craigteffe

My Feedback: (24)

Looks Good!!

Where did you get those tiny wheels? LOL

You may want to think about a different tail wheel assemly, one that extends at least half way back under the rudder. That way when you harrier land that plane it has some protection back there.

You are going to love that plane!!

joebob

My Feedback: (14)

They do look small, don't they? That's the size the kit called for, though. I think they're 3.5" or maybe 4", I can't remember. The tailwheel actually does extend back behind the hinge line a little ways. I don't have the springs hooked up to it yet so the wheel is pivoted the wrong way.

Getting really excited about putting this one in the air. As long as I can ge the last few details finished up, the weather is looking really good for a maiden tomorrow.

craigteffe

My Feedback: (24)

Let us know how it does.

joebob

My Feedback: (14)

No flying today. Got home from work feeling pretty bad, so I didn't get a chance to finish the Hybrid. Started working on the tank mount this morning. Having second thoughts about where I mounted the throttle servo, too. The ignition is mounted to the back of the firewall, and the servo is in the right rear corner of the front bay. Might be a little too close to the ignition. I'm still on 72Mhz (PCM) so I don't know if I will get interference or not. Before I move anything, I will do an engine run-up and see if I see any problems.

jbarnes

Building my second Hybrid after a battery issue took out my first one. Did you guys use the template on the plans to cutout your muffler access in the cowl area? Wasn't sure if that template on the plans was accurate or not. My first bird used standard DL muffler that required the side to get butchered up badly. This time I'm using the wrap around pitts. I really debated about widening this one to better accomodate the muffler but decided too much rework on the laser cut parts were required. Wish they would redesign this bird to be just 1.5" wider in the nose. Would make engine muffler installation so much easier. Jerry.

joebob

My Feedback: (14)

Jerry,

I made a new pattern for mine. Didn't use the one on the plans. I got a pitts muffler from SouthEastRC that works great, Much quiter than the stock one. It still sticks out the side about 1/2", but it doesn't look too bad. Oh, and I lied about the weight earlier. After I got everything ready to fly, it now tips the scales at 17lbs, 6oz. Didn't think I had that much stuff to add when I weighed it the first time.

Got about 8 flights on it now and am having a blast with it. It seems to do everything in slow motion, so it's really easy to keep up with it in maneuvers. Hovering is a no-brainer, and even rollers are pretty easy. The DL-55 pulls it around great - almost too good. Only thing hard to do with this plane is get it to land! Anything over 1 or 2 clicks above ide and it continues to fly! I can pretty much land it with zero forward speed if there's a slight headwind. Saturday, we had around 10-15kt winds and I was doing elevators that were coming straight down with no wing rock at all. This one is quickly becoming one of my favorite planes.

Rons16

My Feedback: (3)

Craig,
I think I remember you saying something about a problem you solved by running a line to a pill bottle in the fuse. I can't seem to find the thread. I'm having a problem where if I do a waterfall or several snap rolls in a row, I get a dead stick. I have replaced the complete fuel system, new carb, reed and reed block and new ignition - still dies (for lack of fuel) after high G manuvers. Do you have any ideas.

Thanks - Ron

The Hybrid has managed all the dead sticks with no damage what-so-ever.

craigteffe

My Feedback: (24)

I run a static line into the fuse from the diaphram plate(tube soldered into the hole) to a pill bottle that has a 1/16 hole in the bottom of it. I would also check the pop off preasure to set it about 15 lbs with a reseat of not less than 8lbs and then check the main needle to make sure its not allowing fuel to seep into the cavity. Check the lever height to make sure it is the same height as the surrounding castings or a fudge higher. also check the screen in the carb to make sure it doesn't have any debris in it.

jbarnes

Been mounting my motor to the fuse. Would it be too much to ask for another 1.5 inches in width so you could at least get muffler in there without cutting the fuse open? Really the most frustrating part of this build in my opinion.

closetguy

My Feedback: (13)

then it wouldn't be a profile.

OldFart1

Would be really nice to see these back in stock...................

craigteffe

My Feedback: (24)

From what i understand you won't be seeing that for quiet some time. I think Mike said that would be thier last run of the Hybrids for a while.

joebob

My Feedback: (14)

I thought I read where he said they were plannng on another run after the first of the year. Just e-mail him and ask.

While on the subject, I have a little problem with mine I need to work out. The lower cowl vibreates really bad at low to mid throttle and it's starting to crack the wood at the bottom of the front cowl opening. I need ot come up with a way to stiffen it up. Any you guys possibly post a pic or two of the front and bottom of your cowl areas?

OldFart1

I emailed Mike - will let you know what he says. The new house has a basement (in Southern California!) that has one room just crying out for a build table

jbarnes

Finally got mine out in the air last week.

jbarnes

more pics

joebob

My Feedback: (14)

Very nice! How did you like it? I'm having a ball with mine. Only problem with it is that anything over 1 click of throttle and it doesn't want to quit flying! Here's a pic from last Tuesday:

Rick75

My Feedback: (3)

JoeBob, check the cg and engine thrust.
Just my .02

Rick75

My Feedback: (3)

I forgot!
Up and down thrust.

joebob

My Feedback: (14)

As you can see in the pic, there's plenty of UP thrust!

craigteffe

My Feedback: (24)

Your plane looks great!

You will love it.

jbarnes

Lesson learned for anyone building this plane. Putting the rudder servo in the tail will cost you 4 oz of lead in the nose to get it to balance. I tried to keep it light in the tail but not screw around with the rudder servor in that narrow fuse. Just couldn't keep it light enough in the tail to make up for that rudder servo in the tail. This is my second Hybrid 540 after losing the first to a bad battery. This one has a fail safe receiver and dual batteries! I also moved up to 1" tri stock on the airleons to keep from sanding into the leading edge. Jerry.

1932

Has anyone made the elevator's removable? Need to be so plane will go in Honda fit.
Thanks
Tom P

craigteffe

My Feedback: (24)

Hey guys just crashed my Hybrid today and I'm wanting to know does anybody have one for sale or does anyone know where i can get another kit.

joebob

My Feedback: (14)

Sorry to hear that. The Hybrid is definitely one sweet plane. However, if you want something that will give it a run for its money, and even beat it, you might want to take a look at one of these. It's a 50CC laminar wing Sukhoi from WrongWayRC. 80" span, over 2000sq in of wing area, and 16-17lbs. Uses the same gear as the Hybrid. The prototypes were flown with Hitec 5955s and 7955s, one on elevator, one on rudder, and one on each aileron. I built mine using two PowerHD 9150s on each aileron and one on each elevator, but removed one of the aileron servos and now fly it with onyl one per. Still works just fine.

This plane is a harriering machine. The laminar flow airfoil allows it to fly at almost any pitch angle. It's the first plane I was able to harrier without the use of spoilerons. Hovers are stupid easy, and it flips a lot better that the Hybrid. It will pretty much loop on its wing tube!

This is a short kit that includes all of the CNC parts for $150. You can get the rest of the wood from TheBalsaStore.com. The design is cool because it uses a center crutch assemble for the fuse with simple stick construction for the upper and lower fuse. This allows you to build it as pretty much any plane you want. THe plans show a Sukhoi, but others have built them as Yaks and SBachs.

I loved my Hybrid, but I sold it for one of these and I'm very happy with it!