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With a head wind of about 15kts, the Storch just
hovered above the runway. The comment from most people was "Is
this an aircraft or a helicopter?" It was definitely one of the
show stoppers! I will let Nestor tell you more about his Storch.
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G'day. Welcome to slow flying.
 I will try to explain to you about this
historic plane and its short field capabilities.
The original
Storch, (German for "Stork"), was designed in 1936 (Germany) by Dr.
Gerhard Fieseler.
The Storch played a very important role for the
Luftwaffe in the Second World War as a reconnaissance utility and
personnel carrying aircraft.
The Storch's S.T.O.L. capabilities
have astonished many people, even today, I was one of them. Considering
that the original was designed in 1936 with today's technology I have not
seen a better S.T.O.L. aircraft.
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The Slepcev Storch is a 3/4 scale version of the
original, modified in areas for simplicity. By building and experimenting
for a number of years with radio controlled models of about 1/3 scale, I
then moved on to produce the Slepcev Storch, keeping the weight down to a
minimum, yet structurally keeping the aircraft very original in appearance
and performance.
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My first prototype Slepcev Storch flew over 200 hours
in 12 months and proved itself to be very reliable and great fun to fly.
The Storch is not a sleek looking aircraft ,it is not meant to be. It is a
war-bird, a robust paddock machine, capable of operating from short field
runways.
The Slepcev Storch is modified from the original for
easier construction. Scaled to 3/4, the Storch is easy to fly and capable
of taking 2 people of average size. It can easily be dismantled, thus
allowing compact storage or to place on a trailer if required for
transportation. The procedure takes about 30 minutes and is best achieved
if you have another person to help support the wings while the wing
attachments are undone.
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Nestor Slepcev is a - Pilot, designer, builder and
manufacturer.
Australia has been my home for 27 years, my wife
Shirley and I have been together for 23 of those and from our union we
have three teenagers, Uesna, Nada and David.
I took up flying with
my local club, the Hastings District Flying Club, at Port Macquarie.
Designing aircraft followed almost simultaneously with flying.
By
1991-1992, when I designed and constructed the first two single
seat "Slepcev Storch" under Australian category 95-10, I had
already designed, constructed and flown a single seat low wing mono plane
and Yugo my twin KFM 30 hp aircraft.
In 1993-1994, my design
concentrated on producing the "Slepcev Storch" as a two seat
tandem aircraft and at the same time, I worked on Me-109-G2.
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My interest in aircraft has always mainly focused in
Second World War aircraft of European history, and the pilots who flew
those historic war-birds.
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Construction
 The Slepcev Storch is 4130 tubing for the fuselage,
rudder and elevator and all aluminium wings, with the whole aircraft
covered in fabric. The main landing gear is made of 4130 tubing with
travel of l0".
The Storch does not have any elaborate components,
all are kept simple and with the least amount of moving parts as possible.
Wheels are 15" x 6" with alloy rims and bearings for the main landing gear
and the tail wheel is 8" nylon.
Brakes are standard.
Two
wing tanks carry a capacity of 75 litres in total.
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Kit
 This is not supplied with a motor, motor mount,
propeller, instruments or covering. The whole 4130 structure including the
empennage will be fully welded, primed and ready to be
covered.
Joystick and all push-rods will be installed in the
fuselage and ready for connecting rudder and elevator.
Elevator
in-flight incident trim will be ready for connection.
All glazing,
1.2 Lexan around the cockpit will be supplied. All hardware, nuts, bolts
and pop-rivets will be supplied.
Ribs ,and spars come preformed
with lightening holes, flanged and ready to assemble, "D" section is .20"
folded aluminium in shape.
It takes approximately 600 hours to
complete and requires only basic tools and equipment.
The kit will
hopefully be approved by June/ July '97.
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Cost
Kit $21,500, no engine. To date 44
kits have been sold and there are now 17 flying overseas.
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Engine
A 914 is installed in Nestois
Storch Muster. Ready Built:-$55,000 - 912 Rotax; $65,000 - 914
Rotax.
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