Kiwi P-30

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Category: P 30 (AMA) P 30 (AMA)

Published: 16 December 2020 16 December 2020

I built 2 Kiwi P-30 planes from BMJR kits.  The first one spent a few days in a tree, near the exercise horse track at Danada farms, and needed recovering, after a rainstorm kicked it free. The second flew away at the Bong Recreation Area.  I've made good flights with the Kiwi though.  It has a bigger wing than most P-30's, and mine weighs more than the minimum by a bit, at 71 grams total or 20 grams heavy, so climb is sort of majestic.  

 I used a 6 strand motor, 20 inches long, made up of 1/8 inch wide Tan Super Sport rubber and wound it to 980 turns. The propeller is a Czech 240 mm one.  Flight time was 68 seconds. Wing area is 155 square inches, and wing loading is 2.33 ounces per square foot, and cube loading is 2.25 ounces per cubic foot , so the Kiwi is a floater. The horizontal stabilizer is large, too, at 58 square inches, and may be adding some lift.

 

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P-30 One Night 28 Mod

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Category: P 30 (AMA) P 30 (AMA)

Published: 01 December 2020 01 December 2020

A P-30 class plane is a beginner plane limited to 30 inches in length and span.  It must weigh at least 50 grams, with a maximum of 10 grams rubber installed.  The propeller is a 9.5 inch diameter commercial one made of plastic, by AMA rule. The wing of the Peck "One Night 28" was increased from 28 inches to nearly 30 inches, and the tail was modified to pop up at a time determined by a fuse.  I haven't used this feature, because I couldn't get it to fly quite as long as the 2 minute "max" anyway.  The rubber motor is made up of 6 strands (3 loops) of 1/8 inch wide rubber 20 inches long, to meet the 10 gram rule.  I can wind it sufficiently (about 900 turns) to fly over a minute most days, depending on wind and rising "thermal" air.  Total weight is 57 grams, only about 7 grams above minimum. Wing Area is 126 square inches, making wing loading 2.3 ounces per square foot, and cube loading 2.5 ounces per cubic foot.