ner,ner,ner,ner,ner,ner,ner,ner, - "SPAD MAN" (roughly to the tune of the "Batman" Theme)

by Bob Brown

The idea of having a low cost model plane for those windy or poor days, when you don't want to risk your favourite creation, has always appealed to me. I was therefore very interested when one of our members brought down a new model which appeared to be a piece of square section drainpipe for a fuselage and some corrugated plastic sheet for a wing. The total cost of the airframe was therefore approximately £5.00 (excluding glue, undercarriage, control rods etc). He had originally found the design on the internet.

The model was generically known as a "SPAD" which is short for "Simple Plastic Aircraft Design". It had been designed for fun/combat flying, quick and cheap to replace.

I was fortunate enough to be asked to test fly it.

As it was originally set up it was unflyable (for me anyway) and it did a nosedive from about 50 feet and stuck in the ground. What a good introduction to "SPADS" - Fortunately it was so tough it was not damaged at all. Even the prop survived as it was a cheap flexible one! Undeterred, I tried again with after some adjustments including fitting a larger engine (which was later found to be unnecessary). This time, once trimmed, it was OK, although it has to be said that it had its own little ways, which made it unsuitable as a trainer.

I therefore decided to build one myself, having bought my plastic drainpipe from a large, well known DIY store, and some "Correx" from a local packaging company.

Building it was far easier an quicker than any other scratch built plane. The "Correx" wing construction was more like an episode of "Blue Peter" than aircraft construction. The most important aspect was to ensure that the "Correx" was thoroughly scribed before bending to produce a good staight leading edge. The fuselage was easy to cut out and soon took shape. The hardest part was making the firewall 'cartridge' (a plywood part) which slots into the pipe and holds the engine mount, the tank and throttle servo. I have now been flying this original "SPAD" for about three years. I have made one or two minor modifications to it, and it has now had a total fuselage refit, but in general it has been superb value for money and good fun. I have also build a second one with lightening holes cut in the fuselage and a wing fitted with two aileron servos . This one has slightly improved slow handling. Two or three more "SPADS" have now appeared at our club. I wonder why?

Editor's note:

Bob Brown - our very own "SPADMAN" even won the club's 2002 "Touch & Go" competition with one of these simple aircraft - 20 touch and goes in 3 minutes - impressive!

Click here for the ultimate "SPAD" Internet Link

(complete with videos etc etc)