Heaven Rubber Bandit

I joined the project on 02/16/1994, 2 weeks after it officially began. After gathering the available information, I produced a conceptual design and made a 1/32 scale rubber band powered model. The model flew exceptionally well. I flew about 20 more flights because I enjoyed flying the model that much. It has been 25 years since I last flew a rubber powered model, but I did fly for fun and in competition as a teenager. After these tests the crew and I built the ¼ scale flying model (See video gallery).

     I received new information on the weight of the Bob’s Big Boy statue and learned it was heavier than I was first told. So, I changed the wingspan from 15 ft to 17 ft in October of 1995; the chord stayed 12 inches, but it should have been 13.5 inches to be ¼ scale, but I did not have the time to build a new wing. I did successfully build a new wing in 2003 and made 2 flights. It had a wingspan of 19 ft with a chord of 13.5 inches. Unfortunately, I could not get a video of the flight, but I plan to retest in 2024 and record the full flight. Once this is completed the model will go to a museum after the successful flight.

     The Rubber Bandit radio-controlled model was the world’s largest rubber powered plane to fly unofficially. That record has now been broken by Joshua Finns Wandering Eagle, a free flight model. As of 09/24/2024 the Rubber Bandit ¼ scale model is still the world’s largest rubber powered plane to ROG (Rise Off Ground) unofficially.

     There were 10 flights made in total. The first 2 with a Bob’s Big Boy statue with a 15- foot wingspan, 12-inch chord, and 48-inch prop. Then 6 flights with a Power Ranger, the only thing we could find for a ¼ scale person, a 17-foot wingspan,12-inch chord, and 55-inch prop. Seven flights at Van Nuys Airport and 1 at the Sepulveda model basin in the San Fernado Valley for Toys for Tots. Then 2 flights on a dry lake in Las Vegas Nevada in 2003. The first being one short hop and the second a 2 minute 3 second flight with a 19-foot wingspan,13.5-inch chord, and 55-inch prop. This last version is the true ¼ scale model. Now for you tech people and engineers it has an Elastomeric Propulsion System, but for the rest of the world it is a rubber band powered plane.