When going through my old Model Rocketry binders, I came across this July, 1969 Design Of The Month winner. The Scorpion was designated as Estes Plan #68.
This is not a pop pod boost glider but had standard parachute recovery.
There are similarities in the wing shape and overall feel in the Estes Sky Dart. Did the Scorpion influence this Larry Renger design?
The wing shape on the new Estes Low Boom SST has the same feel as the wing in the Scorpion.
The Scorpion has a long tail shroud like the Low Boom SST.
The Scorpion had a single center jet intake resembling the Orbital Transport engine.
The new Low Boom SST engines are more complex in shape and construction.
One source of inspiration, at least for the name if nothing else, is probably the X-59 QueSST quiet supersonic transport research plane Lockheed is building for NASA. Obviously Estes couldn’t use the actual name - but I’d bet the shape was an influence. Been looking forward to this build since the LBSST is definitely on my buy list!
ReplyDeleteOops, meant to say “Enjoyed this build...” Not quite awake when I commented this since Chris did a great job with the LBSST build earlier this year.
DeleteHi Openroad,
DeleteThe X-59 has the red "air-flow" curved lines like the Estes Low Boom SST. I'm sure that was the inspiration for the kit decals!
I would have liked that top intake below the tail fin, like that was on the Estes Scissor Wing Transport.
The wing shape reminds me of the BAC-221 (which was an extensively rebuilt Fairey Delta 2) used as a built as a testbed for the ogee wing that was to be used on the Concorde. Another interesting feature of the Fairey Delta 2 was that it featured a droop nose - though in the FD-2 the cockpit section was part of the droop nose (on the Concorde, the drooping section was forward of the cockpit).
ReplyDeleteAs an aside, the in the Soviet Union there was an aircraft similar (in nature) to the BAC-221 -- the MiG-21I "Analog" - which was a testbed for development of the wing planform used on the Tu-144.
.. and of course there is the Douglas F5D Skylancer modified with ogee wing planform.
ReplyDeletehttps://artsandculture.google.com/asset/douglas-f5d-skylancer-fighter-modified-with-ogee-wing-planform-designed-for-mach-2-flight-dave-west/hAFk-VHoY44EYw?hl=en
Hi Naoto,
DeleteYou sure know your aircraft! I liked looking through the searches. I can see the resemblance to the BAC 221 wing shape. The Delta 2 wings are more triangular. The DF5D wing tips are more rounded.
Are these plans posted anywhere for download ?
ReplyDeleteManuel Mejia, Jr.
Here you go Manuel:
Deletehttp://www.spacemodeling.org/jimz/eirp_68.htm