Composite-Arf 33% Gee Bee R2 - First Flight - Pics - Videos - L@@K
#1453
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RE: Composite-Arf 33% Gee Bee R2 - First Flight - Pics - Videos - L@@K
Gday Gents
Well I can happily say I am now a part of the Carf Gee Bee maiden club. I test flew mine today and let me tell you what a fantastic model to fly. Mind you I cant thank enough for everyone that has put into this forum as it has bee a great help and im sure it would of ended differently if I didnt read some of the hints and tips put forward by everyone. Mine didnt have any bad tendencies at all. All it needed was a bit of up trim, which was expected from again what I have read in this forum. The stall was non existant and all she did was drop the nose and flew out. It does a perfect knife edge which made the 4 and 8 point rolls a breeze. The landing wasnt the best but any landing with a gee bee that you can walk away from is a good one!!! Better landing will come with practice and time on the model. Anyway again thank you for everyones input and enjoy the video. Oh unfortunately my friend who had the video camera thought he was videoing the flight when at the end he realised he has pushed the wrong button. Whoops! not to worry though luckily another friend got the take off, a few passes and the landing on his phone which enabled to make the short video. I will post more videos as i get them.
Cheers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPBwv...ature=youtu.be
Well I can happily say I am now a part of the Carf Gee Bee maiden club. I test flew mine today and let me tell you what a fantastic model to fly. Mind you I cant thank enough for everyone that has put into this forum as it has bee a great help and im sure it would of ended differently if I didnt read some of the hints and tips put forward by everyone. Mine didnt have any bad tendencies at all. All it needed was a bit of up trim, which was expected from again what I have read in this forum. The stall was non existant and all she did was drop the nose and flew out. It does a perfect knife edge which made the 4 and 8 point rolls a breeze. The landing wasnt the best but any landing with a gee bee that you can walk away from is a good one!!! Better landing will come with practice and time on the model. Anyway again thank you for everyones input and enjoy the video. Oh unfortunately my friend who had the video camera thought he was videoing the flight when at the end he realised he has pushed the wrong button. Whoops! not to worry though luckily another friend got the take off, a few passes and the landing on his phone which enabled to make the short video. I will post more videos as i get them.
Cheers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPBwv...ature=youtu.be
#1455
RE: Composite-Arf 33% Gee Bee R2 - First Flight - Pics - Videos - L@@K
Congratulations from the east coast of the USA! The maiden of the Carf Gee Bee is just as exhilarating as the maiden of a new ProMod drag car, maybe more so; however, the challenge of a good landing will never go away. Great first flight! Keep the videos coming. Carl
#1456
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RE: Composite-Arf 33% Gee Bee R2 - First Flight - Pics - Videos - L@@K
Congrats Anthony! We LOVE to see videos of the CARF Gee Bee defying the laws of gravity (and physics and aeronautics and nature...)
You did a GREAT JOB of piloting this stubby and notorious racer!! Indeed, we look forward to more videos from down under!!
You did a GREAT JOB of piloting this stubby and notorious racer!! Indeed, we look forward to more videos from down under!!
#1458
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RE: Composite-Arf 33% Gee Bee R2 - First Flight - Pics - Videos - L@@K
Thanks guys. The decal pack is on its way as is the dummy engine. I will pull it apart and make sure nothing has come loose and if all is well I will put a couple of more flights on her this weekend.
I am really impressed by the way it flies. Almost like a heavy warbird. I will post more videos hopefully after this weekend.
Cheers
I am really impressed by the way it flies. Almost like a heavy warbird. I will post more videos hopefully after this weekend.
Cheers
#1464
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RE: Composite-Arf 33% Gee Bee R2 - First Flight - Pics - Videos - L@@K
Attempted to maiden my R2 yesterday but had a little bit of bad luck on take-off. Did a couple of dummy runs to get used to the tracking on throttle up which was all fine. Our strip is short grass but not very even and it was noticeable with the plane shifting around on the gear but did not think this was too bad.
So slow throttle up and ok keeping it tracking straight. Just as the tail lifted up level the plane went over a rough section of the strip which tipped it one way then the other and with the resulting suspension shift the prop clipped the ground. This sent it veering right and lifting the tail up even more then the prop really digging in. The poor thing ended up on its back. The top of the fin cracked and split open and some of the glue on the wooden framework in the tail cracked away from the fibreglass. Not a lot of damage but a bruised ego considering I had one large crowd watching.
