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The Schweizer 'two-place' was the first large scale
production Schweizer design and the first dozen were built
for private owners and clubs. This all-metal glider has a
strut-braced wing with upper surface spoilers for glidepath
control.
A batch was built for the U.S. Army Air Corps for the
initial instructor training class at Elmira and subsequently
more were ordered as the TG-2. Production was limited by the
availability of aluminum.
The U.S. Navy and Marines ordered 2-8's which were
designated LNS-1. Pre World War II civilian gliders were
impressed into the USAAC as the TG-2A. After the war. TG-2's
were much sought after as they were light, rugged and all
metal, despite a low 116 kph/ 63 kt/ 72 mph redline.
Even so, Bob Stanley and Ernie Schweizer made a goal
flight from Elmira to Washington, D.C. (373 km./232 miles)
and Dick Johnson set a 499 km./ 310 mile multi-place
distance record, both in 2-8's.
The ship is unusual in that it is mainly fastened with PK
self-tapping sheet metal screws &endash; there are very few
rivets. The empty weight of 204 kg./ 450 lb is the original
published figure. 2-8's which remain active have empty
weights in the 236-263 kg./ 520- 580 lb range.
An example of a LNS-1 belongs to the National Museum of
Naval Aviation at Pensacola, FL. The Vintage Sailplane
Association has copies of the military manuals, drawings of
the color schemes and paint chips available.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Special thanks to the Soaring
Society of America (SSA), for permission to use text and
specs from their publications. More information on vintage
soaring craft may be found at their pages and in their
publications and those of the
Vintage Sailplane
Association.
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Little FlyerTM Army Air Corp TG-2,
US Navy LNS-1 in 1:10 perfect scale
with optional scale documentation, hardware
packs and complete decal sets.
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The
Little FlyerTM LNS-1 ready for
maiden!
"Little Flyer" at RC Groups (Jeff Walters) asked
me to help with a twice-size version of the Earl
Stahl TG-2 so I worked a deal to oblige him with an
original design that we came to call the "Little
Flyer" TG-2 at 1:10 scale. I kinda liked the sound
of that and decided to brand the whole series of 2
meter and smaller scale woodies under that name.
With the help of his dad John, the team did an
outstanding job on the beta build with some of the
best photos you will find at RC Groups and maidened
their new model in LNS-1 colors at Woodcrafters
2006. They were able to beat the target weight by
coming in at only 18 oz. all up and turned in 30 or
so flights from the high start at Muncie with
incredible flight performance! Way to go guys. I
have to say that the effort to kit an original
training glider at this scale would not have been
possible without you.
Drawn over 1942 Schweizer blueprints, it is
about as close to exact scale as it comes. Option
for truss or bulkhead and stringer fuse are shown
on the plans and we have available decal sets for
either the US Army Air Corps or the Navy versions.
She is a very capable thermalling design using
lightweight film covering and best construction
methods coming in at nearly 8.5 oz. per
foot2 wing loading, yet is very robust
and with ballast up to an additional 10 ounces,
will do quite well on the slope. This model can be
stood on its wing tip in sharp thermal turns with
no bad tendecies but she does like to fly fast.
Likewise, because we cut every complex part
including all of the wing skins and ailerons spars
and leading and trailing edges as well as all of
the complex parts for the tails be pre-notched,
this model builds very quickly and accurately over
the detailed two page plans.
Use a lightweight histart designed for 2 meter
or smaller ships with moderate stretch and give her
a stout toss to the horizon to get her flying off
the launch. 3/16" tubing of 30 feet with 60-70 feet
of line would be ideal but much higher launches are
possible.
Check
out the build log here
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SPECS
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Span:
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62 3/8" (1.2m)
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Length:
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30 1/2" (76 cm)
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Aspect:
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10.4:1
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Area:
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298 in.2
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All up weight:
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18 oz.
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Wing loading:
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8.6 oz./ft.2
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Airfoil:
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SD 3021
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Scale:
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1:10
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No. Servos Req'd:
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2-5
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FUNCTIONS:
Rudder, Elevator,
Dive Brakes, Ailerons, Tow Release
(optional) or may be built as aileron and
elevator or rudder and elevator
only.
