RE: Four Star 60 Build...The Saga Begins  
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RE: Four Star 60 Build...The Saga Begins - 8/13/2005 3:36:10 AM   
Vogan


 

Posts: 84
Joined: 5/1/2004
From: Christchurch, NEW ZEALAND
Status: offline 		Looking really good, still don't have mine finished yet, are about to start covering the fuse. Looke like a job well done and all the best for the maiden flight I am sure it will go well

(in reply to Liberator)
       Post #: 676

RE: Four Star 60 Build...The Saga Begins - 8/13/2005 1:18:03 PM   
bruce88123


 

Posts: 10733
Joined: 11/26/2004
From: Memphis, TN, USA
Status: online 		Ya know, you're supposed to send photos of a beautiful woman (wife) holding the plane like they do in the magazines. Bikini optional. The plane does look good, good flying to ya!

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3-D is for Monster Movies

(in reply to Liberator)
       Post #: 677

RE: Four Star 60 Build...The Saga Begins - 8/13/2005 2:35:50 PM   
tychoc



Posts: 725
Joined: 3/4/2004
From: Cedar Park, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Sweet

-tychoc

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Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement.

(in reply to MountaineerFan36)
       Post #: 678

RE: Four Star 60 Build...The Saga Be... - 8/13/2005 4:29:53 PM   
cwrr5



Posts: 2135
Joined: 5/19/2004
From: Tucson, AZ, USA
Status: offline 		Looks great! Well done!

Hey... with the 4* stickers, your plane matches your hat!

LoL about the "monkey" thing!

(in reply to tychoc)
       Post #: 679

RE: Four Star 60 Build...The Saga Begins - 8/13/2005 6:11:09 PM   
raideron



Posts: 1692
Joined: 1/12/2004
From: Fort Mohave, AZ, USA
Status: offline 		MountaineerFan36... Great Job!!!!... She does look Sweet!!
Have fun on your Maiden!!.... Stay loose!!


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**** Vigilant!!! **** The Word and Action of our times!
:( What... Out of fuel Again :(

(in reply to MountaineerFan36)
       Post #: 680

RE: Four Star 60 Build...The Saga Begins - 8/13/2005 9:48:14 PM   
MountaineerFan36


 

Posts: 300
Joined: 3/1/2005
From: Akron, OH, USA
Status: offline 		The Fourstar 60 flies!!!!!!!

Ok...first off the dissappointing part. I pm'd RCKen last night to let him know that I had just spent 2 hours tearing my house apart trying to find the charger for my handycam....and I had no luck. It was about 11:00 at night...with no place to go for a replacement, so I did not get any video of the maiden flight. I will shoot some...once I find the cord or replace it.

Now to the fun part. When I got to the field and put my fourstar together...I had a bunch of guys go over it for me. They checked everything...control throws, CG, pulled on the control surfaces to make sure the hinges held...checked all the nuts/bolts etc. We did a range check and finally with the engine started..I held her nose while another guy ran it up to full throttle to check if it was running to lean. Everything got a clean bill of health...except for the CG. I had to add about 12 oz. of weight to the front. I knew it was to good to be true for me to have it perfectly balanced without moving anything around.

I made the decision that I was not going to do the maiden. I asked one of the best flyers at our field..who had helped me check the fourstar over, if he would maiden her for me. He said "I'll give it my best shot"..and I said "that's all I can ask for". With that I started her up...and he taxied her out.

I watched him taxi about 6 feet outside of the flight line...look at the wind sock and give her the throttle....I couldn't believe it when in about 25 feet or so..the fourstar was airborne He gained some altitude and began to trim her out. For the record...the fourstar required 4 clicks of left aileron and 6 clicks of down elevator to get to strait and level flight. He did some figure eights around the field...and was flying her and about 1/3 to 1/2 throttle the majority of the flight. He asked me if I wanted to take over...and I said no...I want at least one complete flight on her...so he brought her in for a landing...smooth as butter. Totals flight time was about 8-10 minutes.

Then it was my turn. I fuled her up..and did another series of checks to make sure nothing shook loose during the maiden. Everything check out great Then with about 8-10 guys standing around watching...I fired her up and taxied out. I went to about 1/3 throttle and she started down the runway. When the tailwheel lifted off I went to about 1/2 throttle and she lifted off the ground. I had the strangest sense of exilleration and bewlderment....I know this thing was designed to fly...but it used to be just a box of sticks..and now it is flying! I took her up to altitude and just did some lazy circles around the field. I love flying this bird. She goes where I point her...doesn't fight me to try to get level...has awsome power.. I just can't describe with words the sense of satisfaction I had with her in the air. I thought the speed of the larger engine might intimidate me a bit...but it was just the opposite...I absolutely loved that I had the power there when I needed it.

I did notice that orientation on the plane was a bit different. I was used to seeing my high wing trainer in the air..and it took a bit of getting used to seeing this low wing bird in the sky. Can't really describe the difference in how they appeared to me other than to say it just felt different when I was flying her...in terms of orientation I was fine..but it was just...different. After about ten minutes of flight..I decided to land her. Let me say this...this fourstar is easier to land than my nexstar trainer. She slowed way down. The sink rate was a littler faster than on my nexstar and I got a big bounce when I brought her in...big enough in fact that a powered her back up and came around for another shot....man I love that Saito 100. On my second attempt I greased her in with a three point landing about 15 feet to my left. Absolutely beautiful. All the guys were clapping and hooting congratulations to me...I felt like a million bucks! What a day.

