Vintage Cox Tee Dee .049 speed plane - nice ebay

Monoline was the first control line. I've used some old stuff but the newer stuff is much better. Stanzel corporation made monoline units back in the 50's. This is similar to what I've used and it's not very good and more than likely unacceptable to use on modern equipment. Newer monoline handles utilize a D shape, the curved section of the D has teeth like a gear. Obviously your hand grips onto the vertical portion of the D and directly in the center of the D on the curver portion is a part which is perpendicular to the vertical leg.This part houses a pinion gear which twists one direction when moved up and the opposing direction when moved down. Usually the model has a hatch which is removed and this is where the connection is made to the plane, a similar connector is used on the handle end. The button is circular with a groove around it's circumference in which the wire is wrapped and twisted and soldered.  With monoline, the entire flying cable is twisting. These items are precision made and not commercially available. This is one reason as to why speed flying is so limited in my opinion.

          The main reason for this single line is due to drag, two lines generate a amazing amount of drag. In addition, line connectors, eyelets also create further drag. Monoline cancels this out of the equation AND it utilizes solid lines which are thinner even creating less drag vs a cable. Even having the needle valve sticking out is not good as it too is generating drag. The speed flyer in my club always looks at my stuff and smiles and says " You know I could probably improve your stuff at least another 30%".  

       Bob's plane is designed to fly opposite of what 98% of what most people fly. The majority of pilots fly counterclockwise and Bob's plane is setup to fly clockwise . This keeps the plane from torque rolling in. Seeing that Bob's plane and mine have 2 wheel gear, it's less likely occurring with 2 wheel gear vs a single leg. Now I have flown some pretty big stuff and I've had a few come in on me but it's not as likely as one would think. If your properly trained to fly one of these, you know how to take it off. You don't just have the plane released and expect it to take off.   It will roll in so fast, you will lose line tension and you will have a Cox spinner planted into your forehead. A plane setup to fly clockwise needs NO tip weight whereas a clockwise flyer as I've made mine requires a fair amount. This causes funny business as the plane until up to complete speed is flying tip low which is not very good. You want the plane out on the lines and inline with your flying lines.