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"official" solo - 9/26/2004 7:41:49 PM   
ActionVerb



Posts: 80
Joined: 8/23/2003
From: Bellingham, WA, USA
Status: offline 		Friday went out with instructor. had the landing down so-so, and wanted to practice touch and go's since it's required to be soloed. was having quit a bit of trouble with the approach, from 50' out to that landing, as the plane slowed it became harder to maintain the right slope. (hope these are the right terms) Brought it in, instructor rechecked the CG. Ended up throwing 3/4 of an once on the tail. HUGE IMPROVEMENT!!!! She glides in so nice now. Got the touch and go's down.

Saturday got the club prez to check me out, 2nd instructor required for solo, and didn't have one prob. Said I'm good to go. Did have to do my 1st forced dead-stick. Went nice.

Thanks to everyone for all the help. Reading about so many different experiences here made me a better pilot from the 1st time I put hands on the Tx.

Couple things: Planes absolutely covered in oil when done. I'm talking dripping and stuff. This normal? Possibly rich on the high end? (EVO PTS .46)

Landing a lot easier with a closer last turn, instead having to maintain proper elevator and throttle management for 600' to touchdown.
       Post #: 1

RE: "official" solo - 9/26/2004 7:56:41 PM   
MerlinL14



Posts: 501
Joined: 1/3/2004
From: Liverpool, UNITED KINGDOM
Status: offline 		Way to go. It's just the best feeling in the world when the buddy cord is cut and you are FREE to just go.

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RE: "official" solo - 9/26/2004 8:12:06 PM   
piper_chuck



Posts: 7896
Joined: 6/13/2004
From: Pittsboro, NC, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: ActionVerb
Couple things: Planes absolutely covered in oil when done. I'm talking dripping and stuff. This normal? Possibly rich on the high end? (EVO PTS .46)

Congrats on your solo!

Oil on the plane is normal. That's why the electric crowd calls glow powered planes "slimers". It is not a sign your engine is too rich. I carry a roll of paper towels in the flight box so I can wipe some of the slime off the plane. In addition to the paper towels, I carry a bottle of spray cleaner to degrease the plane at the end of the day. That way it's clean when I get home and all I need to do before the next flying session is charge the batteries. Another useful addition to the flight box is a tube of waterless cleaner. Helps get rid of the slime from your hands before driving home. I'm using stuff called "Simple Green", spray and hand cleaner. Many other brands are available.

Something that might help reduce the slime is an exhaust deflector. It's a piece of tubing you slip on the end of your muffler to help direct the exhaust away from the plane, or at least in a direction to minimize the amount of slime on the plane.

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RE: "official" solo - 9/26/2004 8:46:01 PM   
exeter_acres



Posts: 6146
Joined: 9/22/2004
From: Johns Creek, GA, USA
Status: offline 		Congrats on the Solo!!

I just came upstairs to get some fresh air...as I am building my first plane right now... Whew! Epoxy stinks!!

I'm stressed but loving it....

Again Congrats! Hope to join you in the "SOLO" ranks, before too long!

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RE: "official" solo - 9/26/2004 11:02:55 PM   
a65l



Posts: 1485
Joined: 12/7/2003
From: va veach, VA, USA
Status: offline 		Don't wipe that slime off! It helps the plane slip thru the air! And if you don't have enough, you can't side slip into a landing!



Andy


(snicker)

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RE: "official" solo - 9/27/2004 2:46:07 AM   
DBCherry


 

Posts: 5554
Joined: 1/25/2002
From: Hubbardston, MA, USA
Status: offline 		Cute Andy.

Action,
Congrats on the solo, it only gets better from here on out.

You could still be a bit rich, sounds like excessive "slime" to me, but you'd be better off adding that exhaust deflector that someone else mentioned, than leaning the engine anymore, especially if you're happy with the performance.
Dennis-

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RE: "official" solo - 9/27/2004 2:34:15 PM   
ActionVerb



Posts: 80
Joined: 8/23/2003
From: Bellingham, WA, USA
Status: offline 		thanks all.

quote:

Don't wipe that slime off! It helps the plane slip thru the air! And if you don't have enough, you can't side slip into a landing!


