The Draken is one of my bigger projects. It took me long to build, partly because I wasn´t sure if it was a sound design. Quite a few modifications were made along the way, here´s the end result anyway!

    The top picture was taken just moments before the first take off. On it´s maiden flight Draken was nose heavy on the edge of being uncontrollable. It needed nearly full "up" just for straight and level flight!

    My friend Jan Hedström built a smaller all sheet Draken which flew about as far as we could throw it. It was totally unstable under power, but a controlled landing could be done after the throttle was shut.
   The problem was found to be a severe taiheaviness, and with a more forward balance point it flew. This encouraged me enough to start finishing my own Draken.

   The Draken really looked the part, but it was a pig to fly.The second flight ended in a crash, a failing pushrod being the cause.
   During the following rebuilding process, the balance point was moved an inch rearwards to gain more control in pitch.
    It felt much better now, looking really beautiful in flight.

This picture on the
right should remind me
of not to try multiple
rolls at low altitude!
The fourth flight too
ended in a crash...

   At this time Draken had made
a series of successful flights.
I attended a fly in in July 2002 and made a
few nice flights off a grass field to the
disbelief of some of the spectating "friends".
A bigger 1700 mAh flight battery is now serving as ballast in the rear of the model to get the balance point a little further rearwards.
 
Tech:
Engine:            ASP .75
Wing span:       116 cms
Length:           160 cms
Weight:           4400 gms

Björn's.©2002