My sincerest gratitude to RCKen, Bubbagates, Bruce and all the rest of you guys for your assistance during this build. I learned so much about RC airplanes..building, patience, attention to detail during the course of this build. I could never repay you for all your help. All I can say is thank you. You guys are simply awsome

You guys were right...there is no other feeling in the world quite like flying a plane that you built yourself. Now in my sick and twisted mind I'm thinking.....what's the next for me to build!

Joe

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< Message edited by MountaineerFan36 -- 8/13/2005 10:14:10 PM >

(in reply to raideron)
       Post #: 681

RE: Four Star 60 Build...The Saga Begins - 8/13/2005 10:01:17 PM   
RCKen



Posts: 15183
Joined: 7/10/2002
From: Lawton, OK, USA
Status: online 		What!!!!?????? Did you do your maiden today? How did it fly?

Ken

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The take off is optional, but the landing is MANDATORY!!
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(in reply to MountaineerFan36)
       Post #: 682

RE: Four Star 60 Build...The Saga Begins - 8/13/2005 10:13:21 PM   
bubbagates



Posts: 8162
Joined: 5/30/2004
From: Elizabethtown, PA, USA
Status: offline 		NO fair, he snuck off and did the maiden.

Well, tells us the details... I am super curious...

In any case, very cool

_____________________________

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

(in reply to RCKen)
       Post #: 683

RE: Four Star 60 Build...The Saga Begins - 8/13/2005 10:32:54 PM   
RCKen



Posts: 15183
Joined: 7/10/2002
From: Lawton, OK, USA
Status: online
quote:

ORIGINAL: MountaineerFan36
You guys were right...there is no other feeling in the world quite like flying a plane that you built yourself. Now in my sick and twisted mind I'm thinking.....what's the next for me to build!

Joe


Ahhh, yes. We've converted another one to the brotherhood!!

Mountaineer,
Be honest with me, you thought I was kidding when I told you about that feeling didn't you?? It's bar none the best feeling in the world. There isn't a drug on the face of the planet that will give you a better high than seeing your own plane fly.

I am always thinking about what I can build next. The problem is that I can't build as fast as I can think of them, so my shelves fill up with kits!!!

I really am proud of the work you did on this project, and you just want to say you turned out one great looking bird. Give yourself a pat on the back. You definitely deserve it.

Good job

Ken


_____________________________

The take off is optional, but the landing is MANDATORY!!
AMA # 712539 www.gettingairborne.com
Moderator- Beginner''s, Sport Flying, Off-Topic, & AMA Discussions
RCU Community Moderator

(in reply to MountaineerFan36)
       Post #: 684

RE: Four Star 60 Build...The Saga Begins - 8/13/2005 10:44:29 PM   
bubbagates



Posts: 8162
Joined: 5/30/2004
From: Elizabethtown, PA, USA
Status: offline 		Let's see here. He said at least 2 times he was ready to give up when he ran into a snag, He said at least once that he was not going to do another build.

And now he's looking for another plane to build. May I suggest a SIG something extra. really easy to do and flies very very well

Job very well done....very well done indeed and to think I could have driven about 8 hrs to see it RATS,



< Message edited by bubbagates -- 8/13/2005 10:46:27 PM >

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

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RE: Four Star 60 Build...The Saga Begins - 8/13/2005 11:06:27 PM   
MountaineerFan36


 

Posts: 300
Joined: 3/1/2005
From: Akron, OH, USA
Status: offline 		Thanks guys!

Sorry about the video. I will get some for ya guys as soon as possible. I had a narrow window of opportunity for the maiden...and I took it.

When I was at the field on Friday, a bunch of the guys told me that they were all going to another club for a fly in event on Sunday....and most likely nobody would be at the field. I just couldn't stand waiting another whole week to do the maiden...so I go the OK from the wife to go out this morning before we had to leave for our family reunion.

Bubba. You need to come over to Ohio anyhow. We could have a lot of fun tearing up the sky! We've got a scale WWII fly in coming up in September that should be a lot of fun!

BTW Ken..I can take some of those kits off your hands if you need to clear out some room

< Message edited by MountaineerFan36 -- 8/13/2005 11:08:28 PM >

(in reply to bubbagates)
       Post #: 686

RE: Four Star 60 Build...The Saga Be... - 8/13/2005 11:16:39 PM   
txaggie08



Posts: 842
Joined: 4/12/2005
From: College Station, TX, USA
Status: offline 		man that is a fine airplane. VERY nice

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(in reply to MountaineerFan36)
       Post #: 687

RE: Four Star 60 Build...The Saga Be... - 8/14/2005 12:46:04 AM   
Connery



Posts: 781
Joined: 4/25/2004
From: Chandler, TX, USA
Status: offline 		CONGRATS!!!! It's great to see we now have another convert to kit building. I second the suggestion of a Sig SE as a secong plane. You will love the way it flys as much or even more than the 4*.

(in reply to txaggie08)
       Post #: 688

RE: Four Star 60 Build...The Saga Begins - 8/14/2005 12:58:26 AM   
raideron



Posts: 1692
Joined: 1/12/2004
From: Fort Mohave, AZ, USA
Status: offline 		Congrads Joe!!... Have never put together a RC kit.. But way back
when I did on U/C... And that feeling is just Great To see your work
flying!! And best of all coming home as she left!! Great Job and have
Fun!!

_____________________________

**** Vigilant!!! **** The Word and Action of our times!
:( What... Out of fuel Again :(

(in reply to MountaineerFan36)
       Post #: 689