Omaha_RC_Flyer
Posts: 489
Joined: 3/7/2004
From: Omaha,
NE, USA
Status: offline
|
Good News and Bad News!!
I'll start with the beginning.
First Flight
I fueled it up and took it out to the flightline, took off and the
stress began. It was a little tail heavy which made it very difficult to fly. I was able to bring
it around and land it (not very smooth).
At the last minute when building the throttle servo and the battery were moved.
I didn't check the CG after the mod, that was my first mistake.
Second Flight
I added 1 1/2 oz of weight to the front checked the CG and took it up again. It flew better but
needed alot of up elevator trim, as well as some left trim to the ailerons. I flew around a few
passes holding back on the elevator stick to keep it level. I decided to land and brought it in,
landing was uneventful. I adjusted the elevator pushrod and put the trim back to center on the TX.
Third Flight
I refueled it, checked the battery and fire it up. Take off was picture perfect, straight down the runway.
Made a circle and a fly by with hands off, needed two clicks of down trim and she was flying straight and level.
I was finally able to relax a bit. The roll rate was fast. Loops sucked because of the power plant I was using
didn't have enough power (magnum.40 XL). That was the same case for vertical performance. Landings, I think
are easier with this plane than my trainer. Pull it back to idle and glide it in. I didn't see any tendencies to tip stall.
Forth, Fifth, and Sixth Flights
Were a riot!! This plane flies well even being underpowered. Each landing was better than the last. Did I mention
landings were as easy as a trainer. Some of the ol' timers at the field yesterday could not believe how well it flew.
Now the Seventh and Final Flight.
Did every thing as before, filled it up, took off and had alot of fun. About seven minutes into the flight I turned toward
the south, when it was straight out in front of me I pulled up. The nose came up and then went down quick. I lost all elevator
and watched it go down nose first. After about 30 mins. of searching I found it in the bottom of a semi dry creek/spring bed, both wings
hit tree branches going down breaking both spars and busting the LE's on both pretty bad. The motor was buried in the mud still
attached to the firewall, that had broken away from the fuse. Other than were the firewall attached to the fuse and the cowl
cheeks, the fuse is okay.
After getting it back to the pitts and checking the battery and the radio, everything worked okay. The pushrod to the elevator
was no longer attached at the servo and the faslink connector was missing. Which would lead me to believe that the Faslink
pushrod connector came off in flight. Causing me to loose the elevator. Needless to say I was sick, and didn't want to come
home and tell the wife. I spent a lot of time in the basement last week away from her and the kids building it (I'm sure some
of you would think what is wrong with that). That didn't make her too happy! She still don't know I crashed it, but I'm sure she
will figure it out soon enough.
I was so proud of my trim scheme, I will still post pictures of it. Once I get the film back and scan them.
Acam37,
Thanks for the plans and this is an awesome plane. I'll be building another one in the next week or two. I have a .46 BB engine I'll use
on the new one.
_____________________________
Team Spadworld
www.spadworld.net
|
Printable Version
All Forums >> RC Airplanes >> S.P.A.D. Aircraft - Coroplast design >> RE: new spad 
RE: new spad - 
I'm sure most of you that are married will agree, thats not fun. 
