RE: Great Planes Seawind  
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RE: Great Planes Seawind - 11/14/2005 6:52:01 PM   
MinnFlyer



Posts: 19198
Joined: 4/22/2002
From: Willmar, MN, USA
Status: offline 		Kev, I have used Flaps on many planes and I love them. I never bother to even look at what Mfgr's have to say in regards to them, I just go by this tried and true method:

Get some good altitude, SLOW DOWN, and deploy the flaps - but be ready to bring them back up if something goes wrong (It rarely does, but it's always good to err on the side of safety)

Then see how it flies. I have never mixed elevator into a flap, I just don't see the need. The plane may "balloon" right after deploying them, but that's to be expected, mixing in down elevator will just hinder the performance once it slows down.

Now make a lap or two with the flaps down just to get the feel for it. Be ready to add power if it get too sluggish. It doesn't take long to start loving them

_____________________________

Mike B.
AMA# 42400 www.gettingairborne.com

"Those are my principles. If you don't like them, I have others." - Groucho Marx

(in reply to drbebob)
       Post #: 76

RE: Great Planes Seawind - 11/14/2005 7:33:06 PM   
khh1955


 

Posts: 53
Joined: 1/17/2004
From: Santa Rosa, CA, USA
Status: offline 		OS .61fx users...
get out your weights!

I just balanced it (with the stock landing set up) and have found that I needed to add 12oz to the front!
I can't imagine what you guys using bigger & heavier engines are going to need!
I just hope that the OS.61fx is going to be enough power,this thing is weighing in at 12lb7oz total!
This is not a plane that I ever expected to be FAST,so as long as the .61 flies it comfortanly,I'll be happy!

Kurt

(in reply to MinnFlyer)
       Post #: 77

RE: Great Planes Seawind - 11/14/2005 8:17:10 PM   
Strykaas



Posts: 3901
Joined: 3/21/2003
From: Paris, FRANCE
Status: offline 		Too bad the OS61FX weighs the same as the .91FX.

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(in reply to khh1955)
       Post #: 78

RE: Great Planes Seawind - 11/15/2005 3:28:26 AM   
khh1955


 

Posts: 53
Joined: 1/17/2004
From: Santa Rosa, CA, USA
Status: offline 		According to tower's specs...
the .61 fx w/muffler weighs 23.6oz,the .91fx 24.3 oz...
thats a 13oz difference...not alot,but it still adds up to putting more weight up front!

For now,since the .61 is in it & the plane is ready for its maiden flight...I'll try it out with this
set up...probably this weekend.
However,there is a chance that I'll be looking for a .91fx soon !

Kurt

(in reply to Strykaas)
       Post #: 79

RE: Great Planes Seawind - 11/15/2005 3:36:56 AM   
khh1955


 

Posts: 53
Joined: 1/17/2004
From: Santa Rosa, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Oooops!
Sorry,its late & my brains not working...
the weight difference is more like .7oz.

Hmmmm...I guess I should have gotten the .91fx....da!

Kurt

(in reply to khh1955)
       Post #: 80

RE: Great Planes Seawind - 11/15/2005 6:32:26 AM   
seanychen



Posts: 2914
Joined: 7/20/2002
From: Canton, MI, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: khh1955

OS .61fx users...
get out your weights!

I just balanced it (with the stock landing set up) and have found that I needed to add 12oz to the front!
I can't imagine what you guys using bigger & heavier engines are going to need!
I just hope that the OS.61fx is going to be enough power,this thing is weighing in at 12lb7oz total!
This is not a plane that I ever expected to be FAST,so as long as the .61 flies it comfortanly,I'll be happy!

Kurt


You might want to use APC 12x6 2-blade prop. That seems to give the best thrust on my TT .61 Pro.

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E_Total = M*G*H + 1/2 M*V^2
When H=0, all of airplane's velocity becomes crash energy!

(in reply to khh1955)
       Post #: 81

RE: Great Planes Seawind - 11/15/2005 2:23:20 PM   
jetlag


 

Posts: 49
Joined: 2/1/2003
From: Columbia, SC, USA
Status: offline 		I flew mine this past weekend three times with the OS.61 mounted inverted. The aircraft is incredibly fast using an 11x7 three blade MA prop. The only real problem I encountered was the fuel that dripped continuously out of the carb. when the tank was full...most likely due to the siphon effect. The top of the fuse got stained pink nicely despite my wipe-off efforts. Therefore, the engine is now mounted sideways with the muffler on the bottom...have'nt tested it yet, but looks a lot better. Only had to cut a little out for head clearance and the muffler. I hope this will make the plane more user friendly and less damaging to the gel coat.
Anyone have any suggestions for removing the fuel stain other than cleaning and painting over?
Oh, Also, be sure and silicone seal the wing roots and canopy as per the usual method...I use saran wrap and aquarium silicone.
Plane likes to hop a little on landing; flaps might improve this (slower), but I have'nt tried this either.

Allen

< Message edited by jetlag -- 11/15/2005 2:27:10 PM >

(in reply to khh1955)
       Post #: 82

RE: Great Planes Seawind - 11/15/2005 2:45:14 PM   
Stevenhilton


 

Posts: 29
Joined: 9/21/2005
From: , ON, CANADA
Status: offline 		Hmm I don't want the thing stained either. They call for the engine to be inverted in the instructions. Does it make a difference if you mount it right side up? Other than the obvious esthetecs?
What does the exhaust oil do to the gel coat as well?