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PARTIAL
KIT CONTENTS
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All balsa and plywood wing ribs,
Plywood Fuselage side doublers,
Fuselage bulkheads,
Pre-cut shear webs
Pre-cut 1/16" wing sheeting,
Light ply nose stringers,
Laser cut and notched aileron, rudder and
elevator trailing edges,
Canopy bow templates,
Vac-formed Canopy, .030"
Plans, 2 sheets 24" x 36", rolled.
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OPTIONAL
HARDWARE PACK
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Lightweight wheel/tire 1.5" dia,
Steel wire axle, 1/16",
Dura collars 1/16",
2-56 x 1/2" stab mounting bolts,
Hinges, nylon small,13,
Pushrods (tails) 2 24" length,
1/4" 6061 T6 aluminum wing rod,
9/32" OD brass joiner sleeve,
1/8" x 6"dowel incidence pin,
1/2" brass wing retainer hooks.
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NEEDED TO
COMPLETE MODEL
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1/8" x 1/4 x 36" Spruce spars (4),
Balsa shear webs
Stringer stock,
Cable actuators (dive brakes) 2,
Adhesive epoxy and CA cements,
Covering, fabric or film,
Servos, wires, battery and receiver.
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Steve Moskal Design TG-2 1:5 Sport
Scale
with available scale
documentation.
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David
Tanner's TG-2 ready for aerotow in British
Columbia. Great picture Dave and even nicer model,
thanks!
This is a historical design due the fact that
both the Army Air Corp and the US Marines used the
SGS 2-8 for training pilots during World War II,
designated the USAAC TG-2 and the US Navy LNS-1
Training Gliders. Both can be built in sport scale
versions from this great design by Steve Moskal and
kitted by TMRC with his permission.
It was not uncommon for vintage sailplanes of
this era to be converted to "flat-top" single-seat
sailplanes for competition and images may be found
of both 2-8s and Laister Kauffmann LK-10s in this
configuration. The theory was that by removing the
rear seat, instruments, controls and the entire
turtle deck structure of formers and stringers,
that empty weights could be substantially reduced
and more importantly, parasitic drag drastically
reduced. With their high aspect ratios and long
spans of greater than 15 meters, these ships it was
thought could be competitive in open class soaring
contests. I have photos of both LKs and barebones
pictures of the TG-2 that have undergone such
modifications.
This model has great flying performance to go
with its great looks. Steve recently won duration
events in scale at Ray Hayes Woodcrafters event at
the AMA's national flying field in Muncie. Way to
go Steve.... great work, and thanks for this great
model!
Check
out the build log here
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SPECS
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Span:
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131 3/4" (3.3m)
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Length:
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62 3/4" (1.6m)
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Aspect:
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10.4:1
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Area:
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1248 in.2
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All up weight:
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6.5 lbs.
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Wing loading:
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12 oz./ft.2
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Airfoil:
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Clark Y
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Scale:
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1:5 sport scale
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No. Servos Req'd:
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5-7
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FUNCTIONS:
Rudder, Elevator,
Dive Brakes, Ailerons, Tow Release
(optional)
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PARTIAL
KIT CONTENTS
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All balsa and plywood wing ribs,
Plywood Fuselage side doublers,
Fuselage bulkheads,
Light ply nose stringers,
Balsa tail ribs, spars and tips,
Sheet balsa tails,
Canopy bow templates,
Plastic canopy material
Plans, 2 sheets 36" x 52", rolled.
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HARDWARE
PACK CONTENTS
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Lightweight wheel/tire 3" dia,
Steel wire axle, 5/32",
Dura collars 5/32",
3-48 x 3/4" stab mounting bolts,
Hinges, nylon large,12,
Pushrods (tails) 2 48" length,
3/8" 7075 T6 aluminum wing rod,
13/32" OD brass joiner sleeve,
1/8" x 6" spring steel incidence pin,
5/32" OD brass incidence sleeve.
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NEEDED TO
COMPLETE MODEL
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Wing and fuse 1/16" balsa sheet,
Spruce spars,
Balsa shear webs
Stringer stock,
Cable actuators (dive brakes) 2,
Adhesive epoxy and CA cements,
Covering, fabric or film,
Servos, wires, battery and receiver.
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