| Heaven Rubber Bandit | |
|---|---|
| Role | Experimental aircraft |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | George Heaven |
| Number built | 1 |
The Rubber Bandit was an experimental aircraft, designed and built in the 1990s by George Heaven, of Van Nuys, California, which was powered by a rubber-band motor.
Development
George Heaven was a pilot and aeronautical engineer who wanted to make the first flight in a rubber powered airplane. [1] Development work included the building and testing of a 1⁄25th scale free flight model, which had a 27 in (69 cm) wingspan. This was followed by building and testing of a 1⁄4 scale rubber powered, radio-controlled model, which had a 17 ft (5.2 m) wingspan. The latter craft was said to be the largest rubber-powered airplane to have taken off and flown under its own power. [2]
The full-sized craft, dubbed the Rubber Bandit, was of conventional configuration. It was a high-wing monoplane, fitted with a tractor propeller. The craft's primary structure was made of carbon-fiber and Kevlar tubing, with the wings and tail surfaces being built from carbon-fiber ribs, and covered in blue Mylar film. [3] The wing was of constant chord, with the outer panels set at a slight dihedral. There were no ailerons, with all control being via the tail surfaces, which were operated by remote control servos. The fuselage consisted of a single tube, within which the rubber-motor was contained. A small nacelle, located under the fuselage and below the wing, accommodated the pilot and a passenger. [4]
Rubber motor
The motor was made of 0.25 in (0.64 cm)-wide rubber, folded into 800 strands, and measured 24 ft (7.3 m) long and would be wound up to 800 revolutions. [1] According to an article in Flying the motor, fully wound, would initially generate the equivalent of 18 hp (13 kW), at high torque and rpm, before reducing down to 4 hp (3.0 kW) after 20 seconds. [3] The motor would run for an estimated 90 seconds, sufficient for the airplane to take off and make a 0.5 mi (0.80 km) flight.
Testing
Initial media coverage indicated the airplane would be completed and flight testing undertaken before the end of 1996. [2] [1] A 1998 Los Angeles Times article reported that the first taxi tests took place in March 1998, with the second being on May 3. [4] A 2011 article published on the Sustainable Skies website reported that testing of the Rubber Bandit had continued through to 2003, with some short hops but no flights being made. [5]
Specifications
Data from Rubber Bandit [6]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 33 ft (10 m)
- Wingspan: 71 ft (22 m)
- Wing area: 310 sq ft (29 m2)
- Aspect ratio: 16.26
- Airfoil: NACA laminar flow, 15% thickness
- Empty weight: 250 lb (113 kg) including 100 lb rubber motor
- Gross weight: 520 lb (236 kg) with 170 lb pilot
- Powerplant: 1 × rubber motor , 18 hp (13 kW)
- Propellers: 2-bladed, 18 ft 2 in (5.54 m) diameter fixed pitch
Performance
- Maximum speed: 55 mph (89 km/h, 48 kn)
- Cruise speed: 32 mph (51 km/h, 28 kn)
- Stall speed: 20 mph (32 km/h, 17 kn)
- Wing loading: 1.68 lb/sq ft (8.2 kg/m2)
See also
References
- ^ a b c Barry, Dave (2000). "Rubber-Band Man". Dave Barry is not taking this sitting down!. New York, NY: Crown Publishers. pp. 11–13. ISBN 0609600672. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
- ^ a b Carter, Peter (March 1999). "The Rubber Bandit Project" (PDF). New Clarion SAM 1066 Newsletter. No. 32019. Rugby, UK: Society of Antique Modellers. p. 15. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
- ^ a b Garrison, Peter (February 1996). "Rubber power stretches a new design". Flying. Vol. 123, no. 2. New York, NY: Hachette Filipacchi Magazines, Inc. pp. 98–99. ISSN 0015-4806. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
- ^ a b Willman, Martha L. (May 11, 1998). "Experimental Aircraft Expected to Stretch the Limits of Aviation". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
- ^ Sigler, Dean (August 9, 2011). "A Chance to Unwind". Sustainable Skies. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
- ^ "Aircraft Technical Data". www.rubberbandit.org. Rubber Bandit. Archived from the original on February 5, 2005. Retrieved May 29, 2023.