DH Venom FB1 by David & Will Beavor

Epoxy Glass Fibre Mouldings

Here are the details for our D.H. Venom FB1 that made its maiden flight on the 30/12/2000 in unpainted form and has finally flown in its painted form on the 13/7/2001. Why the delay? Several reasons:

• Launch problems due to a Bungee that was too powerful. The model climbed too steeply and stalled off the line – solved with a weaker Bungee.
• Repairs caused by launch problems.
• Getting colour scheme details from the pilot of the real aircraft. Admittedly this was a self-imposed delay but we wanted an authentic colour scheme.
• Bad weather.

The colour scheme is for a Venom of 73 squadron when operated in the Mediterranean area of the Middle East during the mid fifties. The aircraft depicts the commanding officers machine flown by Squadron Leader J.F.Manning AFC. Other details are:

Length: 31.75" (806.45mm)

Wingspan: 41" (1041.4mm) across the tip tanks

Wing Area: 34999.9mm² (279in²)

Airfoil: NACA 0010

Inlet Area: 2752.626mm² (4.266ins²). About 97% FSA.

Outlet Area: 1963.5mm² (3.043in²). About 69.4% FSA.

Fan unit: WeMoTec Mini Fan 480

Motor: Kontronik BL400-29 with Kontronik 3SLB 25-6-12 speed control (Fan Drive)

Motor current: 22Amps

Energy: 10 x 1250mAh Sanyo SCR

Weight: 44oz (1244g)

Construction: Centre section, tip tanks and booms are epoxy&glass mouldings with carbon and Kevlar reinforcement and ply formers. Wing and tail are conventional built up sheeted Balsa. Ducts and canopy are vacuum moulded plastic.

The model features very near scale area intakes and outlet and despite this managed to ROS (Rise Off Snow) for its maiden flight.

The model is a joint venture between my father and I. He did the drawings and made the 'plugs' for the centre section, tip tanks and booms. I made all the moulds and mouldings and carried out the construction. I also constructed a simple vacuum-moulding machine to produce the vacuum moulded parts.

Preparing for flight

On the ramp ready to go

Pictures of the Model in Flight 

We would like to thank Don Minterne – author of ‘The History of 73 Squadron parts 1,2&3’ – for his suggestion on colour scheme and his excellent book, and Squadron Leader J.F.Manning AFC for filling in details of his aircraft.