Glider ID please…ah! it's a Centiphase

[David Ashby]

Hi chaps, hope you can help. 

I’ve acquired this 3-channel glider from a dec’d club member’s model sale, but don’t know the name. It has a glass fuselage and foam/veneer wings. I’d guess it’s 1980s vintage, but perhaps you’d know for sure. All-moving stab, span is 100”. Tow release on the underside. 
 

[David Ashby]

Found it, pretty certain it’s CF Centiphase. 

[John Lee]

? You just beat me to it David. Looks a lovely model.

[David Ashby]

Thanks John, yes, looks like it hasn't flown very much at all. 

 

[Steve Colman]

Gorgeous looking model.

[Steve Houghton 1]

Wow, that's in great condition!

[Gary Binnie]

Very nice David.

 

The tailplanes are on upside down, there is a cut away section at the front that allows clearance to the fin at full up elevator.

 

I have two flying Centi-Phases (one with foam wings, one with built-up wings), one wooden fuselage build in progress and years ago I was given a CP but wrote it off on the slope (bottom landing).

 

From a scrap CP fuselage I built a Hi-Phase, later Hi-Phases had their own fibreglass fuselage.

 

   Cheers

 

        Gary

 

 

 

 

[David Ashby]

Thanks chaps.

 

Gary, yes, I realised the stab’ halves were upside down when I connected everything up yesterday evening ☺️. I’ve used your set up c of g and throws from your build thread ?

[Gary Binnie]

The Centi-Phase kit (glass fuselage/foam wing) was reviewed in the May 1979 'Radio Modeller', the kit was released in February.

 

Prior to that 'plan packs' were available, wing ribs (in a sandwich), hardware and a plan. My white CP was built using a kit fuselage and plan pack wing ribs.

 

The built-up wing version is much lighter and is better for flat field flying, the foam wing version is very nice on the slope in a light to moderate breeze.

 

There could be one or two main wing joiner rods, stacked. The double rod was advised for 'enthusiastic flying' and tow/bungee launches in windy conditions. My white CP has only one rod to keep the weight down and I also only launch it with thin surgical tube bungee on light wind days. If you leave out the smaller incidence pin wire it will behave very strangely, ask me how I know!!

 

This model has self-connecting Graupner spoilers (No 93), they are operated by the white plastic fitting which is a torque tube in the fuselage.

 

 

 

[David Ashby]

Thanks Gary, I did wonder if the extra joiner hole was for enthusiastic flying. Slope first I think. 

[Gary Binnie]

You might have fun getting it back down with no spoilers!

 

Looks like your model doesn't have much dihedral, perhaps it's the camera angle.

 

 

[David Ashby]

No, the wings were just plugged in on a thin piece of wire, I made a wing joiner proper later on. 

[David Ashby]

She’s flown. Gusting 15mph but the model felt comfortable after a little trimming and acclimatisation. I may move the C of G forward a little but I’ll fly it on a gentler day first before doing anything. 
 

As you said Gary, landing needed some care, but our slope has a large landing area that gave time and space to lose height in a less turbulent space. Other flyers loved the groovy wing decoration ?

[Gary Binnie]

It's a lovely shape in any colour scheme!

 

 

[John Minchell]

Nice Centi Phase David, but I am really interested in the tail less swept flying wing in the same picture - any details please? 

You can PM me so as not to hijack the thread onto a different topic. 

Thanks John M

[r6dan]

that is absolutely stunning!

[David Ashby]

7 hours ago, John Minchell said:

Nice Centi Phase David, but I am really interested in the tail less swept flying wing in the same picture - any details please? 

You can PM me so as not to hijack the thread onto a different topic. 

Thanks John M

It’s an own-design from my slope flying buddy Paul. Must be around 3m span but that’s all I know. 
His excellent blog is here if you want to make contact: http://goodwindsoaring.blogspot.com