Fleet Brotherhood
12-14-2012, 10:23 AM
#376
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Snohomish, WA
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RE: Fleet Brotherhood
John R,
There is a 50" span plan of the Bird biplane in the MAN plans collection:
http://media.radiocontrolzone.com/ma...sGuide2011.pdf
Bird Biplane
Tom Stark’s model has an outline and basic
structure that follow those of the full-size
airplane with only minor airfoil modifications.
Traditional construction. WS: 50 in.; L: 33 in.
area: 598 sq. in.; engine: .23 4 channels; 1
sheet; LD 3.
Plan X12681; $19.95
There is a 50" span plan of the Bird biplane in the MAN plans collection:
http://media.radiocontrolzone.com/ma...sGuide2011.pdf
Bird Biplane
Tom Stark’s model has an outline and basic
structure that follow those of the full-size
airplane with only minor airfoil modifications.
Traditional construction. WS: 50 in.; L: 33 in.
area: 598 sq. in.; engine: .23 4 channels; 1
sheet; LD 3.
Plan X12681; $19.95
12-14-2012, 10:34 AM
#378
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Snohomish, WA
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RE: Fleet Brotherhood
Bob,
Put me down for membership in the Fleet Brotherhood. I have the quarter-scale Concept Fleet waiting its turn on top of my kit stack.
Also, what is everyone using for jugs on their quarter-scale Fleet? Wms Bros have a set of J-5 cylinders that might do the job. Ideas?
Thanks,
Don.
Put me down for membership in the Fleet Brotherhood. I have the quarter-scale Concept Fleet waiting its turn on top of my kit stack.
Also, what is everyone using for jugs on their quarter-scale Fleet? Wms Bros have a set of J-5 cylinders that might do the job. Ideas?
Thanks,
Don.
12-14-2012, 11:53 AM
#380
RE: Fleet Brotherhood
Dan,
This pic is almost the same and that's all I could find with extensive googling.
The other pic is one I like and may follow the trim pattern but use the forest green rather than the red.
Dave
This pic is almost the same and that's all I could find with extensive googling.
The other pic is one I like and may follow the trim pattern but use the forest green rather than the red.
Dave
12-15-2012, 06:14 PM
#382
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Plainsboro,
NJ
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RE: Fleet Brotherhood
Hey all!
I came across this forum thread when I was doing a bit of research on my old fleet that I decided to re-activate today.
A little bit of history:
I bought her complete and fully built about 7 years ago at an Airshow in Delaware (Warbirds over Delaware) with all my saved up money (I was 17 at the time), flew her once for one pattern and since then, she has been hanging in my garage. To be honest, I was too scared to fly something this big and did not want to crash it and have 5 months of saving disappear. Tho, I must say, the one flight in the pattern was beautiful. I remember the landing being so simple and smooth.
Its a 112 inch wingspan, about 85 inches long with fabric (or whatever type of cloth you want to call it) and a Zenoah G62 engine powering it. And weighs about 30lbs.
Today after about 7 years of just sitting, I yanked out my old 72mhz system and put in a nice AR6210 receiver, with a JR 2700 6V, did some servo testing, and all checked out except for my left aileron servo, which was behaving strange, so I replaced both left and right servo's with a digital one. Everything else electronic worked. Took out the old spark plug on my Zenoah and replaced it with a new one, ran some oil thru the engine and filled up the tank. And to my amazement, the engine started instantly, at idle with only 1/2 of a crank on the starting spring!! Ran the engine at idle for about 10 mins to get things warmed up and moving and then did some full throttle, 1/2 throttle and so on, testing. Runs beautifully!
Tomorrow, I will stop by my old farmer flying field and take her to the skies! I will post videos and pictured tomorrow! Its dark out now and my garage is not exactly clean and pretty
I came across this forum thread when I was doing a bit of research on my old fleet that I decided to re-activate today.
A little bit of history:
I bought her complete and fully built about 7 years ago at an Airshow in Delaware (Warbirds over Delaware) with all my saved up money (I was 17 at the time), flew her once for one pattern and since then, she has been hanging in my garage. To be honest, I was too scared to fly something this big and did not want to crash it and have 5 months of saving disappear. Tho, I must say, the one flight in the pattern was beautiful. I remember the landing being so simple and smooth.
Its a 112 inch wingspan, about 85 inches long with fabric (or whatever type of cloth you want to call it) and a Zenoah G62 engine powering it. And weighs about 30lbs.
