? Click here to go to the postal contest page - I'm currently running a pistachio scale postal contest, set to last till Jan 10, 2005. Email me if you have any pistachio scale photos or plans to share. My hope is that this site will eventually become a clearninghouse of pistachio scale information.

Links

Indoor Gallery - Gert Brendel has some excellent examples and suggestions for pistachio contruction

Indoor Free Flight - a Belgian page with plans to build from and photos to inspire

Books

Koutny, Lubomir. Modely Letadel s Gumovym Pohonem. Brno, Czech Republic:Computer Press, 2003. - an excellent book with two pistachio plans and construction and trimming guidelines. An excellent book about rubber FF in general, with lots of hilarious stories.