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Metal RF4D

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RJW

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2011
Messages
765
Location
Wisconsin and Kansas
Since topspeed100 introduced me to the RF4D I can’t stop sort of seriously considering drawing up a metal version. The design has kind of gotten under my skin a little bit. But there is a problem (for me anyway). The plane uses the 230XX airfoil with 3.5 degrees of washout.

For all you airfoil gurus and glider guys, is there a modern, laminar airfoil that could be substituted? I would like to adhere as much as possible to the mission and performance characteristics of the original wooden airplane. Characteristics and performance are attached. I would like to maintain the original planform as well.

And (not to ask too much!) I also want a wing that is reasonably easy to build in metal. This usually means no huge cusps and a shape that can be flat wrapped without hacking up the skins into too many pieces. Also preferred are a constant percent thickness and little or no washout.

So is there such a beast? What do similar modern gliders and motor gliders use?

Thanks,

Rob
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