I'd come across rubber band-powered models whilst browsing for my latest purchases. I remember having fun with these planes from my distant youth, along with the sore finger resulting from doing hundreds of propellor-winds!
Having spare space in my parcel I opted for two - a small Piper Cub and a larger Sukhoi 29 aerobatics plane. I also got the battery powered winder - an absolute must especially as you can have it for only a few dollars!
Arriving in a large parcel of other aircraft and ancillaries, it was not altogether surprising that these diminutive craft were left sidelined for some. However they eventually piqued interest and were assembled easily enough. I had thought that both models were of similar scale, however it turned out that the Sukhoi was an altogether larger and more powerful craft compared to the diminutive Cub.
A lazy sunny afternoon was the perfect opportunity to take the little craft to the field for an outing. The Sukhoi was the obvious point of interest being much larger and equipped with quad rubber bands compared to the mini-Piper with only two. The Sukhoi was needed 200 turns (the battery winder is actually equipped with a winding counter, believe it or not) while the Cub needed just a quick 70.
Now, considering the total package cost only fifteen dollars one would not have expected much entertainment from these little planes, but we were soon convinced otherwise. Launching the Sukhoi revealed a marvellously-well balanced plane that flew gracefully like a much larger craft. Remarkably it would often manage to execute an excellent landing, quite remarkable something of such rudimentary construction.
The Cub, which appeared to be much too small to be used outside, proved perhaps the biggest surprise, accelerating at a jaw dropping rate before executing loops and stalls. It would also often finish with acrobatics landings, cartwheeling before flipping or landing on its nose, all without the slightest hint of damage to its delicate frame and wings!
It was many launches later, when the winder's batteries was beginning to run low that we finally picked up the little flyers and headed for home. The Cub had made one bad landing which had split the wings in half, causing spontaneous mourning for the plucky little craft.
However we reassured ourselves that two piece of sticky tape carefully applied would restore it to pristine flying condition, ready for another afternoon at the park...
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