Yet Another Yak!
12-10-2006, 10:29 PM
#179
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (8)
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Le Chesnay, France VA
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Yet Another Yak!
Thanks Mike! And thanks for helping me out with the final checks and getting the plane in the air.
FLIGHT REPORT: I was very surprised that despite looking like a lumbering plane, this one handles very well. Took off after range check, and the plane needed only a little up elevator trim for straight & level; no aileron or rudder required. I think the extra servos were worth it; the plane feels very locked in. Snaps had no over-rotation, and rolls were generally axially. Looking at the ailerons, it seems like the left (aux3) is not tracking exactly with AIL, so I'll have to look into that a little. Very little effect on flight.
The plane balanced perfectly; no down elevator required in inverted flight. This is actually a little too tail heavy for me mostly, as I prefer pattern (IMAC) over 3D, and usually snaps are a little more locked in (for me at least) when the plane is a little nose heavy. The motor has a little too much right thrust (I used the SWB 3 degree mount, probably 2.5 is fine); left rudder is required on the way up.
The plane tracked well, point rolls required almost no rudder. The rudder, btw, is very strong. I did a knife edge loop on low rates with confidence. (Now I get to turn down the rudder more!) There was a little pitch coupling with the rudder, but much less than my Comp-ARF Extra. I'm guessing about 3-4% mix ought to cure it. The elevators, oddly, were not very effective at low deflection until you really moved them off center. I need to take some expo out of my radio; speeding up the elevators off center should help. On 3D rates they performed fine.
Uplines are not a problem (except for the left rudder). Power is very good with the DA-150 & K&S tuned pipes. If you see Mike's video, its kind of hard to judge, but the uplines were very authoritative, with rolls & a snap on the way up not being a problem. Unfortunately, the motor quit about 6 minutes into the flight, and I had to dead stick it. The final was down wind (never good) and the plane came in very hot, which was surprising; I thought it would slow down better. It ran off the end of the runway, but no damage. Turns out the diaphragm on the carb was leaking. This DA has been in storage for over a year, the diaphragm must have dried out.
So, looks like I get to wait until next weekend to start trimming out the plane, after my carb rebuild kit arrives.
But for now, some more photos...
Pete
FLIGHT REPORT: I was very surprised that despite looking like a lumbering plane, this one handles very well. Took off after range check, and the plane needed only a little up elevator trim for straight & level; no aileron or rudder required. I think the extra servos were worth it; the plane feels very locked in. Snaps had no over-rotation, and rolls were generally axially. Looking at the ailerons, it seems like the left (aux3) is not tracking exactly with AIL, so I'll have to look into that a little. Very little effect on flight.
The plane balanced perfectly; no down elevator required in inverted flight. This is actually a little too tail heavy for me mostly, as I prefer pattern (IMAC) over 3D, and usually snaps are a little more locked in (for me at least) when the plane is a little nose heavy. The motor has a little too much right thrust (I used the SWB 3 degree mount, probably 2.5 is fine); left rudder is required on the way up.
The plane tracked well, point rolls required almost no rudder. The rudder, btw, is very strong. I did a knife edge loop on low rates with confidence. (Now I get to turn down the rudder more!) There was a little pitch coupling with the rudder, but much less than my Comp-ARF Extra. I'm guessing about 3-4% mix ought to cure it. The elevators, oddly, were not very effective at low deflection until you really moved them off center. I need to take some expo out of my radio; speeding up the elevators off center should help. On 3D rates they performed fine.
Uplines are not a problem (except for the left rudder). Power is very good with the DA-150 & K&S tuned pipes. If you see Mike's video, its kind of hard to judge, but the uplines were very authoritative, with rolls & a snap on the way up not being a problem. Unfortunately, the motor quit about 6 minutes into the flight, and I had to dead stick it. The final was down wind (never good) and the plane came in very hot, which was surprising; I thought it would slow down better. It ran off the end of the runway, but no damage. Turns out the diaphragm on the carb was leaking. This DA has been in storage for over a year, the diaphragm must have dried out.
So, looks like I get to wait until next weekend to start trimming out the plane, after my carb rebuild kit arrives.
But for now, some more photos...
Pete
12-10-2006, 10:34 PM
#181
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (8)
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Le Chesnay, France VA
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Yet Another Yak!
I plan to order a 6" Pete's Model CF spinner. I wanted to wait until I knew roughly what the CG would be before choosing a spinner. If I really had needed the nose weight (which thankfully I don't) then I would go with a Tru-Turn.
12-10-2006, 11:13 PM
#184
My Feedback: (12)
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Bridgewater,
NJ
Posts: 536
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Yet Another Yak!
Hey Pete,
Congrats on the maiden flight! Looked good from the video! Long time coming..I'm sure it was very nice to see it fly. Good luck with new ride!
