French airplane : Le PIAF

nico010 wrote:cute model. Congratulations. I kept an eye on it since I found the plans in outerzone. in the rcgroup forum there is a thread of the construction of theat model that is very well explained.
nice model to use as a test bed for radios and engines.
again congratulations.

Thank you ! This one has the same color scheme as my first one (which was also my first successful RC airplane).

The design is very simple and straightfoward ; furthermore it dates back to 1979 and was conceived as a beginner's RC trainer, and thus was designed to handle standard radio gear from the seventies... there's plenty of room inside !

It's a very convenient test bed, you're right ! This one is the 7th I've build. I tryed it with many engines (Cox, MPJet, brushed direct drive, brushed geared, brushless outrunner).

I also look at the build log on RCGroup.

You can find a good plan here : http://clap54b.free.fr/RCavion/Piaf/piaf.htm .

Vincent

I hope I work as well as that Baby Bee when I'm 60! What prop do you have on there?

dirk gently wrote:I hope I work as well as that Baby Bee when I'm 60! What prop do you have on there?

I use a 6x3 cox propeller from Cox International.

Vincent

Vincent, I wonder if the aircraft's name is a reference to "The Sparrow"?
I have always adored her voice.
Beautiful plane too.
Bob

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzy2wZSg5ZM&list=PLr0rPlnrBrm7ZTg2Ws2x4MWvhXjT7YVVd

dckrsn wrote:Vincent, I wonder if the aircraft's name is a reference to "The Sparrow"?
I have always adored her voice.
Beautiful plane too.
Bob

Hello Bob,

"Piaf" is french slang for sparrow, but also any little bird of the same size.

I think there's nothing related to Edith (who was a very small lady, hence is nickname "La môme" (the kid) or "La môme Piaf"). Very difficult to explain all the underlying of this, as english is not my native langage. It's more a part of the after WW2 french culture.

Vincent

In case anyone wants to build another one: https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=9214

dirk gently wrote:In case anyone wants to build another one: https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=9214

I think this plan (click here) is more accurate to the designer idea : the airfoil has been changed (16% thickness).

Vincent

Grosvince wrote:

dckrsn wrote:Vincent, I wonder if the aircraft's name is a reference to "The Sparrow"?
I have always adored her voice.
Beautiful plane too.
Bob

Hello Bob,

"Piaf" is french slang for sparrow, but also any little bird of the same size.

I think there's nothing related to Edith (who was a very small lady, hence is nickname "La môme" (the kid) or "La môme Piaf"). Very difficult to explain all the underlying of this, as english is not my native langage. It's more a part of the after WW2 french culture.
Vincent

Thanks for the reply, Vincent.
Bob

getback wrote:
 Is the thickness/wing the only change in the plans? I am thinking about it but don't read french .

Hello

Sorry for the late answer...

Over the time there was many flavour of PIAFs. First was issued  in February 79, in french "Modèle Magazine" magazine. The text stated it had taken 5 prototype to achieve the plane. At this time the plan was published directly in the paper, scaled down by 50%, on A3 format. The build log on RC Group is based on this plan, but the builder prefer to join wings with epoxy and glass fiber rather than the original plywood key.

Because of the huge success of the first plan, in 1982 an improved plan was drawn, with beginners in mind (a step by step build was drawn on the plan), which has taken into account builders feedbacks. The airfoil change at this point for the "PNSD116" (Patrick Nicolas Spécial Demi 16%) which was an airfoil design by Patrick Nicolas, the PIAF designer. This airfoil has 16% thickness, to reduce speed of 1/2 A planes without throttle control. The link I publishes is a CAD drawn plan but very accurate to the second blueprint.

Try a PIAF, you'll fall in love of this simple aircraft !

Vincent

You guys are totally funny !

MM don't have the same status as EP in France.

All in all, it's not my kind of music, not my generation.

Vincent