Dyke Delta Aircraft Question
Spencer Minear
I am an RC model builder and am planning to start on a "reasonably"
scale model of the Dyke Delta. I've seen two sets of plans for this
plane and both show a very boxy square sided cockpit/canopy. I
have found one short write up and picture of a Dyke Delta in a
Aviation encyclopia book that showed a plane with a very nicely
rounded cockpit/canopy.
I'm told that there was an early first built version and then a later
version of this plane after the first was lost in a fire. If that is
the case that the scale plans I've seen could be of the early or
earlier version of the plane, while real aircraft picture I have is of
a later version of the plane?
If someone has knowledge of this plane and have seen it in both forms
I'd like to know a bit more about it before I start. I am not out to
do an topflight scale model, but IF they were all rounded then I'd
sort-of like to see what I can to do duplicate that style rather than
just follow the plan I have and do the square sided version.
Thanks in advance for any information you may be able to provide.
Spence Minear
min...@securecomputing.com
Tony P.
Spence:
The Dyke Delta has a substantial vertical surface on both sides of the
cockpit, and I'm told cannot lightly be tampered with due to
considerations of horizontal stability.
There is a 2/3 size (more or less) single seater made of wood (the
Delta is mostly metal tube and fiberglass) that is called the Delta
Stingray or something like that, which was featured in about 1990 in
Kitplanes mag. It has a round bubble-style canopy and is a
one-of-a-kind modification of the Delta. It is said to be reasonably
flyable, but I doubt it is as docile as a properly-built Delta.
I may have one jpg of a "real" Delta, but if you've seen a web page,
it's probably the same one you've seen. Plans are still available, of
course.
--
Tony Pucillo
[I speak only for myself unless I say otherwise. One personality is
quite enough, thank you.]
"Castigat ridendo mores" <laughter succeeds where lecturing won't>
Ronald James Wanttaja
In article <611vsp$r...@news.onramp.net>,
Michele Boland <mich...@inficad.com> wrote:
>
>There is a lot of misunderstanding about delta aerodynamics. Most of the
>designs that have been reported to have "hot" handling characteristics sound
>like they suffer from excessively forward CG or the pilots are distressed by
>the high angle of attack produced in slow flight and never actually fly them
>correctly.
Reminds me of Chuck Yeager's mention of the XF-102 in his autobiography.
Sounds like, in that case as well, people weren't willing to fly the
delta-winged aircraft at the high AOA they required.
Ron Wanttaja
want...@halcyon.com
http://www.halcyon.com/wanttaja/
Michele Boland
In article <3431E8...@mail.idt.net>, ae...@mail.idt.net wrote:
>Spence:
>
> The Dyke Delta has a substantial vertical surface on both sides of the
>cockpit, and I'm told cannot lightly be tampered with due to
>considerations of horizontal stability.
>
of the prototype of a "Dykes" modified for production by a French company.
The caption claimed that the French company intended to produce these for sale
in the "G.A." segment. They used a more traditional "blended canopy".
Originally Dykes claimed the canopy/cabin shape was to get maximum lift from
the section.
Michele
PS: Someone should do composite "update" to the Dykes design.
> There is a 2/3 size (more or less) single seater made of wood (the
>Delta is mostly metal tube and fiberglass) that is called the Delta
>Stingray or something like that, which was featured in about 1990 in
>Kitplanes mag. It has a round bubble-style canopy and is a
>one-of-a-kind modification of the Delta. It is said to be reasonably
>flyable, but I doubt it is as docile as a properly-built Delta.
>
There is a lot of misunderstanding about delta aerodynamics. Most of the
designs that have been reported to have "hot" handling characteristics sound
like they suffer from excessively forward CG or the pilots are distressed by
the high angle of attack produced in slow flight and never actually fly them
correctly. A delta will fly with a very wide CG range, but require the CG to
be properly place to reach a reasonable compromise between slow flight and
horizontal stability. CG too far back and you lose pitch stability, CG too
far forward and you don't have enough pitch authority to slow down (you can't
achieve a high angle of attack). I read an article about a Dykes Delta in
which the owner said it had to be flown on the ground at ove 100 MPH. Clearly
incorrect given other Dyke Delta flight reports. I suspect CG error or
control mis-rigging. Of course there is one other concern with delta
configurarions and that is that they are extremely "draggy" at high angles of
attack and it is easy to find yourself on the "back side' of the power curve.
Michele
PS: I believe that John Dykes' wife got her license in the second prototype.
Does anyone know if that was true?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Michele Boland - Adventuress, Aviatrix, Musician and
all around clever person!
Dedicated to the domestication of the Platypus!
learn more about Michele at - http://rampages.onramp.net/~micheleb
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cy Galley
Why not write or call John Dyke? he lives at 2840 Old Yellow Spring Road,
Fairborn, OH 45324 Phone 513-878-9832
He is the designer, builder, and seller of the full size plans. He might
just be about to provide a 3 view as the FAA requires a 3 view from every
homebuilder.
Cy Galley - Chairman, Emergency Aircraft Repair, Oshhosk Convention
Spencer Minear <min...@sctc.com> wrote in article
<60ruuh$1ps$1...@news3.mr.net>...
Lori
In article <611vsp$r...@news.onramp.net>,
Although I have not personally flown a Dyke Delta, I have ridden in them
countless times, and know the designer personally. I've also been to
numerous gatherings where new Dyke Delta builders have discussed the
issue of flying this machine. Over and over I have heard how surprised
they were at its ease of flying. Often it is said that it "flies
itself". The design, I believe, is strong and should not be tampered
with. 35 years of flying with limited serious incidents back up this
statement. Every design has its merits; change them and risk losing
them.
Regarding a French company manufacturing them, there is no contract with
them. To do so could very well mean an infringement of copyrights,
intellectual rights, and morality. Of course, not everyone plays by the
same rules.
The Delta Stingray is a wooden single-seat delta wing design. I believe
it is one-of-a-kind. It has flown for years, at least over 17 years
that I know of. (I've known the pilot at least that long.)
To my knowledge, there are no composite configurations of the Dyke Delta.
I do know of a partially fiberglass, beautiful example of a Dyke Delta.
The workmanship is superb, and it flies as well. There have been several
constructed of aluminum.
In reply to getting a license in the JD-2 (the second prototype), that is
not true because experimental aircraft are not permitted for FAA
checkrides. She learned to fly in various airplanes, including a
Taylorcraft L2 and a Piper Cherokee. (They actually own both now.) She
has flown the Delta on several occasions.
Just a few thoughts.
Lori
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Tony P.
Michele:
The few reports I have read of any lack of docility in the Delta
related to excessive forward CG. I have not heard that the elimination
of the vertical surface on the side of the cockpit has actually AFFECTED
stability, just that its elmination is not recommended due to
considerations of stability. The point is it makes it a different
aircraft than the designer intended and you're on your own for
compensation. You know how changing one thing affects everything else,
and most homebuilders aren't able to do the engineering needed.
I'd like to know more about the French design. I must have that issue
if I can figure out which week. I can never get to them it seems.
DLK6354
FYI: The current issue of "Radio Control Modeller" (RCM) features an article
and plans for the Dyke Delta.