Abstract: A rail-based modular aircraft system may include a rail extending from a first end to a second end. The rail-based modular aircraft system may include a constant cross-sectional shape from the first end to the second end. The rail may also include a wing module configured to interface with the rail such that the wing module is individually movable along at least a portion of the rail and configured to be fixable at a fixed point along the rail. The rail-based modular aircraft system may also include a propulsion module configured to interface with the rail such that the propulsion module is individually movable along at least a portion of the rail and configured to be fixable at a fixed point along the rail. The propulsion module may be configured to provide forward motion to the modular aircraft system.

Abstract: A motor assembly that includes a motor having a motor casing, a rotatable shaft extending from said motor casing to a shaft length and a hub coupled to said rotatable shaft, the hub having a circumferential skid surface disposed immediately proximal to the motor casing and having a channel configured to seat a propeller, when a propeller is present, wherein a bending moment applied to the shaft through the hub results in the circumferential skid surface contacting said motor casing.

Abstract: A motor assembly that includes a motor having a motor casing, a rotatable shaft extending from said motor casing to a shaft length and a hub coupled to said rotatable shaft, the hub having a circumferential skid surface disposed immediately proximal to the motor casing and having a channel configured to seat a propeller, when a propeller is present, wherein a bending moment applied to the shaft through the hub results in the circumferential skid surface contacting said motor casing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stick fuselage of a model aircraft that also combines an aircraft nose and a main wing brace. The stick fuselage adopts a transverse H-beam as a main body. Two sides of the main body have continuously annular bodies as reinforcement structures. The aircraft nose is connected to a head of the stick fuselage, and has a concave spherical surface and a spherical convex to form a spherical pairing. The middle of the stick fuselage has a fuselage sleeve. Two ends of the fuselage sleeve are connected to a hollow ring respectively to form the main wing brace. The main wing brace uses a hollow double ring as a basic configuration for division assembly and accumulation assembly so as to make a monoplane, a biplane and a triplane.

Abstract: A rubber band driving device for two-propeller model plane, mainly comprising a power rubber band 1, a wooden skeletal bar 2, a rubber band winder 3, a rubber band locator 4, a power distributor 5, transmission bars 6, support bars 7, a left propeller gear box 8, a right propeller gear box 9, propeller blades 10 and 20, a propeller space locator 30, and a propelling direction adjuster 40, wherein the power rubber band 1 is connected to the rubber band winder 3 and the power distributor 5, and the power stored in the power rubber band 1 is transmitted, through the distributor 5 and the transmission bars 6, to the left and right propeller gear boxes 8 and 9, to set in motion their blades 10 and 20. The driving device disclosed in the present invention is reasonable in structure, stable in work, easy to maintain and repair, and is suitable for various kinds of two-propeller emulation model planes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a winding device and a flying toy ornithopter device which employs the winding device. The flying toy ornithopter comprises a hollow body which simulates the appearance of a bird, insect or flying machine. A pair of wings are provided which oscillate, the wings are powered by the stored energy of a wound rubber band. One end of the rubber band is connected to a hook mounted in the tail of the hollow body, the other end of the rubber band is mounted to a winding device mounted near the head of the hollow body. The winding device comprises a frame which has a generally oval shape and conforms to the cross-sectional of the hollow body to mount therein, a central annular bore and a pair of lugs located at the periphery of the frame to which the wings are attached; a pin projects from the frame toward the front of the hollow body for the attachment of a locking lever.

Abstract: A model airplane includes a main body component, a wing component, a horizontal stabilizer component, and a vertical stabilizer component. At least some of the components are fabricated of a shell of lightweight wood with spaces therebetween. A sheet of lightweight plastic material covers each of the components. The material is wrapped around the components with an individual sheet for the components. The plastic material is lightweight with a thickness of between about 0.65 and 0.85 mils and has the ability when heated to contract to about 25 percent of its original size.

Abstract: A flying wing toy including a rigid planar body, a wing of flexible sheet material affixed to the body and preshaped with flexible leading and lateral edges and flexible, flanking stabilizers extending rearwardly, a propeller rotatably mounted to the front end of the body, and a manually actuated rotational drive unit comprising an elastic member mounted on the body and coupled to the propeller.

Abstract: A toy blimp (20) including a gas filled body (22), a plurality of fins (26), a propulsion system (28) attached to a lower surface of the body, and one or more small weight clips (80). A refill valve (30) may be located on the body surface. Various embodiments of the propulsion system are provided, including a rubberband powered system, a small wind-up spring-loaded motor, and a spool-type rubberband motor.

