Posts: 1561
Joined: 5/4/2004 From: Coral,
MI, USA Status: offline
I am using a 14x5 but I think a 14x6 would be better. I understand about the pavement, at Muncie last year we had a heck of a time with the old birds spinning out on landing.
Posts: 32
Joined: 11/21/2002 From: Oxford,
MI, USA Status: offline
Well I flew the Albatros again with the add nose weight. Big difference, flys much better. I am using a OS91 with a 14/6 prop. Engine turns 9800rpm with this prop and the plane flys great. I have noticed the engine seem hot when I land. I am going to open up the cowl opening a little and add a third exit hole under cowl.[image][/image]
Posts: 32
Joined: 11/21/2002 From: Oxford,
MI, USA Status: offline
Another albatros problem. I have been test flying the Albatros without the spinner because I have very little experience hand staring an engine. My OS 90 starts very nice with a starter but today I installed the spinner and tryed to hand start it. I was succesful in starting the engine but I could not get it to run the right way. It probably started 10 times but always backwards. I need advice!!!
Posts: 655
Joined: 8/14/2003 From: Andersonville, TN, USA Status: offline
I start my Albatros DIII by hand(Saito 91)-starting backwards is sometimes a problem-just try back flipping against compression and it should start ok. Engine needs to be brokenin and well tuned to crank without a starter but with a name like flipstart do I have a choice?? I fly mine with 15/6 and get 9000 rpms-thinking of switching to 15/4W APC for little more rpm and less load.
Ground handling on grass is great, although I tend to be heavy handed on the rudder which is a definite no-no. I did not use a muffler-just a 1/2" brass pipe that runs out bottom of cowl-sound is very realistic!! Also used about a 1# of lead ballast inside of cowl for balance. Had to build a balancer out of heavy dowel rods tilted at angle to get under top wing.
I found the balance point to be right on-balanced in center of recommended distance with tail slightly above horizontal. Flies great. First flight it took one click of right aileron for trim. Just keep plenty of throttle on during landing-or it will drop like a brick. Glad to hear some others had to add as much lead as I did.
Posts: 1561
Joined: 5/4/2004 From: Coral,
MI, USA Status: offline
I found the balance point on the plans to be way off. It should be on the spar. I added about a pound of nose weight, flies great. I do use a starter. My spinner is not painted so a rubber nosed starter used right at the center works great.
Posts: 499
Joined: 10/14/2002 From: Cedar Rapids,
IA, USA Status: offline
I hand start my Magnum .91 also. If it starts backwards, I slow the prop down with it bit of pressure on the spinner and it will usually change directions. I would not recommend this unless you are comfortable around the prop, since it would be easy to get bit. I opened up the engine cutout a bit more, and tend to run on the rich side to aid in cooling. I havn't tried it on a hot day though. I'm still waiting for a nice day to try the 14X6 prop, but I think it will be the right choice.
Posts: 1561
Joined: 5/4/2004 From: Coral,
MI, USA Status: offline
I had several great flights on the Albatros this weekend. Here is a pic of my Line-O-Warbirds from this weekend. The Fokker DVIII at the end belongs to a friend in Traverse City named Tom Crump. He and his club were kind enough to invite me up last weekend for a flying and a BBQ. The Albatros flew with a 14x6 up front, it ran great, flew straight and level hands off in a cross wind, what else can you ask for?!
Posts: 49
Joined: 1/14/2002 From: San Antonio, TX, USA Status: offline
Guys, I'm coming into this thread at a late stage and I have enjoyed reading through it. I'm building the Fun Aero DII and I have a quick question for you all. I didn't see anything on the plans about whether or not to put in any right or down engine thrust. Have any of you done this? Does this aircraft need it? I'll take some pictures of where I'm at so far later and post it to this thread. FYI - If any of you are down my way (San Antonio, TX) on June 25/26, then I'm running a WWI event locally. Let me know if any of you are interested and I can send the details to you.
Posts: 250
Joined: 3/4/2005 From: wichita,
KS, USA Status: offline
RCwarbirdman, I would call Funaero on this question....I'm kinda wondering about that myself! I haven't started building mine yet but this will be good to know.
Posts: 655
Joined: 8/14/2003 From: Andersonville, TN, USA Status: offline
I built my Funaero DIII according to the plans, but I also emailed Jan several times on questions and always received a prompt response-do not know about the DII-Funaero does a good job of covering most of bases on the plan and/or instructions. Email Jan if you have any doubts though-better to find out before the glue dries. Good luck on your build-mine was a blast-looking forward to another WWI-but now its on to WWII.
Posts: 49
Joined: 1/14/2002 From: San Antonio, TX, USA Status: offline
I have sent an email to Fun Aero and I'll post anything they say here. In the mean time, if you are unaware of the latest kit Fun Aero are planning to produce, it's the Airco DH-5. If you're wondering what their kit will look like when built, here is a picture. Vern Sheffield, the designer, sent this along to me as he is bringing it to the "Dawn Patrol Rendezvous" event in September in Ohio. Looks really good!
Posts: 499
Joined: 10/14/2002 From: Cedar Rapids,
IA, USA Status: offline
Nice looking DII RCBirdman. You give up a little in the top wing compared to the DIII, but more than make up for it with the full bottom wing I'm sure. I thought I'd post some observations since I have flown my DIII a few more times. It is a handful on a smooth surface without a tailwheel, but my last time out I actually taxied back every flight. I still think I may build a somewhat hidden steerable tailwheel over the winter. As far a flying goes, it helped a lot to use differential in the ailerons, as well as mixing in some rudder. Turns are best initiated using the rudder. I found that flying the plane without the fake engine allows the engine to run much cooler. I just pull it out quick before the flight, then stick it back in after landing. I also opened up the cowl a bit more around the front of the engine. The 14X6 prop w
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RE: Albatros D.III Build along - 
RE: Albatros D.III Build along - 
