Success with the Kinetic 60, the first composite model wholly dedicated to dynamic soaring nearly immediately sparked interest in a 100 inch version.  Not wanting to engage in a wing wholly new, the customer opted for a new fuselage and a center section onto which the Kinetic 60’s wing panels could be fixed.  This presented a challenge to address phenomenon unique to dynamic soaring flight and conditions, specifically wing pressure distribution under DS conditions.  Working this out in part by drawing an extra long fuselage, the result was again an instant hit, setting a world speed record on its maiden flight, the first to exceed 300 mph.

Given full success with the Kinetic 60, The Kinetic 100v1 is the first of my own design work to go straight to molds.  No rapid prototyping required as full confidence was never in question.  Stylish and excellent with the muse coming from the Studebaker Avanti,  the airframe was/is designed to be timeless and always contemporary looking.  Airfoils again supplied by the late Habe Norbert,  they were converted to native geometry and tuned to produce a wing that works very well in a wide prevailing wind speed range and model weights.

The model is ‘Crossover’ in that it works very well under slope and DS conditions.  Word now out within that community, the Kinetic 100 v1 and Thundertaker v1 were designed, drawn, broken down into part files, coded, CNC machine carved and shipped entirely at my own expense.

For the second time in a row the customer refused compensation or credit of any kind, to include taking all design and drawing credits for himself.  A recurring pattern and SOP to come, the benefits to me are not immediate, but professionals and academics are starting to notice.  A ladder has formed with this model, and the second step up has taken place.  On starting to do work for myself armed with new tools, knowledge and experience, I revised this airframe into ‘Sheer‘.

Once again it is important to remember not to send drawings, parts or artifacts without payment first.  Always send renderings first.

Ultra bonus; The K100_v1 is a playable option in the Aerofly simulator.  (I wrote them to request they replace the pilot character to Beryl Markham)  Read an acclaimed article here.