(in reply to jetlag)
       Post #: 83

RE: Great Planes Seawind - 11/15/2005 2:47:20 PM   
Stevenhilton


 

Posts: 29
Joined: 9/21/2005
From: , ON, CANADA
Status: offline 		Can you please explain the silicone on the wing roots further. Do you run a bead on the wing itself where it joins the fuselage and then bolt it in tight with a layer of saran wrap?

(in reply to jetlag)
       Post #: 84

RE: Great Planes Seawind - 11/15/2005 2:48:28 PM   
Stevenhilton


 

Posts: 29
Joined: 9/21/2005
From: , ON, CANADA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: jetlag

The only real problem I encountered was the fuel that dripped continuously out of the carb. when the tank was full...most likely due to the siphon effect. The top of the fuse got stained pink nicely despite my wipe-off efforts.

Allen

I wonder if a coat of heavy duty auto wax prio to flight would stop the staining?

(in reply to jetlag)
       Post #: 85

RE: Great Planes Seawind - 11/15/2005 6:03:24 PM   
khh1955


 

Posts: 53
Joined: 1/17/2004
From: Santa Rosa, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Wonderful,
Am I glade to hear that a .61fx will fly this beautiful plane adaquetly!
At close to 12 1/2 lbs...I was getting a bit nervous about using the .61!

Its been really windy out here this week,so even though its ready to go...I've been holding off
flying it till the winds die down some....hopefully by saturday things will be right!


Just because my radio is computerized,I went ahead & set it up using both a R/A mix,and a F/E mix.
Anything I can do to make a plane fly easier/smoother is worth the effort!

I'll be flying off land for awhile,as our group of lake flyers won't be flying off water again till next spring...
nobody wants to get into cold water this time of year!

Kurt

(in reply to jetlag)
       Post #: 86

RE: Great Planes Seawind - 11/15/2005 6:16:06 PM   
PaulG-RC



Posts: 579
Joined: 10/26/2003
From: ile-Bizard, Montreal, QC, CANADA
Status: offline 		Hi Kurt

Just curious, how cold does the water get in Santa Rosa Ca?
Here today we are having our first snowfall and tomorow up again to summer temp for 1 day, very odd.

My seawind is still on stand untouch waitting for servos and then I will start slowly.

Paul

(in reply to khh1955)
       Post #: 87

RE: Great Planes Seawind - 11/15/2005 6:49:55 PM   
jetlag


 

Posts: 49
Joined: 2/1/2003
From: Columbia, SC, USA
Status: offline 		Kurt
Mine weighs in around 10.5 lbs, as I'm not using any landing gear, fixed or otherwise. 12.5 lbs might be a little much weight for this engine, but I can't say for sure. You're definitely at the upper end of the oz's/sq.ft. zone. The Seawind flies fast but then it needs to! As I said earlier, it does tend to skip across the water on landing if you come in hot.
Your takeoff ride might be tougher; this airplane does not like much chop at all in the water.
Allen

(in reply to khh1955)
       Post #: 88

RE: Great Planes Seawind - 11/15/2005 7:20:43 PM   
jetlag


 

Posts: 49
Joined: 2/1/2003
From: Columbia, SC, USA
Status: offline 		Steven
Clearly, mounting an OS.61FX inverted on a Seawind will ruin the top of the fuse from the fuel siphoning. I imagine the idea to mount it inverted came from trying to keep as much mass close to the centerline of the airplane for 'better handling'. I have built several Ace Seamasters, and their engines (all 2-strokes) were all mounted at 90 degrees. Those planes fly fabulously (for Seamasters). Those engines, however, are forward of the cg, if that matters much here.
I have several YS 4-strokes mounted upside down and don't experience the fuel drippage, perhaps because of the supercharger/carb. design. I've not mounted an OS or other 4-stroke inverted, so I can't say if they would leak.
If I were you, and I wanted to keep the .61 in the plan, I'd mount it sideways...only the muffler is grossly visible, but a pitts muffler might blow all kinds of stuff at the fuse! Exhaust oil should not (did not on mine) harm the finish...I use Omega 15% and 30% heli fuel (mainly for the YS's) with no Castor oil, only synthetic.

As for the silicone solution at the wing tips, I fit an uncrinkled piece of Saran wrap completely over the wing root at the fuselage. Be sure to cut a slit for the spar and the used holes there, one each side for the sx wires and antirotation pins; make sure it's nice, smooth, and wrinkle-free...Take a wing and fairly liberally spread silicone on the root, run the wires through the fuse holes, and slide it down the spar up to the fuse...tighten the knurled knob down as if you are going flying...you want the sil. to squeeze out of the joint...wipe off excess...let dry for 24 hours. When you pull the wing back off, the saran will be sticking to the silicone...just gently peel it off. Wipe off gross exess with a rag...residual excess comes off easily once dry (or you could use a little lacquer thinner while the silicone is wet). Then Voila! The silcone stays with the wings and seals up next to the fuse nicely. Do the canopy similarly...that is, silicone on the canopy superstructure, Saran over the 'sealing foam' arond the opening on the fuse...attach as if your getting ready to fly it...leave it alone for 24 hours.
As for auto wax as a protecta