Aeroflyte Gemini Ad 1988

Building and training on the Aeroflyte Gemini________

I haven’t flown RC since the Eighties so before I finish or consider flying the Twin Comanche, I need to get my skills to a level where I feel I will be able to handle the big twin. The best known model kit company in the 60s to 90s in Australia was Aeroflyte and like so many of my compatriots I started with a Cox .049 control line and graduated to Aeroflyte control line kits and eventually, when I was earning enough to afford it, I graduated into the Aeroflyte Hustler RC trainer.

Discussing my lack of practice with the local club members the advice across the board was, ‘buy a foamy’. The problem is that I have a problem with buying and flying an aircraft off the shelf. I have absolutely no interest in flying such a beast. I must build it to get any satisfaction out of flying it. Bit pedantic but that’s my thing.

So I’ve temporarily shelved the Comanche and looked for a project to hone my flying skills. I decided an intermediate trainer would probably be a good start. While considering scratch building another Aeroflyte Hustler, I came across and remembered the Gemini. An advanced trainer with the same wing as the Hustler but low mounted. It fitted the bill perfectly. If I electrified it, I could use the same running gear that I had bought for the Comanche.

I downloaded the plans from http://www.hippocketaeronautics.com. This is a great site for scratch builders.

For the next 3 weeks I ignored most of my work commitments. I redesigned the nose section to accommodate the batteries and nose steering and electric motor. I was very pleased with myself when I found that the aircraft was perfectly balanced when the battery was as far forward as was practical.

It turned out that the idea of building another aircraft rather than buying one was a particularly good idea for the sake of the Twin Comanche. In doing so I refined some techniques I'll use covering and finishing the Twin.

 Now it is off to the club to fly the new Gemini. I will post some videos and pics of her flying.

 

 

Cheers