PHOTO: JOE SAITTA
A lot of wood and fiberglass is shown here (above left) for the 105-inch version of the Me-163. The canopy is crystal clear! Gary Rheault (above right) poses with his People’s Choice Award winning Me-163 at the 2012 Arizona Jet
back to Joe Saitta again, since he is the one who makes them and is the topic of a current thread on one of the forums!
You now know my primary (love of the
Ziroli Panther) and secondary (the Me-163 Komet) reason for searching out Joe Saitta’s offerings, so some more information on the Komet is needed.
First, it is available in two sizes: an 82-
inch version (which has panel lines molded in) and a 105-inch version. Both consist of a fiberglass fuselage and cowl, clear canopy and all the wood needed for the built-up wing structure, and most importantly for an Me-163: plans for the takeoff dolly! The 82-inch version was designed around a strong .60 to 1.20 2-stroke engine, and then redone for a P-60 sized turbine. All up, this airplane should come in at about nine pounds, so hand launching is possible. The larger 105-inch version was designed
for a minimum 1.20 up to a 3500 glow engine, and redesigned for a P-120 turbine. Gary’s 105-inch version with the P-120 weighs in at 28 pounds. Costs are (imho) very reasonable at between $350 and $750 plus shipping, and gets you a nice flying, and unique airplane, which you can work around an engine (or large electric motor) that you already own.
PHOTO: GARY RHEAULT
Rally. Powered with a JetCat P120, takeoff is vertical. Gary reports that the only difficult part of flying the Kometis keeping the 12-inch wide takeoff dolly pointing straight down the runway. He also states that, “If you fly one, you will want one.”
While I have not flown one, I can tell you that both the smaller prop version and the larger turbine version require a dead stick landing, since the wing loading is so low and the glide ratio is so high. Watching Gary’s large version blast straight up until he grew tired of straining his neck upon takeoff, and then glide by very slowly, and virtually silently until advancing the throttle, one gets impressed with its speed range and he reports that it is a pussy cat to fly. Landing is a non-issue with holding (the now glider) off until it just touches its metal skid to the runway, and makes a horrible, screeching sound; which is why the skid is metal! Now on to the creme-de-la-creme: the Me-262. For me, the 262 as well as Lock- heed’s P-38 rank as two of the most beauti- ful airplanes ever. The 262 with its need for twin power has always held me back, until several years ago when two “C” versions (from the Grummania kit) showed up in Denver. The full scale “C” version had a rocket motor ejecting from the rear of the fuselage for additional thrust and a faster takeoff, but for us modelers, it allows a sin- gle engine installation.
The Joe Saitta version has apparently, been around for awhile, and has been flown
with OS 1.08/1.20 2-strokes and props in the nacelles, as well as edf and twin P60 or P70 turbines. It has also (in the “C” version) flown with a single P120 turbine. It is 107 inches in span, and weighs in at about 36 pounds. Since the gear have some unique angles to them, he also sells the full Robart (modified) gear for this airplane. Joe now has a new, optional, ready-built fiberglass wing center section with all the spars, wing tubes and retract mounts available, which should be a great time saver.
Interestingly, he has a full decal set avail- able for the 262 for Yellow 7 , which is the re- stored aircraft in the Smithsonian’s down- town building—and that I have a large number of detail photos of!
To wrap things up and allow for room for photos, there are options available to us in the form of “old-tyme-kits” from several manufacturers in several different sizes. Joe Saitta Models has three different models available to us and at very reasonable prices. For more information on his offerings, he can be contacted at:
b17gjoe@juno.com, by phone at 727-398-4417 or by snail-mail at 10672 94th Place North, Seminole, FL 33772. Until next time: keep busy with your build- ing projects, fly safe, and trust in thrust!
PHOTOS: JOE SAITTA
An Me-262C during construction shows the reshaped tail (above left) (to allow for the rocket/turbine pipe) and the reasonably light lay up. With a wing span of 107 inches, this is nota small airplane! Yellow 7 (above right) on her wheels. The nice, large equipment hatch is noticeable. Engine and fuel tank installation (at right) in an Me-262C. Easily accessible and simple!
Fortbend Jet Rally First in Flight Jet Rally April 13
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Upcoming Events Fortbend RC Club, Rosenberg, TX
John Bell Williams Airport Raymond, MS (suburb of Jackson, MS)
Wilson Industrial Air Park, Wilson, NC CD: Larry Lewis, 919-231-4983
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