The elevator had no control once is started to get out of shape so there was nothing to do but watch and listen to the crowd go ooooooooohhhhh.
The prop was a 32x10 so this is going to be swapped out with a 30x12 to give that little extra clearance for the next attempt.
#1465
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RE: Composite-Arf 33% Gee Bee R2 - First Flight - Pics - Videos - L@@K
Unlucky mate. I think the ego does hurt the most. I had very little people watching for my test flight just incase something went wrong. The 30x12 is a good size prop. it is what I am running on mine and is a perfect match. Mine doesn't seem to have any bad tendencies on take off at all. Besides the typical pull to the left on initial throttle up but no different from any warbird.
Anyway I am a happy man. I had the second flight on her today. What a magnificent plane to fly. I have noticed though in right hand turns you need to pull a slightly bit more elevator as she wants to straighten out but I am guessing that is purely the torque of the engine. Has anyone else experienced this?
I got the landing sorted out a bit better this time. I had a slight cross wind but it seemed to track well with minimal tail drag but you can see that in the video. I am also shocked on how slow you can fly this thing as it also shocked me on how quick she wants to fly on take off. I have flown many gee bees in my time but this take the cake. I just wish this decal sheet and dummy engine would hurry up and get here.......
Anyway enjoy the video guys.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Csxu...ature=youtu.be
Cheers
Anthony
Anyway I am a happy man. I had the second flight on her today. What a magnificent plane to fly. I have noticed though in right hand turns you need to pull a slightly bit more elevator as she wants to straighten out but I am guessing that is purely the torque of the engine. Has anyone else experienced this?
I got the landing sorted out a bit better this time. I had a slight cross wind but it seemed to track well with minimal tail drag but you can see that in the video. I am also shocked on how slow you can fly this thing as it also shocked me on how quick she wants to fly on take off. I have flown many gee bees in my time but this take the cake. I just wish this decal sheet and dummy engine would hurry up and get here.......
Anyway enjoy the video guys.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Csxu...ature=youtu.be
Cheers
Anthony
#1466
RE: Composite-Arf 33% Gee Bee R2 - First Flight - Pics - Videos - L@@K
#1467
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RE: Composite-Arf 33% Gee Bee R2 - First Flight - Pics - Videos - L@@K
Very NICE Anthony! Looks like you have her dialed in! You have that nice flying wire WHINE, as does Hannes... I experienced the whine in on my first Gee Bee, but my second, not at all. We believe my flying wires are so tight, they are no longer vibrating. Not sure if this is good or bad, but the WHINE does sound GREAT
I too have found the 30x12 to be the ideal prop on a 150cc. I flew a 32x10 one time and did not like it at all. Have also flown a 28x14... LOTS OF SPEED!!
LOVE those GRASS FIELDS... the PERFECT environment for flying a Gee Bee...
Have you deviated in any way from the CARF instructions? CG? Rudder/throttle mix?
Do you know your aircraft's flying weight?
When do you anticipate having the markings applied?
I too have found the 30x12 to be the ideal prop on a 150cc. I flew a 32x10 one time and did not like it at all. Have also flown a 28x14... LOTS OF SPEED!!
LOVE those GRASS FIELDS... the PERFECT environment for flying a Gee Bee...
Have you deviated in any way from the CARF instructions? CG? Rudder/throttle mix?
Do you know your aircraft's flying weight?
When do you anticipate having the markings applied?
#1468
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RE: Composite-Arf 33% Gee Bee R2 - First Flight - Pics - Videos - L@@K
Thanks Richard
We are very lucky to have the flying field that we do. Space is not a problem for us.
I haven't deviated much from the instructions. I found that you needed to be an experienced modeller to finish it as the explanation of things could of been expanded a little. But it wasn't too much of a problem. This forum has helped a lot especially with some of the pictures but there was other things I had to create myself. This model isn't for the in-experienced anyway so they aren't bad at all.
The CoG was perfect. I set mine up at 75mm and the flying of it says it all. Spot on!!!!
I did take your advice though and didn't use the measurements for the flying wires. I didn't measure them in the end. I just made so rigging wires out of fishing trace and got those to length which gave me a close enough length to enable me to cut the flying wires.
All up weight of mine came in at 15.5Kg which seems to be about the average weight. As mentioned I still need to add a dummy engine, pilot and decal sheet and expect to come in at about 16kg. But even at that weight I don't see it being a problem.