Today after about 7 years of just sitting, I yanked out my old 72mhz system and put in a nice AR6210 receiver, with a JR 2700 6V, did some servo testing, and all checked out except for my left aileron servo, which was behaving strange, so I replaced both left and right servo's with a digital one. Everything else electronic worked. Took out the old spark plug on my Zenoah and replaced it with a new one, ran some oil thru the engine and filled up the tank. And to my amazement, the engine started instantly, at idle with only 1/2 of a crank on the starting spring!! Ran the engine at idle for about 10 mins to get things warmed up and moving and then did some full throttle, 1/2 throttle and so on, testing. Runs beautifully!
Tomorrow, I will stop by my old farmer flying field and take her to the skies! I will post videos and pictured tomorrow! Its dark out now and my garage is not exactly clean and pretty
12-16-2012, 11:40 AM
#384
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Join Date: Oct 2004
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RE: Fleet Brotherhood
So I took my Fleet out for a flight today and it was beautiful! She is no Extra 300, so my takeoff run and climb-out was longer than I expected, but eventually she took to the skies and then flew just as I remembered. It started to rain after about 10 minutes of flying so I had to land, and I must say, landing that Fleet is my favorite part. Its so easy and smooth. The whole flight was smooth and she looked stunning in the sky.
Unfortunately, I had hit the record button twice on my camera so I have no video, but Ill be flying again and will take lots of video!
In the meantime I'll post pictures of my rain covered Fleet below. Enjoy!
Cockpit:
Cockpit II
Unfortunately, I had hit the record button twice on my camera so I have no video, but Ill be flying again and will take lots of video!
In the meantime I'll post pictures of my rain covered Fleet below. Enjoy!
Cockpit:
Cockpit II
12-29-2012, 07:53 PM
#392
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RE: Fleet Brotherhood
Bob,
Count me in to the brotherhood. I have two Concept 1/4 scale fleets. Both are not flying yet as I have been taking the long build road.
The first has an OS 5 cylinder radial and the second one will be electric on 10S with a Power 160.
Here's pictures of the first.
/Mike
/Mike
01-01-2013, 05:11 PM
#393
RE: Fleet Brotherhood
Mike, you are #27. Welcome.
If any one is interested, our club is having our 24th Annual Giants event here in DeLand, Florida February 15th and 16th.
Here is a teaser video:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1cQB3C9Ju8&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]
Bob
If any one is interested, our club is having our 24th Annual Giants event here in DeLand, Florida February 15th and 16th.
Here is a teaser video:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1cQB3C9Ju8&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]
Bob
01-01-2013, 05:23 PM
#394
RE: Fleet Brotherhood
I balanced my Fleet today and the CG was about 1/4 inch ahead of the rear limit, without adding weight. Looks like I can leave it where it is. I also weighed it and it came out to 25lbs. 6.5oz. My last one was 24lbs. Part of the weight increase is the aluminum spar tongues and also I'm a bit heavy-handed on builds.
Currently I'm in the middle of installing the flying and landing wires. Not much left to do now. The ASP radial has been run and all the hardware, servos, cockpit and engine have been installed. I don't have too many excuses left for not giving it the maiden flight.
Bob
Currently I'm in the middle of installing the flying and landing wires. Not much left to do now. The ASP radial has been run and all the hardware, servos, cockpit and engine have been installed. I don't have too many excuses left for not giving it the maiden flight.
Bob
01-01-2013, 05:31 PM
#395
RE: Fleet Brotherhood
Nice Bob.
I'm still planning to attend the 15/16 flyin with a 14th arrival.
My 1/4 Fleet has been re-radioed with a new SD8000 and new servos. I'm waiting for servo extensions for the wings and those should be in Friday.
Finishing the enclosed trailer for the 1/4 and 1/3 Fleets. Dag , they are big.
Biggest delay was a broken water line in the housethat flew the coop on Black Friday. We were put out in the RV for a while then it sprang a Propane leak so we finished off in the nice Insurance complany motel. We just moved back into the digs yesterday andam tryingto get some time on the Fleet. I'm not sure I like the new radios. I'd prefer non-digital trim levers. My hearing has suffered and can't always hear the beeps.
Hope to have it flying before the flyin. Usually not acceptable to fly an unproven plane at an official AMA event.
Ray W.