Abstract: A propeller-driven educational vehicle for teaching science, mathematics, technology, and research methodology. The educational vehicle includes a body, one pair of wheels at the front end of the body and a second pair of wheels at the front end of the body, and a number of interchangeable propellers of different sizes for attachment by means of a propeller shaft to the front end of the body. A rubber band connects the rear end of the body to the propeller shaft. Rotation of the propeller and the propeller shaft in one direction winds and tightens the rubber band, thus storing in the rubber band potential energy which is transformed into kinetic energy and causes the propeller and propeller shaft to rotate in the opposite direction as the rubber band unwinds and loosens, causing the vehicle to move at an acceleration and speed which are directly related to the size of the propeller, and illustrating the conversion of potential energy into kinetic energy.

Abstract: A toy airplane generally has a fuselage, a nose assembly, a tail assembly, a hear train connected with a double rubber band forming a transmission mechanism, a propeller, a pair of wing seats on the fuselage, a plurality of wings and an undercarriage under the fuselage thereof. The improvement of this toy airplane is a structure that is more releasable and movable, particularly a displaceable wing structure that provides great flexibility to the operator to make their own adjustments. An undercarriage provides possible protection to the propeller from damage when landing.

Abstract: A toy airplane launcher apparatus includes a toy airplane having an electric or rubberband motor for rotating a prop which is rotatably mounted to the airplane. The launcher has a guide rail which slidably carries a rear launcher section which is slidable into engagement with a front launcher section engaged to the front end of the guide rail. Two rubberbands are engaged between the front and rear launcher sections to hold them together and for biasing the rear launcher section toward the front launcher section when the two are separated from each other. The rear launcher section is engagable with the trigger and is either fixed to or detachably engaged with the airplane. When the trigger is moved, the rear launcher section moves quickly along the rail into engagement with the front launcher section. If the rear launcher section is fixed to the airplane, both front and rear launcher sections leave the rail and are launched along with the airplane.

Abstract: A floatable structure propelling mechanism is combined with a floatable structure filled with helium gas to propel the floatable structure for flying in the air. The floatable structure propelling mechanism comprises a pair of lateral fins supported for swing motion respectively on the opposite sides of a middle portion of the floatable structure. The driving mechanism for driving the lateral fins for swing motion alternately in opposite direcitons in a vertical plane comprises a rotative driving unit provided near the lower surface of the middle portion of the floatable structure. The rotative driving unit includes a double crankshaft which is rotated by the driving unit, first connecting rods fixed to the lateral fins, respectively, and second connecting rods interconnecting the crank pin portions of the double crankshaft and the free ends of the first connecting rods, respectively.

Abstract: Process and apparatus providing the automatic locking of the wings of a wing-operated flying toy, wherein a locking device associated with the operating mechanism is applied, under the effect of elastic pressure, against a notch or slot of the circular disk of the draw crank of the operating mechanism, so that when an elastic band attains its normal power under the effect of torsional moment, the locking device is unable to engage or hold its position in the notch or slot; whereas when the power has almost attained its lowest value at the moment when the elastic band is almost completely untwisted, the locking device is able to engage and maintain itself in the slit causing the wing operating mechanism to lock and prevent movement of the wings.

Abstract: A delayed-release suspension system for rubberband powered flying toys includes a wire-like hanger arm affixed to the forward end of a fuselage of an airplane, the hanger arm being inclined rearwardly at an angle from the vertical of 10.degree. to 25.degree. and provided midway thereof with a V-shaped notch. One end of a rubberband for use in powering the airplane has attached thereto a figure 8 shaped attachment loop, which can be manually positioned on the hanger arm astride the V-notch therein. Upon winding up of the rubberband, the loop adjacent the V-shaped notch will, because of the torque exerted thereon by the rubberband, rotate around the mounting thereof on the hanger arm until it reaches a position wherein the respective sides of the loop are braced against the sides of the hanger arm by the torque. Upon release of the rubberband powered propeller and subsequent unwinding of the rubberband, a delayed-release of the propulsion mechanism will be effected.

Abstract: A rubber band powered motor for a model airplane is provided having dual parallel drive shafts from which perpendicularly extend through the wing portions of the plane rubber band motor units, which comprise tape rollers, non-elastic tapes, guide rollers and rubber bands. The drive shafts extend through and are fixed to the tape rollers, upon which is wound the non-elastic tapes. The rubber bands are guided around the guide rollers and are connected to the tapes at one end and to the airframe at the other. Gear means are wound to rotate the shafts to wind the tapes so as to stretch the rubber bands. In operation, the bands relax and pull the tapes to turn the shafts and, via an intermediate gear drive train, the propeller. The tapes and gears absorb the sudden burst of rubber band energy and provide for an extended and stable flight.