Details

The Schwing 88 is a high performance sports model from successful designer Dr. James Hammond.

James has been developing and refining his previous designs, which have gained him a worldwide following for their wide ranging flying ability and sweet handling, and now we are very happy to announce the first result of this latest R&D:
The new thoroughbred allrounder, Schwing 88 is a 2.23M (88”) fast, aerobatic sailplane that from first few flights has exceeded expectations.
Whether you’re looking for a airframe to fly anything from the merest whiff to howling gale or you’re a budding racer or even want to try a bit of light Acro DS’ing , this is the sort of airframe your likely to keep in the back of the car at all times. It’s one you’ll have the most fun with and dare we say, make your flying look so good!

Overall design:
James definitely has an eye for a pretty design, but the Schwing is so much more. At a handy 2.23M or 88’’ span, it has a high aspect ratio, optimized wing plan form and completely new wind tunnel tested aerofoils. Slimmed down from previous designs as servo technology has improved and become more widely available, yet the layout has just enough room to allow plenty of ballast in the fuse and optional ballast in the wings too.

Aerofoils:
The profiles used are the latest development from James’s highly successful original aerofoil designs, and as he says ‘these are the good sections he kept back for us!’
To quote James: “It took a while to get there, and a huge amount of testing, because I wanted a series of sections that would make slow speed handling even slower, and high speed capability even faster. Dial in a millimeter of reflex and see what happens – but don’t forget the replace the battery in your pacemaker first!”

Wings:
Designed to reflex as well as to droop, the airfoils used on the wing were specifically conceived with all round sport flying in mind and hence are unusually aerobatic too! The descending thickness, optimally cambered sections will let you go from really slow landing speeds with the flaps down to blistering passes with a little reflex, yet despite its ability to carry heavy ballast loads, the airframe will thermal away with the best of them.
Large ailerons, large flaps and a semi elliptical wing plan form each add to the overall performance of the airframe. Needless to say the wings are available in glass or full carbon lay-up options. Horns are factory fitted with well thought out geometry to allow flush servo installation using 10mm or thinner servos, though maximum servo thickness is 13mm in flap bay and 12mm in aileron, making a huge range of servos possible. Using conventional linkages you can get a clean, practical and most importantly serviceable wing installation optimized to use full servo travel to give high torque and low slop.
Ballast tubes in the wing add to the flexibility.

Aeroteam Sine Wave Spar:
Used in several military aircraft, the Sine Wave Spar has been adapted for the first time to make up the heart of a model sailplane wing, and has frankly amazed us with its low weight, and ultra high strength. Unlike a conventional spar the Sine Wave Spar adds terrific torsional strength and yet actually weighs considerably less than the older non-optimized spar.
Now to be used in all Aeroteam airframes, the Sine Wave Spar is an lighter and far stronger upgrade that raises the level another notch and could be a game changer in model sailplane technology.

Fuselage:
The beautifully contoured fuse is strong, light, and stiff with Carbon/Kevlar reinforcement and gives all important resilience in the boom. Electronics area is 2.4 GHz friendly with access to the radio and ballast through a conventional slide-on hatch type canopy. The long nose area accentuates the pretty lines but also provides plenty of space to easily balance the model without resorting to shoehorning lead in every nook and cranny!
Snakes or rear mounted direct servos can be used for Rudder/Elevator control. These are all positioned to take the ‘head scratching’ out of installing the radio gear and to allow the use of standard 19/20mm round ballast slugs, 8 of them if you need them, which added to the optional ballast in the wings allows more than 1kg capability!
The rudder is designed large enough to be effective for both aerobatics and slow landing speeds. Wing stub fairings with location dowel holes finish the fuselage with green Multiplex connectors to connect the electronics pre routed.

Tailplane:
Again the aerofoils were specifically designed for the tailplane and this time for maximum control response with minimum deflection. At 10%, the tail airframe section is thicker than is the norm but the infinitesimal increase in drag is easily offset by the increased control response for less deflection.
To further increase the efficiency, pitch control is accomplished by using an elevator. No wobbly all moving tail and the elevator is driven by either an optional ball raced bell crank from a servo in the fuse, or where ultimate control is required, a servo can be placed in a hatch through the fin to give solid elevator control. The tails remain removable for convenient transport or storage.

Joiner:
The Schwing 88 has an impressive joiner! Massive is the only way to describe this part. It’s just over 35 x 12mm and was designed to be available as an optional solid UD carbon part for light DS.
It’s as big if not bigger than those used in most 3m competition airframes!

Production:
The Schwing has been designed with far greater capability potential than any average sports model. This, coupled with the fact that the pre-production models underwent thorough testing, not only in flying performance, but also in making the installation straightforward and practical, leads to an airframe that is a snip to fit out, and flies like the true thoroughbred it is.