I'm still planning to attend the 15/16 flyin with a 14th arrival.
My 1/4 Fleet has been re-radioed with a new SD8000 and new servos. I'm waiting for servo extensions for the wings and those should be in Friday.
Finishing the enclosed trailer for the 1/4 and 1/3 Fleets. Dag , they are big.
Biggest delay was a broken water line in the housethat flew the coop on Black Friday. We were put out in the RV for a while then it sprang a Propane leak so we finished off in the nice Insurance complany motel. We just moved back into the digs yesterday andam tryingto get some time on the Fleet. I'm not sure I like the new radios. I'd prefer non-digital trim levers. My hearing has suffered and can't always hear the beeps.
Hope to have it flying before the flyin. Usually not acceptable to fly an unproven plane at an official AMA event.
Ray W.
01-02-2013, 01:27 PM
#397
RE: Fleet Brotherhood
I finished the landing and flying wire install. Since I don't have any full size close-ups of the wire detail at the intersection of all four wires, I made up an anti-chafing block to look like what I think it may be.
I took a piece of 1/8 inch ply and drilled four holes for the wires to go through and then split it down the middle on the band saw. This allowed me to position it on the wires and CA the two halves together, being careful to not glue the wires to the wood. What I now have is a wood guide that alows the wires to move freely in case I have to adjust the wire tension later.
Bob
I took a piece of 1/8 inch ply and drilled four holes for the wires to go through and then split it down the middle on the band saw. This allowed me to position it on the wires and CA the two halves together, being careful to not glue the wires to the wood. What I now have is a wood guide that alows the wires to move freely in case I have to adjust the wire tension later.
Bob
01-04-2013, 02:10 PM
#400
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RE: Fleet Brotherhood
Hi guys, i just ran across this thread and had to jump in here.
I bought a 1/4 scale Fleet Biplane from a fellow in San Diego Ca. it was built by a long time member of the SD club, and boy did he do a great job, it even has working cumpas in the dash. the motor is a Sachs 3.2 swinging a 22x10 prop. the engine pullers around good, with scale flight around 1/2 throttle, and full throttle for aerobatics. I just go through installing flying wires, because i didn't like the way the wings flopped around, and i want to fly more aerobatics. I also had the right wing come loose last weekend...
As for flying characteristics, she sure has some funny quarks... take off and mellow flight ( scale) are almost hands free.. however .. too much rudder.. and .. she will just nose down RIGHT Now, also she will not knife edge in any way.. i have to be very careful on the amount of rudder input. Rolls are painfully slow, even with a little rudder input, and again too much rudder and she points for the ground.. The good stuff.. she will do beutiful stall turns, barrel rolls, and split S's. and for landings... what a handful, the approach is easy, however landing on the mains she looses all rudder control, and leaves the runway ( dragging the wing tip, so i guess the wire skids are there for a reason) so the only way i have found yet for a nice landing is to 3 point her, and all goes well..
speaking of landing gear, the builder fabricated scale gear with shocks.. pretty darn cool.. i will upload some more pics soon..
Tomorrow i will try out the new flying wires..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=qGUai939MOI
I bought a 1/4 scale Fleet Biplane from a fellow in San Diego Ca. it was built by a long time member of the SD club, and boy did he do a great job, it even has working cumpas in the dash. the motor is a Sachs 3.2 swinging a 22x10 prop. the engine pullers around good, with scale flight around 1/2 throttle, and full throttle for aerobatics. I just go through installing flying wires, because i didn't like the way the wings flopped around, and i want to fly more aerobatics. I also had the right wing come loose last weekend...
As for flying characteristics, she sure has some funny quarks... take off and mellow flight ( scale) are almost hands free.. however .. too much rudder.. and .. she will just nose down RIGHT Now, also she will not knife edge in any way.. i have to be very careful on the amount of rudder input. Rolls are painfully slow, even with a little rudder input, and again too much rudder and she points for the ground.. The good stuff.. she will do beutiful stall turns, barrel rolls, and split S's. and for landings... what a handful, the approach is easy, however landing on the mains she looses all rudder control, and leaves the runway ( dragging the wing tip, so i guess the wire skids are there for a reason) so the only way i have found yet for a nice landing is to 3 point her, and all goes well..
speaking of landing gear, the builder fabricated scale gear with shocks.. pretty darn cool.. i will upload some more pics soon..
Tomorrow i will try out the new flying wires..
