Force One Designed by Laddie Mikulasko

Review by Art Wallace

Construction

Balsa USA States: The Force One is very fast and maneuverable at high throttle, but it can also fly so slowly that it almost hovers without stalling. Construction is straight forward without anything complex or unusual methods used that would make the kit difficult. If you are looking for an unusual looking model that is easy to build and flies great, the Force One is for you. Our completely updated 24 page photo illustrated manual with simplified plans make this model a fast easy kit to build.

The C.G. or balance point of this airplane is 13 inches FORWARD of the trailing edge of wing NOT counting control surfaces (go up the hinge line).

Kit Features: Rolled Full size plans. Photo illustrated instructions. Fall-out die cut parts. Precision Jig cut parts. AAA quality Balsa,plywood and basswood. Pre bent landing gear. complete hardware pack. Decal set. All wood construction, (no foam).

Items Needed to Complete Kit
ITEMS NEEDED TO COMPLETE
3-roll 2M Aerospan
1-2oz Gold CA Thick or Thin
1-pkg Dubro reg. hinges
1-pr 3" wheels
1-10oz or 12oz fuel tank.
4-2/56 threaded rod
2-pkg 2/56 links
1-sm tailwheel assembly
1-pkg 8' fuel line
1- pkg 3' ny-cable
1- 2 1/4 " spinner
1- 10/6 pusher prop

NOTE: NYRODS ARE NEEDED TO COMPLETE THIS KIT!

I started working on the Force One from Balsa USA in January 2002. I framed up the wing very quickly and then got stuck.  The balsa was exceptionally light and easily damage. Many of the pieces weren’t actually long enough without splicing that wasn’t mentioned in the plans. I replaced some of the pieces that were clearly too short. I also strengthened things that were doomed to fail. For example, the rear deck is going to be dinged by the starter. I placed a piece of paper thin plywood over it to protect it from dings. For a company called Balsa USA, the balsa was lousy.  I thought of putting in retracts. I decided that the airflow disruption over the wing would probably ruin the lift and didn’t do it. I thought of making it a simple triangular wing without a fuselage but decided to make it according to plans to allow for adjustment of the CG. I then decided that the only
modification I would make in the plane was to include adjustable rudders. I am interested in working towards getting my turbine waver. The AMA turbine waver requires that all turbine powered aircraft have controllable rudders, my Delta Vortex had adjustable rudders so I thought, why not put them in. I then got a little ambitious. I thought, well, lets make it very controllable. So I put in a servo for each aileron, one for each rudder (allows for air brakes), and one for the nose gear. If it worked on the Delta Vortex, it would work on the Force One. So in June of 2003, I finished it. It has seven servos.

1.                  Left Aileron

2.                  Right Aileron

3.                  Right Rudder

4.                  Left Rudder

5.                  Nose Gear

6.                  Throttle

7.                  Elevator

I read on the web that the Force One did not have enough elevator throw. So I programmed it with elevons as well as an elevator. All three control surfaces went up with up elevator. The CG was perfect.  With this many servos, I had put a 1300 MA battery in my Delta Vortex, so I did the same with the Force One. I wanted to get my five flights of 15 minutes each, when I flew. If it worked for the Delta Vortex, it was in the Force
One, only “better”.

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