Chris Williams - Minimoa - 13 years in the making

[AureleAlain]

About 2013 I started a build thread on the Chris Williams Minimoa design from 1987. Richard Mills, a good friend of mine started the project in 2003 and offered it to me since he didn't think he could complete it. I am very pleased to report that 13 years after the project was started (and 3 years after i took over) the Minimoa has finally taken flight. I flew it at the Arnprior Aero-Tow on Saturday, September 10, 2016. Coincidentally, it is also Richard's birthday. I thought you might appreciate some pictures since quite a few of you followed my original post and i had been quiet for so long.

[Steve P]

Congratulations! Gull wings rule!

[lenb]

Woo whoo

Congrats!
I have a few you can finish too...........

[ARUP]

Very cool! Thanks for posting! Does it fly like you imagined it would? Any quirks?

[AureleAlain]

I flew it 6 times on Saturday. Each time I reduced the amount of lose lead in the nose. Once i got rid of most of the lose lead it started to fly like a glider and i managed to float around in some light lift. When doing a thermal turns I had to apply opposite aileron a lot or it would dive into the turn. Kind of what i expected actually.

I still need to cover the aileron gaps which might change the flight characteristics a bit. The Minimoa has spoilers on the top and bottom of the wing and are very effective. I could only put a tiniest amount out or the plane would drop out of the sky.

Aurele

[DennisB]

Congrats on getting it done and the maiden flight, the Minimoa was what first brought me to scale soaring, I have always wanted to build a 1/3 scale or larger but it is a very daunting undertaking. It is still on my bucket list. Beautiful ship!

[Malain]

Hey, super Aurele!!! Will we see both of you (the glider and the pilot) in Vermont next weekend? J'y serai !

Marc

[AureleAlain]

Hey, super Aurele!!! Will we see both of you (the glider and the pilot) in Vermont next weekend? J'y serai !

Marc

Hi Marc,

Unfortunately, I have used up my allotment of vacation days so I am going to miss out. Maybe I'll plan better for next year.

Aurele

[blake]

Here are some photos from the Saturday at Arnprior.
Lots of activity, some really good flights and a nice lunch with a nice group of fellow aerotow folks.

[AureleAlain]

Hi Blake,

Really glad that you could make it to Ottawa for our event.

Aurele

[blake]

Aurele,

Thanks, it's fun going to Arnprior.
I didn't realize it was such a momentous occasion for your Minimoa. Well done!
That field always has great lift, no matter what the weather is doing...!
How was the Sunday?

Blake

[AureleAlain]

Blake,

Sunday was windy and gusty so i cancelled the event for the day. It was gusting to about 50kph or more.

Aurele