NICE. So when I grease my landing we're talking literally and by the end of the day the planes leaving a slug trail. I use Windex with about a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid (which I read about here) so I'm able to get it cleaned up but the slime coating always seems to be on there. Had to repair my firewall recently so removed some covering on bottom of the fuselage. I couldn't get the new covering to stick, despite cleaning it with acetone, so just fuelproofed it with thick CA.

And I have the deflector, so Im doing all I can, so since it's preforming well I'll leave it alone.

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RE: "official" solo - 9/27/2004 7:30:46 PM   
MSP1957


 

Posts: 330
Joined: 12/7/2002
From: W. Bloomfield, MI,
Status: offline 		Congratulations. Just be careful for awhile. It seems like some of the new fliers at our field have been ending up in the trees lately.

I add some ammonia to those orange degreasers, but ultimately, there is always some "slime" left. good luck

Michael

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RE: "official" solo - 9/27/2004 11:27:55 PM   
Parrotman


 

Posts: 45
Joined: 9/10/2003
From: Slidell, LA, USA
Status: offline 		Good job!!! Just remember, ALTITUDE AND AIR SPEED ARE YOUR FRIENDS!!

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RE: "official" solo - 9/27/2004 11:40:20 PM   
DBCherry


 

Posts: 5554
Joined: 1/25/2002
From: Hubbardston, MA, USA
Status: offline 		Try baby wipes. They generally cut through that slime, I mean, that's what they were designed for right?

The wipes do leave a bit of streaking behind, but a quick swipe with "Windex" or similar gets rid of that if you care. I've had decent luck getting covering to stick by wiping down with alcohol first.
Dennis-

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RE: "official" solo - 9/28/2004 12:16:00 AM   
bubbagates



Posts: 8162
Joined: 5/30/2004
From: Elizabethtown, PA, USA
Status: offline 		Congrats on the solo

Hey Minnflyer, another attaboy please...

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RE: "official" solo - 9/28/2004 2:23:28 PM   
ActionVerb



Posts: 80
Joined: 8/23/2003
From: Bellingham, WA, USA
Status: offline 		multiple times while flying I have to say to myself, "You're new, you're green, don't get over confident and remember, **** happens fast!!" Now I'll add "altitude and airspeed" to that.

quote:

Try baby wipes. They generally cut through that slime, I mean, that's what they were designed for right?


excellent! I should have though of that. With a 4 month old in the house we have a few million baby wipes sitting around.

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       Post #: 12

RE: "official" solo - 9/28/2004 3:28:00 PM   
MinnFlyer



Posts: 19989
Joined: 4/22/2002
From: Willmar, MN, USA
Status: offline 		One ATTABOY Comin' up!

Well done!

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RE: "official" solo - 9/28/2004 4:07:34 PM   
ActionVerb



Posts: 80
Joined: 8/23/2003
From: Bellingham, WA, USA
Status: offline 		Thanks MinnFlyer

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RE: "official" solo - 9/28/2004 4:24:48 PM   
bubbagates



Posts: 8162
Joined: 5/30/2004
From: Elizabethtown, PA, USA
Status: offline
quote:

the planes leaving a slug trail


At least you have a way to find the plane if you overshoot into the tall grass at the end of the runway ....Just kidding

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Normal is not something to aspire to, it's something to get away from

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RE: "official" solo - 9/28/2004 10:06:35 PM   
ELTIGRE


 

Posts: 418
Joined: 8/4/2004
From: BERNVILLE, PA, USA
Status: offline 		I would be careful about the exhaust extension. a small-(less than 1 inch ) would be ok to get the stream out of the way but the ones availible often cause more back pressure& certainly heat build up of your motor. some times you get away with