![\"TweetPrototypes\"](\"https:\/\/volareproducts.com\/new2024\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/TweetPrototypes.jpg\")
<\/a>This is my Cessna T-37 Tweet Jet Cat.\u00a0 I chose the design because of the proportions and simplicity.\u00a0 You see three versions.\u00a0 The top version was completed in January of 2015.\u00a0 It featured a laminated fuselage; the layers sandwich kevlar tow.\u00a0 The thought was to strengthen the fuselage.\u00a0 While keeping it light.\u00a0 You can see how “successful” the strengthening was – there are, at least, five fuselage breaks in that version.<\/p>\nThe middle version was done sometime last summer to replace the first one.\u00a0 If you look closely, you can see sticks of bass wood instead of the lamination.\u00a0 That was an improvement but not really very much.\u00a0 I did reinforce the front by designing 1\/64″ ply sides that did a good job of making the nose stronger.\u00a0 These ply sides only extend back as far as the engine pods.\u00a0 The second version also has bass leading edges on the wings and a penny embedded in the sandwich of the nose.<\/p>\n
The third version was built this week.\u00a0 Changes include carbon fiber rod for strength and a smaller horizontal tail area (recommended by a friend).\u00a0 This version hasn’t flown yet, but looks promising as it has a nice glide in a hand toss without weight or adjustment.\u00a0 These all weigh between 17 and 19 grams for the 14″ span model.<\/p>\n
If – IF – I can get this to fly, the kit will contain a sheet of 1\/16″ balsa (fuselage), 1\/32″ balsa tail and engine pods, 1\/64″ ply nose doublers (etched with the prototype XT-37 designation, as shown), 1\/8″ balsa wings, plus the bass leading edges, carbon fiber rods, adhesive sticker markings, and the penny nose weight.\u00a0 I may never get this into production, because, as I said, Jet Cats are a struggle for me.\u00a0 Much of the damage occurs during test flying; trying to get a predictable flight pattern!<\/p>\n
This is why it takes me so long to get a kit to production.\u00a0 I have to be satisfied with the product and its potential for performance.\u00a0 This doesn’t even consider all of the hours of drawing the plan and laying out the parts for laser cutting.\u00a0 At any given time, I have about 3 or 4 new kits in the process of development.\u00a0 That is my short list.\u00a0 Then I have the short long list, those that I intend to work on next.\u00a0 The long long list has those designs I consider viable and good candidates.\u00a0 I would estimate about 20 designs are on these lists, just waiting their turn.<\/p>\n
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I’ve had real conversations with friends and customers that go something like this “well, that can be your next kit!” I’ve imagined that some customers don’t understand what goes into producing a kit, even a short kit – at least … Continue reading