Built: September 2002 
Type: Fun-fly 3D
Wingspan: 24 inch
Weight: 5 oz
Power: Electric

In September 202 I was experimenting with planes that I could use for learning 3D.  This was a time before "Depron Era" and electric motors did not deliver enough thrust to overcome the weight of the plane.  Of course for 3D training I could use a glow powered profile planes that were quite popular at our field, but with them any pilot's mistake was always quite expensive, and learning 3D is always full of pilot's mistakes.  I was looking for something light, that even when falling of the sky wouldn't end up with total disaster.

On the Internet I found a plans for simple and 3D capable slowlfyer designed by Todd Long.  The name of plane was Tinly - with only 24 inches wingspan it was quite small.  Class 100 brushed motor with gearbox powered huge 14" prop.  That was the only combination to achieve static thrust over 5oz from small NiMh batteries.  Two servos HS-55 controlled V-tail and ailerons at the same time.  Quite clever solution invented by Todd. In order to give ground clearance for that huge prop Tiny had to have tall carbon fiber landing gear with small foam wheels.  I was very strange looking plane.

Despite funny, even ugly look, the plane flew quite well.  It was very stable on slow flying and even with that unique two servo control Tinyl could hang on the prop quite well.  It was very predictable yet very maneuverable.  One of the tricks it could perform was flying and landing inside camper shell of my pickup truck. 

Despite it's durability the plane has been retired after a couple years of flying.  It was balsa construction, and the plane developed to many cracks in spars and ribs for being worth of repairing any longer.  When Depron became available for modelers "Flat Foam" plane became dominant in 3D training. I'm not sure if anyone is building Tiny any more.