PaulP
Congrats on the maiden flight! Looked good from the video! Long time coming..I'm sure it was very nice to see it fly. Good luck with new ride!
PaulP
12-11-2006, 10:19 AM
#185
Senior Member
RE: Yet Another Yak!
Congrats Pete! Looks great. Looks like you have a lot nicer flying temps this time of the year down there (no jacket) [sm=thumbup.gif]. From the video, the rolls looks very axial. Waterfalls look tight too.
Was your final weight as flown, or did you factor in the paint and spinner? Glad you got the motor issue figured out so quick. Nice job on the dead stick. That barn looks, rather challenging [X(].
Best of luck with the new plane.
.........Mark
Was your final weight as flown, or did you factor in the paint and spinner? Glad you got the motor issue figured out so quick. Nice job on the dead stick. That barn looks, rather challenging [X(].
Best of luck with the new plane.
.........Mark
12-11-2006, 05:45 PM
#186
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (8)
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Le Chesnay, France VA
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Yet Another Yak!
Mark,
The weight was as flown; without cowl paint & spinner. I just order a Mejzlik 6" Bullet CF spinner from DA today (along with a carb rebuild kit). I'm guessing with the paint & spinner the plane will be just about 44 lbs (dry).
Yeah, the weather has been pretty good - 60 on Sunday and 64 today (work sucks!!!!) I'm sure it will cool right down again the day after my carb is fixed.
The runway is very fun - you get to make your final approach between a barn and a huge tree (about 30 feet wide) or over a huge line of trees. I prefer the barn.
Pete
The weight was as flown; without cowl paint & spinner. I just order a Mejzlik 6" Bullet CF spinner from DA today (along with a carb rebuild kit). I'm guessing with the paint & spinner the plane will be just about 44 lbs (dry).
Yeah, the weather has been pretty good - 60 on Sunday and 64 today (work sucks!!!!) I'm sure it will cool right down again the day after my carb is fixed.
The runway is very fun - you get to make your final approach between a barn and a huge tree (about 30 feet wide) or over a huge line of trees. I prefer the barn.
Pete
12-11-2006, 11:32 PM
#189
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (8)
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Le Chesnay, France VA
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Yet Another Yak!
I don't know if I was getting a radio glitch (failsafe is set to hold every surface but bring throttle back to idle) or if it was due to the diaphragm leaking. Sure sounded like a radio glitch, but I got an excellent range check.
Yeah, it's a lot of fun flying between the barn and the trees, come on down and give it a try....you like trees just as much as I do, don't you Dave?
Yeah, it's a lot of fun flying between the barn and the trees, come on down and give it a try....you like trees just as much as I do, don't you Dave?
12-11-2006, 11:36 PM
#190
Senior Member
RE: Yet Another Yak!
ORIGINAL: pcastine
Yeah, it's a lot of fun flying between the barn and the trees, come on down and give it a try....
Yeah, it's a lot of fun flying between the barn and the trees, come on down and give it a try....
12-12-2006, 05:26 PM
#192
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (8)
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Le Chesnay, France VA
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Yet Another Yak!
Ordered matching paints from Radio South. A little expense, but cheaper than automotive paints.
Don't plan on doing any baffling yet. I moved the motor forward, so the jugs are very close to the cowl opening. I had done this previously on my Comp-ARF Yak, and never had any cooling problems that required baffling.
Pete
Don't plan on doing any baffling yet. I moved the motor forward, so the jugs are very close to the cowl opening. I had done this previously on my Comp-ARF Yak, and never had any cooling problems that required baffling.
Pete
12-16-2006, 12:01 AM
#196
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (8)
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Le Chesnay, France VA
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Yet Another Yak!
Steve, I never came off the throttle on the uplines. My failsafe is set to hold all servos, except for throttle which is programmed to come to idle. So, my first thought was that I was getting radio hits (lockout). I had a GREAT range check, and rotated the plane all different directions from the person holding the TX to check for signal washout. After I get the carb rebuilt, then I can rule that out and then start looking at the radio setup.
Pete
Pete
03-11-2007, 08:47 PM
#197
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (8)
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Le Chesnay, France VA
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Yet Another Yak!
Some final (late) pics after the cowl painting. Still trimming out the plane, but here's some more observations:
*very steady, constant speeds
*nice, slow down lines
*snaps beautifully
*doesn't do so well in gusty winds - with all that side area, it gets blown around a bit
*easy rolling circles
*very steady, constant speeds
*nice, slow down lines
*snaps beautifully
*doesn't do so well in gusty winds - with all that side area, it gets blown around a bit
*easy rolling circles
03-12-2007, 06:30 PM
#200
Senior Member
My Feedback: (1)
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MT Pocono,
PA
Posts: 1,155
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Yet Another Yak!
The K.E. pic. with the mountains in the backgroung looks awesome and so does the plane. I'll have to drive down one weekend so we can do some flying.
Albert
Albert