Aries II set up for clockwise running	Stabiliser	Exquisite aluminium speed cowl

The engine I now have in both Aires 1 and 2 is the K12. This was made by Technohobby in Ukraine and is a direct copy of an Oliver. Alan Knight was involved in sorting out some of the gremlins and the result is a powerful engine that seems relatively easy to start and even stop by finger power?? I saw Martin Coe using his at Peter's track about a year or so ago to break the track record and asked Martin about it and ended up buying the first one off Ed Needham and then a second after the Schneurle ported CS Oliver I initially used in Aires 1developed starting problems and needed a rebore to cure it. Taffy Bollen offered his help with this and recognised the schneurle ported engine as one he had built. This surprised me greatly as I bought it off an Australian at the Nationals, must be ten or twelve years ago, and I thought the Australian had built it??

The sum of parts to build Aries III	Sculpted aluminium pylon

I first ran the device without the bodywork which was not then made at Peter’s track and it seemed pretty quick even with an oversize 7 x 6 propeller, Alan had advised a 6 inch prop. Fingers?? Truth is I cannot find any suitable 6 inch diameter props, help needed here please? I had two runs and it ran with great stability in the mid 60mph range, which was pleasing, and the motor went very well too.
	Aires III on its Gt Carlton debut	Oliver inspired 1.5cc motor

I ran the device again the next day at Buckminster and again it was fairly quick, recording 70 mph which I did not think was too shoddy for an over propped 1.5c motor, especially with the track surface problems. It will be interesting to see what it will achieve now the bodywork has been made and fitted and hopefully with a more appropriate prop size?

Cowl fettled	Oliver based 1.5ccmotor	Aries III complete

From Front: Aries I, II, III	From Top: Aries 1, II, III

More recently I have been modifying Aires 1 to what I think will be an improved wheel arrangement for launch reliability after realising the original set up was very unstable and relied on horsing skills we do not yet have in the UK to effect a launch. A launch is possible as shown by Martin Coe who now owns the KMD powered device I obtained off Pavel Pirov from Latvia and which inspired my Aires 1 design. I have now changed the wheel layout　from side by side to a tandem bicycle arrangement, which I believe and hope will greatly facilitate and improve launch reliability and also directional stability. My theory is that with the main support wheel behind the CG, directional stability will be positive, whereas with it in front of the CG it is very unstable, as demonstrated in full size tricycle undercarriage aircraft designs.

My idea is that the front wheel will be set higher than the main one, so that statically the nose will be lower than the tail at launch and hopefully also at the end of the run? The tail aerodynamic force will cause the nose wheel to rise clear of the ground and it should run only on the main wheel once up to speed. So it will effectively be a mono wheel in practise, something I have often theorised about since my teenage control line flying　days. I am using the original titanium crutch to mount the milled alloy suspension beam, with a wheel at each end of it and pivoted at its centre.　A tension spring will provide the suspension action. An outrigger wheel is now mounted on the tether arm for static stability. The stance may look odd, but if it works I am not too bothered.

The first picture shows the second version with K12 motor and third version made with Taff Bollen Special motor. The other two pictures with Taff Bollen motor, which I am reverting to.

I had made an interim modification to Aires 1 with the wheel swinging arm reversed such that the wheels were just in front of the CG for better directional stability and when Pavel saw the pictures I sent him, commented he did not think it would work and to change it back, hence my most recent alterations. He also mentioned they use very young horser’s in Latvia who are quick to respond to the swings seen at launch in the unstable forward wheel designs with a very positive pull and highly held position of the tether wire. He sent me some video links of them in action and a few stills. My conclusion was there had to be a better and more reliable way forward for us here, at our skill levels. Topically, the proof of the pudding is in the eating??

RC cut off for Aircars Fitted to Aries 2

It was decided during the 2024 season that the vastly increased speeds aircars were achieving required something more sophisticated in the way of stopping them than the 'smother blanket' used when speed seldom exceeded 35mph. Roger Gedge has been using a RC fuel cut-off system for a while, which is very effective. He described this in a previous video post, but now, John Goodall has very kindly produced this illustrated guide to how he has fitted this system to his Aries 2 aircar. The system could be equally well suited to any aircar. 

I am indebted to Roger Gedge for giving me the system shown here and installed in the latest version of my Aires 2 now designated Aires 2-2. It incorporates a larger nose on the body to facilitate fitting a 1 1/2inch spinner so that I can use an electric starter, as hand flicking has become hazardous for me and the only way I can safely continue to run them.
 

Roger advised using a rotary fuel cut off to reduce torque on the diminutive servo and so this was the first thing I made after the new body shells were finished and fitted. I made this out of brass bar milling the body into a basic “L” shape which would be soft solder mounted to the fuel tank bottom edge as space is very limited within the cowling. The main body was drilled and reamed with a 5/32 inch hole into which would locate the pivoting spindle and in turn through which was drilled a 2mm hole for the fuel passage. The spindle was spring loaded at it’s upper end to give controlled friction and yet is still free to move. I planned to run the feed pipe from the outer most corner of the tank to the cut off from the bottom of the tank, but had to abandon this after the pipe contacted the body inside with a trial fit. I then rerouted it through the side of the tank and again into the outer corner. The two copper pipes into the cut off body were silver soldered to avoid them moving when soft soldering the body to the tank. The outlet pipe angle and position was critical to fit in and obtain a good kink free fuel pipe run, clear of the body.
 

The servo was mounted in an oblong cut-out drilled and filed to suit in the crutch. I did later widen this out to move the operating arm clear of the body inside, after further fouling. I secured the servo in place with clear silicon sealant which gives some slight resilience and this also sealed the exhaust side and help’s to keep exhaust oil from the outer side where the radio receiver would be fitted and most of the electrics with a suitable switch, the switch knob is accessible through a slot filed in the outer body. I mounted the diminutive receiver using self adhesive servo Velcro tape kindly given me by friend Ian Harper, like Roger another recent convert to tether cars and a good welder too, Ian welded the new Aires body for me, so judge for yourself.

The battery was mounted in a sponge lined U shape alloy holder screwed to the crutch so the battery could be changed easily when expended. It is held in place by centrifugal force when running. The switch was mounted on an alloy bracket at a slight angle to match the body side as close as possible with a plug and socket to allow the battery change and for charging same. An insulating foam was placed between engine rear and battery to reduce heat transfer. The system works well on test and remains to be tried in use now. Roger's is well proven in numerous track outings.