bexrbetter Posted October 3, 2015 Posted October 3, 2015 I was fortunate enough to be invited to meet Dean Winton and the Facet Opal during my travels last month to Oz when I got down Sydney way. The Opal is currently being re-constructed inbetween Dean's otherwise busy schedule and another promising aspect is that a 3rd year Uni Grad Student has taken it on for her thesis and will do structural and CFD analysis on it for suggested further improvements. It's was good to see a legend in the flesh and together again looking complete compared to it's state, post accident. 8
old man emu Posted October 3, 2015 Posted October 3, 2015 Caption on the last picture: "Only the last 20% to go!"
facthunter Posted October 4, 2015 Posted October 4, 2015 Unlike a fuel gauge where the last quarter goes in no time. Nev
Guest asmol Posted October 11, 2015 Posted October 11, 2015 I have just received an email out of the blue from a fellow in Hawaii. He says that around 1990 Dean Winton came to Hawaii and this gentleman purchased his one third scale model of the Opal, it hasn't flown in around 15 years but he is asking if anyone would be interested in purchasing it. No idea of the price and no interest in the sale but he got my contact details from a post I put on another website so if you would like to make contact with this gentleman please send me a message.
bexrbetter Posted October 11, 2015 Author Posted October 11, 2015 Apparently the one above is the 1/4 scale one, the 1/3 scale had removable wings. Hi, (Bex) Yes, I took it over there , flew it on ford island. And sold it to some guy that flies models. Sold for 500 US dollars It only needed a radio to fly. I wish I had brought it home. Funny that! Cheers Dean
rgmwa Posted December 5 Posted December 5 Just came across this interesting old video. Not sure if it's the same as the one in the original post that has been removed. 4
Area-51 Posted December 6 Posted December 6 The legend of Tyagarah... Was at Caloundra air museum today and stumbled across this bit of kit! I think this one hanging from the rafters with floats is a Winton Bros production as well? 3 1
kasper Posted December 7 Posted December 7 It’s a Winton design and build but not the sons. Look to the father Col and you’ll find that one. 1
Area-51 Posted December 8 Posted December 8 2 hours ago, BrendAn said: Were the sapphires easy to fly. They look pretty sleek Dean Winton told me a few years back they fly great with balanced responsive controls and have a very good glide ratio. Scott used one to ridge sore along Coorabell. The later versions had the tail plane raised midway up the vertical stabiliser. 1
facthunter Posted December 8 Posted December 8 They are a sleek design but the Elevator is quite touchy till you get used to it.. Nev 1
Litespeed Posted December 9 Posted December 9 Always loved the design of the Sapphire, it just looks right. Would be a great candidate for electric conversion/hybrid in a few years as batteries get much better. The rise of drone warfare has stirred the development pot for small hybrids particularly rotary.
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