Capt Easy

Greeting to any remaining Ryan Pilots out there -

 I just picked up a pre-built, used Sportsman Aviation Ryan YPT-16/STA and would like to communicate with anyone and learn if they're still flying theirs.

I've been studying  the problems with this model and resulting modifications and intend to take whatever prcautions required to insure a safe and reliable airframe. 
My plans include reinforcing the wing spar and landing gear blocks and already added some of my own scale details including proper windscreens and leather cockpit combing. The original struts will be replaced with streamlined alum tube and flying /landing wires will be attached to the wings for combined structure and addtional scale details.

I do need an uncut cowl if anyone may have one and maybe a set of wheel pants. I contacted Global but after all this time of course they really don't have any parts remaining.

Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Dick

Capt Easy

Is anyone out there still flying their Ryan....?

MerlinFan

My Feedback: (27)

Mine is hanging on the garage wall. I've been thinking about dusting it off and flying it again for old times sake. I have never put on my wheel pants. Don't plan on using them.

Capt Easy

Hello MerlinFan - Good to see a reply. I hope you dust off your ST you put it back into the air again.
I'm still looking forward to getting my electric conversion finished sometime soon.

If you're not going to use your wheel pants would you be interested in selling them?

Thanks,

Dick

MerlinFan

My Feedback: (27)

PM me an offer. I'll send them to you.

kbrd

I am just now finishing up a major rebuild of my old Ryan. I have replaced the fuselage, tail group, and have fabricated a new LH main gear. I am reusing servos and my OS LA 40, and expect to fly "Reggie" (the RAF pilot in the rear cockpit) next week. I will post an update on the rebuild, but here is what I have done so far:

Reinforced the firewall/engine mount bulkead with tri-stock.

Completey sealed the firewall/mount and forward fuselage bulkhead with 2 part epoxy mixed 30% with isporopyl alcohol.

Reinforce all glue joints in the radio compartment, especially the wing mount

Install a 2 clunk three line system in the fuel tank.

Fabricated a new LH main gear from .020 high tensile steel wire from McMaster-Carr (if you haven't looked at their website, go there, it's incredible!)

I am trying UHU Hart glue available from Hobby Lobby on the headrest and windscreens. So far it is working like gangbusters as a canopy glue.

Pictures to come and a report on the "test flight". I am setting mine up for differential ailerons.

Regards,

Jack

MerlinFan

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Capt Easy, Here's a cowling that comes with the whole arf for $100. http://www.rcuniverse.com/market/item.cfm?itemId=540044

Capt Easy

MerlinFan - Thanks for the heads up my friend, I'll check it out...

TT123

If anyone is interested I have a Ryan complete and new in the box. Also I bought from over seas the correct covering and to the Dave Brown carbon pushrods for the mod.

MerlinFan

My Feedback: (27)

Finally got around to flyng it again. Dusted it off after flying twice for about 25min total 20 plus landings and about half of those made big smiles on my face. Looped it a couple of times and wings are still on. This Byron Ryan has more scale width gear. If it gets too far out of shape it does a nice/scary crow hop.

Capt Easy

Merlin,
Good to see your back flying your Ryan. I'm confused which one of the two you flew though...I assume the Byron is the one on the left and much more scale looking than the Sport A.
My SA Ryan flys like a brick truck. Gobs of power but just a terribly heavy wing load.
Best,
Dick

MerlinFan

My Feedback: (27)

I was talking about flying the little Ryan. What batteries are you running that makes it so heavy? I used a TP 4200 3 cell and thought it flew light. Now that its on glow fuel it still flies like it has light wing loading. Any pics of yours?

Capt Easy

Merlin,
I purchased the airplane pre-built with a .40 glow and converted it to EP. In the process I added personalized scale mods including wing flying wires made from windshield wiper spines; tail wires made of vinyl plastic craft lacing some cockpit combing and instrument panels. I wouldn't think what I added would increase weight that much more .
I think the prior owner modified the gear on it also as it's much stronger than the stock original.

I'm running a Rhino 4000 4S 25C battery wt:15.6oz. Total aircraft AUW: 4lb 9oz.

I don't know what the desired AUW should be - what does your's weigh?

Thanks for you interest.

MerlinFan

My Feedback: (27)

Looks real nice and scale. Mine weighed 4 1/2 lb with a 3 cell lipo. I like the struts and flying wires!

Capt Easy

Thanks for the comments. I'd like to show off some more pics but I messed something up and the post is much larger than it should be...

Our comparative AUW seems reasonable considering the battery difference. I don't understand why mine seems to fly so poorly. I just acts like it has an extremely high wing load.

A friend stopped by and suggested shimming the attach bolt and increase the angle of incidence - I will try that but I don't think it will help much I don't know it might be interesting to see what happens.

I'll try some more photos here...

MerlinFan

My Feedback: (27)

I put on some metal struts and flew it again today. About 10 months between flights. The struts held up well. So did the wing.

Capt Easy

Hey Merlin- I haven't flown my Ryan in several months after one of the wire struts broke. I've been devoting my time working on a CMP Spitfire 50 since last May - modifying and adding several scratch built scale details. I need to have someone weld up a replacement gear for my Ryan but it'll fly again.
Best, Dick