Fred Guilfoyle ordered and built one of our Schweizer SGS 2-8 / TG-2 models designed by Steve Moskal over a year ago and posted a great build thread on his model at RC Groups. Almost a year later his next winter project was set to be a quarter scale electric powered RF4-D Fournier, an aircraft special to both he and I and many others.
As the design and build progressed on his RF4-D, Fred and I began to talk about the possiblity of offering this model in kit form and supplying his very well-drawn CAD plans and well-engineered parts kits to others with a similar fondness for this plane in quarter scale for electric power. The rest is history and now after much time in developing very high quality formed plastic parts for canopy and cowl and thoughts of a robust CNC aluminum landing gear still in the works, we have released this excellent flying model.
Fournier RF4-D
Span: 115" (3.3m)
Length: 63" (127cm)
Aspect: 11:1
Area: 1168 in.2
All up weight: 9 lbs.
Wing loading: 18 oz./ft.2
Airfoil: Clark Y phillips
Scale: 1:4
No. Servos Req'd: 5-7
POWER: AXI 4120/18 - 6S1P Neu Energy 4900 with Castle Phoenix
FUNCTIONS: Rudder, Elevator, Spoiler, Ailerons, Retract
KIT CONTENTS
Fournier RF4-D 2.9 Meter
Plan Sheets, Rolled, (sheets 1 of 2 and 2 of 2)
Laser Cut Parts Kit
Fiberglass Cowling
Formed Canopy
Hardware Kit
Wheel 3-1/2" dia. Lightweight Treaded, DUB350TL
Steel Landing Gear Main Axle, 5/32" dia. x 2" length
Plated Brass Dura-Collars, 5/32", DUB140
Tailwheel 1" dia., DUB100TW
Steel Wire Tail Wheel Support and Axle, 3/32" x 6" length
Wingtip Wheels, 1" dia., DUB100MW
Steel Wire Wingtip Wheel Support and Axle, 1/8" x 12" length
Plated Brass Dura-Collars, 3/32", DUB128
Steel Wing Rod, .5" OD x 12" length, TMRC TSWJ12
Brass Joiner Sleeve, 17/32" OD x 12" length (2), K&S140
Brass Sleeve 5/32" x 12" Wingtip Wheel Support, K&S128
Brass Sleeve 3/16" x 12" Wingtip Wheel Support, K&S129
Steel Wire Incidence Pin, 5/32" x 12" length
Hinges, Nylon, pkg of 15, DUB117
Pushrods, Sullivan Semi Flexible 36" with Hardware SUL505
Hardwood Wing Attachement Dowel, 1/4" x 6" length
Hardwood Stabilizer Joiner Dowel, 3/16" x 6" length
1/4-20 Nylon Wing Attachment Bolts, pkg. of 2, DUB142
Nylon Landing Gear Straps, 5/32" with hardware, DUB239
Propeller Spinner, 2-3/4" dia. White Plastic, DUB290
The Fournier RF4-D 1:4 Scale kit sells for $599.95.
ORDERING INFORMATION
Aerosente sells classic and vintage glider and sailplane kits. We cater to those RC modelers who enjoy building as much as they enjoy flying. We do not sell "ready-to-fly" (RTF) or "almost-ready-to-fly" (ARF) kits. Our kits come with all the major structural parts laser cut or CNC routed, hardware and plans. You will need to buy the long stock (spars, stringers, leading and trailing edges) and wing/fuselage sheeting and covering. And of course you will supply the servos, and other on-board electronics.
All of our kits are hand picked and packed from parts we either fabricate ourselves or purchase from a small trusted group of suppliers and vendors. Each kit is unique and ships in 2-4 weeks. This is how to order a kit:
1. Send an email to bolt55@aerosente.com indicating the model and scale you would like to purchase. Also include your shipping address so we can calculate the shipping cost.
2. Upon receipt of your email we will issue you an invoice via Paypal for the cost of the kit, plus shipping and taxes if applicable. You can pay our invoice with any credit card - you do not have to be a Paypal member.
3. Upon receipt of your payment we will send a confirmation email indicating funds received and approximate ship date.
Aerosente guarantees each kit to be free from defects in both material and workmanship. If any parts are missing from the kit or are damaged due to workmanship of the product, please notify Aerosente for a prompt replacement of damaged or missing part. This warranty does not cover parts damaged by shipping, use or modification. Aerosente's liability will not exceed the original cost of the purchased kit. Aerosente does not control the assembly or materials used for final assembly, so no liability shall be assumed nor accepted for completed kits.
Please email us at bolt55@aerosente.com or call 816.331.8807 or 415.234.6757 if you have any questions or need assistance with ordering, we appreciate your business!
HISTORY
In the early 1960's Rene Fournier began developement of a light aircraft with high aspect designed to use a modified Volkswagen engine for power. His design became highly sucessful and is now known worldwide as the very popular RF series of motor gliders and trainers.
The RF-01 aircraft was the prototype designed by Fournier as early as 1947 but was not built until 1960 when it won a French Government award for its outstanding flight characteristics.
An RF-2 was then built which improved upon the original design in 1962, one of which is in the collection of the Air Museum in Paris, France.
Designed in 1963, the RF-3 was another single seat aircraft which asw manufactured by Alpavia, a jointly owned company of Rene Fournier and Belgian Partner Antoine d'Assche. Between 1963 and 1966, about 100 aircraft of this type were manufactured.
In 1966 Fournier designed the RF-4 to be an aerobatic version of its direct predecesor. 173 of this type were manufactured under license by Sportavia, the company created by Alfons Putzer in West Germany and desingated the RF-4D.
The first aircraft designed by Rene Fournier were known for their high aspect ratio and single wheel retractable undercarriage known from its use in gliders. Becuase of this the name "avions-planeurs" was given by their designer and has been adopted subsequently by many manufacturers, thus giving birth to the motorglider type aircraft.
It is noteworthy too that the Volkswagen engine first used in the type was first certified and proven reliable in demonstrations by Rene Fournier.
In the past 30 years Rene has continued to be active in aviation design, developing many other types including dual seat and tandem seat aircraft and trainers including the sucessful Slingsby T-67M, a composite aircraft manufactured under license in Great Britain.
In all about 800 Fournier-designed aircraft have been manfuactured and sold in more than 35 countries worldwide and setting numerous long distance and duration records around the globe.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Special thanks to the Soaring Society of America (SSA), for permission to use text and specs from their publications. More information on vintage soaring craft may be found at their pages and in their publications and those of the Vintage Sailplane Association.
send price and information on the Rf4 fournier Co you have a composite kit also?
Posted by: George Garzon | February 01, 2010 at 08:07 AM