50% SCALE RC De HAVILAND DH.88 COMET "GROSVENOR HOUSE" - TWIN ZENOAH 74cc - LMA COSFORD # 3 - 2022

(PART THREE OF THREE)

STEVE HOLLAND BUILT THIS STUNNING HALF SCALE RC MODEL 23 YRS AGO (CAN YOU IMAGINE THE SHOCK TO THE RC WORLD WHEN SHE FIRST FLEW)

SHE IS POWERED BY TWO 74cc ZENOAH PETROL ENGINES !

THE REAL AIRCRAFT SHE IS MODELED ON IS PRESERVED IN A MUSEUM AT THE SHUTTLEWORTH COLLECTION HERE IN THE UK AND STILL FLIES AT REGULAR DISPLAYS FOR THE PAYING PUBLIC !

INFO FROM STEVE,

First flown in 1999 after a three year build, I didn’t concentrate on it full time due to work commitments.
It’s flown around 800 flights in its 20 years. I put it aside 7 years ago after a full size display at Kemble and got it back out for the Nationals. I had to replace the batteries, one throttle servo and a choke servo.

Some of the paintwork was blown over, it still needs a complete respirated which isn’t worth doing until the minor wing skin issues on the wing fairings are rectified. I flew it at home before bringing it too the Nationals just so I could be current on it again.

It weighs around 140 pounds and is half scale at 22feet span. The model still is quite old school radio wise with for receivers each with their own power supply and a separate battery powering the flaps. When it was first flown it was on 35 MHz with a Futaba 9Zap radio system. It’s now using Futaba 2.4 MHz .

It’s interesting to note that the original Futaba 3303 quarter scale servos are still fitted. Some of the younger pilots couldn’t believe the size and relatively low power compared to modern servos. The retract system is home made using commercial Phesto air rams onto a welded steel frame work which folds pulling up the main legs. The main legs were made by an old friend and wonderful engineer Alan Dew from Ford Escort shock absorbers he found lying around.

REAL AIRCRAFT INFO -

The de Havilland DH.88 Comet is a British two-seat, twin-engined aircraft built by the de Havilland Aircraft Company. It was developed specifically to participate in the 1934 England-Australia MacRobertson Air Race from the United Kingdom to Australia.

Three Comets were produced for the race, all for private owners at the discounted price of £5,000 per aircraft. The aircraft underwent a rapid development cycle, performing its maiden flight only six weeks prior to the race. Comet G-ACSS Grosvenor House emerged as the winner. Two further examples were later built. The Comet went on to establish a multitude of aviation records, both during the race and in its aftermath, as well as participating in further races. Several examples were bought and evaluated by national governments, typically as mail planes. Two Comets, G-ACSS and G-ACSP, survived into preservation, while a number of full-scale replicas have also been constructed.

Top speed: 382 km/h
Range: 4,710 km
Cruise speed: 354 km/h
Unit cost: £5,000 GBP (1934)
Engine type: de Havilland Gipsy Six
Number built: 5

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FILMED AT AN RC MODEL AIRCRAFT SHOW RUN BY THE LMA ( LARGE MODEL ASSOCIATION ) AT RAF COSFORD - SHIFNAL WOLVERHAMPTON - SHROPSHIRE / STAFFORDSHIRE - TF11 8UP IN THE UK OVER THE WEEKEND OF 2-3 JULY - 2022