Fouga CM8R Sylphe
 

Hello All,

I have always found the Fouga CM8R Sylphe (see: http://www.minijets.org/index.php?i...Hash=eec8acf0b9 and http://www.google.com/#fp=8fd259d59...ga+cm+8r+sylphe ) to be an aesthetically pleasing design. Dimensioned drawings of the Sylphe are attached below (I also have a large .dxf drawing file that I'll be happy to e-mail to anyone who'd like it--just PM me). This turbojet-powered sailplane not only makes a good Jetex- and Rapier motor-powered scale model, but it also has possibilities as a scale boost-glider (B/G) or rocket glider (RG). Its pod-mounted Turbomeca Pimene turbojet was located in about the same position on its upper forward fuselage where--in a front-motor boost-glider--the rocket motor-equipped "pop pod" is located. Also:

With folding wings (folding in the same [geometric] plane around short pivots located near the wings' roots, like the two blades of a pair of scissors), the trailing folded wings and the glider's "V"-tail would together provide a combination of trailing-stick and aerodynamic stability during powered ascent and coasting flight before ejection. For a B/G version, the motor could either eject just itself or a streamer-equipped motor pod tube (say, a BT-20 motor pod "sleeved" inside Quest 20 mm tubing, which in turn would be affixed inside the simulated turbojet pod). In an RG version of the Sylphe, the motor would slide backwards a certain distance against a "catch" instead of ejecting itself. In both versions, though, the ejecting (or rearward-sliding) motor would trip the release mechanism for the wings, which would unfold. In addition:

Such a B/G or RG Sylphe model could both boost to high altitudes and have a high L/D ratio in gliding flight. It could be built as a profile model (with a flat, sheet balsa fuselage), or as a "3-D" fuselage "built-up" model. Below are the two attached 3-view dimensioned Sylphe drawings; they are from André Lambert, a French designer of large (1/4 scale) R/C model aircraft (see: http://www.lamb-air.com/production.php ).

The French have designed some of the best looking aircraft. Some of my favorites are the Super Mystere, sort of a mini F-100 Super Sabre and the Rafale, which looks better than the Typhoon.

Heartily agreed! They have a flair for combining form with functionality. In addition to the aircraft you mentioned, I've also always admired the lines of the Dassault Mirage fighter and bomber series and the Sud Caravelle jetliner.