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Category: No-Cal Profile Scale No-Cal Profile Scale
Published: 03 December 2020 03 December 2020

The Dornier Falke was a prototype 1922 fighter plane made in Switzerland, but designed by the German Firm Dornier, getting around the Versailles Treaty's bans on German arms. It was also evaluated by U.S. Navy as Wright WP-1 after Wright corporation imported one.  See   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dornier_Do_H  for data on the full scale airplane.  This No-Cal plane is about 1:18 scale, and has a Profile fuselage with covering on one side.  I built it from plans published by Dave Linstrum in Model Aviation, the AMA magazine in 2008.  I have flown it indoors, but some clubs have outdoor contests for these light craft.  Silver tissue is Esaki grey tissue spray painted with Krylon silver, as Linstrum suggested.

I have  flown it in 9 meets at Racine Memorial hall until 2014, and it was still making 1 minute flights after repairs. Wing span is 16 inches and wing area is 52 square inches.  Airframe weight is 8.8 grams, and with 1.5 grams rubber, total weight is 10.3 grams.  Distance from propeller hook to rear hook for rubber is 8.5 inches. A 14 inch long loop (2 strands) of 3/32 inch wide FAI rubber was used to turn a 6 inch Peck silver prop.  Flight times were up to 1 minute in Memorial Hall, after climb to near the 40 ft ceiling with 1000 -1300 turns wound in the motor. In a school gym with only 16 ft ceiling less winds (600) gives 20 sec flight.

Good steady flyer, but attachment of Parasol wing needs occasional repairs, especially after ceiling strikes.