Flying the Model:

The prototype was constructed to test the use of spoilerons in small airplanes. The real aircraft used spoilers for roll control. They were augmented by the flaps. I only installed the spoiler(ons). They did not work. The plane flew so slowly; the spoilers did not have enough drag to get the wing to drop. I suspect the incorporation of flaps with the spoilerons would work. However, that would be a lot of effort. Plain barn-door ailerons (where the flaps go) would solve the roll control.

The plane did not penetrate into the wind. Like a light glider, it stayed in the air at ridiculously slow airspeeds. I think the large size and the non-functional air intakes created a lot of drag. The pusher prop had a substantial amount of the flow blocked by the scale fuselage shape at the rear, so it produced very little useable thrust. The result was very slow flight, and little control.

Does that mean it was a failure? No way. The construction is very light and strong. The spoilerons were an experiment with results - that defines a success. The basic design is a small step away from a fast gas-powered model. Installing a NORVEL .06 in the nose would solve the thrust problem.

Construction Highlights:

The prototype weighs about 13 oz with engine and radio. The lightweight was achieved with lightening holes through all parts except the firewall and stabilizer. The wing was not sheeted.

The design is adaptable to ducted-fan or EDF. The current wing is one piece and is attached to the fuselage via four bolts. It would be very simple to add a bulkhead for the DF mount and attach the wings to the bulkhead via stub spars. The F11F was the first NAVY jet to use an afterburner. This is good news for the model, the exhaust area can be kept a scale size and get the airflow out the back.

Finally, the F-11F can be modeled as the “Blue Angels” or as a front line NAVY fighter. The transparent blue on the prototype looked great on the ground or in the air, and shows off the lightweight construction.