Great Planes Dirty
A classic Pattern plane from the past returns as a modern day ARF!
By Ron Lockhart Birdy
PHOTOGRAPHY: RON LOCKHART & DAVE LOCKHART T
he Dirty Birdy, designed by Joe Bridi, is one of the all-time fa- vorites of many modelers, certainly including me! Its distinctive style makes it a real treat for the eyes. I flew one as a sport plane, and in my beginning years of flying AMA Pattern. At a few contests, my son, Dave, and I flew the same plane. I was delighted to have the opportunity to assem- ble and do a review of a current day, Almost Ready to Fly (ARF) Dirty Birdy. Great Planes has created a high fidelity
ARF version of the original Dirty Birdy. Its roots as a Pattern plane are easily seen in the air, as it is both stable, and fully aero- batic: loops, rolls, point rolls, stall turns, Im- melmanns, Cuban eights, and so on. Its ful- ly symmetrical wing makes it just as comfortable inverted, as upright. The Birdy excels at drawing straight lines, and grace- ful maneuvers. It has no bad habits and makes a great sport plane. The Dirty Birdy ARF has a fiberglass fuselage, with built-up balsa and plywood wings and tail group. Paint on the fuselage and fiberglass cowl is excellent! Wings, sta- bilizer, and rudder are done with matching iron-on film covering. It is set up for a .60 two-stroke engine, and requires five servos
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with a minimum 4-channel radio. My com- pleted model weighs 7 pounds, 8 ounces. It’s always nice to find a plane that finishes up in the lower range of weights noted. Tricycle landing gear is used on the Birdy, as was typical of Pattern planes of its era. The low wing design and wide set main landing gear handle take-offs and landings in cross wind nicely. The ARF has provisions for either fixed or retractable landing gear. All parts for installation of fixed gear are provided. A tuned pipe is also an option. Five or six servos and a four- to six-channel radio are required, depending on how you set up and equip your model.
This review model is configured with fixed tricycle gear, and an OS .65 AX two-stroke engine with a muffler. The Senior Pattern Association has approved this ARF for their events, with fixed gear, (or retracts left down) and without a tuned pipe. The Birdy will be great for Senior Pattern Association (SPA) events. For that matter, the Birdy will be a viable entry to current AMA Sportsman Pattern as well.
While a computer radio is not necessary for the Dirty Birdy, it has features that make setting up the controls easier, and can enhance some flight characteristics. For this
AT A GLANCE Type:
R/C sport & Pattern ARF
Construction: fiberglass, ply and balsa Wing span: Wing area: Airfoil: Length: Weight:
Wing loading: Engine: Radio:
Servos: Manufacturer:
64.5 inches 690 sq. in. symmetrical 56 inches 7.5 pounds 25 oz./sq.ft.
.60 two-stroke
4-channel minimum 5–6 standard Great Planes
Dist. by: Hobbico P.O. Box 9021, Champaign, IL 61826 217-398-3630
www.greatplanes.com NOVEMBER 2012
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