The rudder throttle mix that you mentioned in this forum is basically spot on. I put about 2mm at full throttle and it seems to track perfect. But as mentioned in my last post it seems to want to pull out of a right hand turn but that's just torque. It does also exactly what was mentioned at the start of this forum and sits nose down in a left hand turn and nose up in a right hand turn. But its nothing to be too concerned about and nothing that a little rudder usage cant fix.
All in all I am more than happy with the model and the construction. Not for that faint hearted though. Ha ha ha.
I am heading the Fantasy of Flight in a couple of weeks when I goto Top Gun so I can get a heap of detail shots to try and spruce her up that bit more. I will keep the photos coming as I progress and also let you know when the decals arrive.
We are very lucky to have the flying field that we do. Space is not a problem for us.
I haven't deviated much from the instructions. I found that you needed to be an experienced modeller to finish it as the explanation of things could of been expanded a little. But it wasn't too much of a problem. This forum has helped a lot especially with some of the pictures but there was other things I had to create myself. This model isn't for the in-experienced anyway so they aren't bad at all.
The CoG was perfect. I set mine up at 75mm and the flying of it says it all. Spot on!!!!
I did take your advice though and didn't use the measurements for the flying wires. I didn't measure them in the end. I just made so rigging wires out of fishing trace and got those to length which gave me a close enough length to enable me to cut the flying wires.
All up weight of mine came in at 15.5Kg which seems to be about the average weight. As mentioned I still need to add a dummy engine, pilot and decal sheet and expect to come in at about 16kg. But even at that weight I don't see it being a problem.
The rudder throttle mix that you mentioned in this forum is basically spot on. I put about 2mm at full throttle and it seems to track perfect. But as mentioned in my last post it seems to want to pull out of a right hand turn but that's just torque. It does also exactly what was mentioned at the start of this forum and sits nose down in a left hand turn and nose up in a right hand turn. But its nothing to be too concerned about and nothing that a little rudder usage cant fix.
All in all I am more than happy with the model and the construction. Not for that faint hearted though. Ha ha ha.
I am heading the Fantasy of Flight in a couple of weeks when I goto Top Gun so I can get a heap of detail shots to try and spruce her up that bit more. I will keep the photos coming as I progress and also let you know when the decals arrive.
#1469
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RE: Composite-Arf 33% Gee Bee R2 - First Flight - Pics - Videos - L@@K
When I set up my flying wires, I used sections of brass tubing, so it worked like a telescope and soldered quick links on each end and than you just slide the sections in out to excactly the desired length you want.
#1471
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RE: Composite-Arf 33% Gee Bee R2 - First Flight - Pics - Videos - L@@K
Not a bad idea at all. I may have to use that idea if I ever need to build another CARF Gee bee. Thanks
#1472
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RE: Composite-Arf 33% Gee Bee R2 - First Flight - Pics - Videos - L@@K
Hello Guys, sorry for the late reply, we have managed to maiden our Hostettler Gee Bee, no bad tendencies encountered, takeoff did prove a bit troublesome with yaw instability on the ground, but other then that, and a open hatch, the flight went excellent. The handelling caracteristics is excellent and the aircraft does not need the utmost concentration to fly.The aircraft also seems to handle slow speed very well without dropping a wing. There is zero side or downthrust on the engine, washout is about 1.5 degrees, the weight is 18kg.Only adjustment to be made is to the aileron travel, wich were a bit low. See attached photos, the video we made is a bit low quality.
#1473
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RE: Composite-Arf 33% Gee Bee R2 - First Flight - Pics - Videos - L@@K
Hello Guys, Sorry for the late reply. We managed to maiden our Hostettler 33% Gee Bee R2. No bad tendencies except some yaw instability on the ground, due to massive torque, The takoff went better than expected, the engine produces bags of power. Overall the flight caracteristics is excellent, no superhuman ability needed to fly this one. The main hatch opened in flight, but plane flew straight and true. The landing posed no problems at all, the same as a large warbird. I was quite surprized at tthe outcome.I can recommend this one to anyone who likes to build from plans. I am busy contemplating the comparf one!!
#1475
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RE: Composite-Arf 33% Gee Bee R2 - First Flight - Pics - Videos - L@@K
Hello Richard, Good to know you are still active. I Balanced her exactly on the front surface af the mainspar, but balance her right way up, not inverted.