Jim,
You are correct. Blaine figured that this would lessen
the drag on the plane when the elevator was activated
and could lower weight ( less parts, hinges etc). It
does not adversely affect how it turns. It turns just
great.
Likewise the vertical fin and rudder are offset so it
lines up with the left side of the fuselage. The main
advantage is that the pushrod can be housed within the
fuselage and exit the rear. Again, less drag.
Blaine spent many years working for Paul McCready on
the Gossamer Albatross, Condor with Bill Watson and
did much of the design work for the Solar Challenger.
He then went on to Boeing as a structural engineer and
is currently a Boeing Technical Fellow in the field of
aircraft configuration and design. He did design work
on the Boeing Blended Wing Body and the Pelican Ultra
Large Transport Aircraft. Google that baby. It's cool.
BTW, last spring Bill Watson bought a Mirage wing kit
from me and built a design with the Mirage wing and a
built up pod and boom fuselage kinda in the same vein
as the Bubble Dancer. Flying weight came in at 27 oz.
RTF.
I have also sold Mirage kits that were used as test
beds for remotely piloted UAV's with GPS guidance. It
had a Hacker motor int he front and a V-Tail. Wing was
stretched 12 inches to boot. See...so called Nostalgia
designs can still contribute to society.
Mark
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