The Tractor Monoplane "Ad Astra"
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To Fly the Machine.
Take it out into a field clear of trees and obstructions. Check wing for being square, i.e., at 90 deg. to centre line of fuselage, and with leading edge just over No. 4 former in fuselage. The author has found by long experience that it is not advisable to fix the wing to the fuselage rigidly, say with bolts or clips. Strapping wing in position with rubber bands is best, for should wing strike an obstacle when taxiing or in flight, the rubber breaks and not the wing or fuselage. Wind motor up by rotating airscrew from left to right, either by hand or with the aid of a wheel-brace, the chuck of which will be gripping the airscrew spindle. A little prong attachment can be made up as illustrated in item No. 38, composed of brass tube 2 in. long, into which is inserted a piece of piano wire 1¾ in. long and soldered flush with top of tube. Prongs bound and soldered to tube are of 16 s.w.g. piano wire, Rotate airscrew 300 times, then, placing machine on the ground, left hand grasping airscrew at boss, right hand holding fuselage at No. 5 former, release left hand and give machine a slight push with right hand, if flying off from grass. If in correct trim, which it will be if you have worked accurately, machine will rise, flying on an even keel, and gently land after flying for about 20 secs. 
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This lady, pictured with her Son, is the Great Niece of W. J. Plater!
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If it climbs rapidly, then dives, push wing back on fuselage 1/8 in. If it flies low, and sluggish on climb, push wing 1/8 in. forward, but don't alter tail setting. The tailplane should be at zero incidence, i.e., flat on top of fuselage.
520 turns is the maximum permissible without unduly straining rubber. Give rubber motor a rest after 25 to 30 consecutive flights. Machine will rise easily off ground under its own power, against wind, in approximately three times its own length. To hand launch, wind up motor, hold machine above the head, left hand grasping airscrew at boss, right hand holding fuselage at No. 5 former. Release airscrew, at same time launching machine slightly downwards, either into or down wind. When flying in rough weather launch machine at about 45 deg. either left, or right, into wind. It will rapidly climb to its maximum height and turn down wind. If rudder is set to cause machine to circle it will come back steadily. climbing until motor has run down. The large rudder area causes it to invariably land head to wind. The author gained 98 out of 100 marks in a competition for stability and all-round performance, with the first of this type, in a gusty wind of 25 m.p.h. The End Ad Astra by P. D. Michel
This model, built by Peter Michel, an acknowledged expert on the construction of models Old and New, built this model from these plans. To date, the flying qualities appear to be similar to those of a 'Shot Duck'! I await developments.
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