Jburry
Posts: 560
Joined: 7/12/2006
From: Cape Spencer,
NB, CANADA
Status: offline
|
Well, first flight day finally arrived today!
Barry (who built the little electric above) called around 11 am to tell me the wind out his way (near the SJ Airport, in the woods) was pretty good. Here it was blowing a fair gale, probably 30kph or better, so I declined for the time being. By 1 or so the wind had dropped alot, so I called him back and we arranged to meet at the field. Loaded the Pipe Dream, and my old trainer into the car, along with all the support equipment. Looked pretty funny, the tail feathers of the pipe dream stick out of the trunk by better than a foot. It's color scheme means we don't need to flag it at least. We avoided highways to be certain that it wasn't damaged, but since the elevator and rudder didn't even move, I guess we'll be OK next time.
We showed up at about 2, the wife and kid laid out a blanket on the ground, strewn with toys, and I set up the planes. The wind was at less than "half sock" when we arrived, but as we waited for Barry, his wife and their baby to arrive, that picked up till it was about 3/4 sock. Probably 15kph or so, too much for my trainer, but not for the PD. Finally they showed up, at about 2:30 or so, and they ate lunch at the picknic table. Seemed to take'em forever.
Finally, I dragged Barry over to the planes. He had the little red electric with him that we will one day drop from the PD. We would test that by hand launch after the PD's flight.
I explained the ritual of choking and starting the PD's zenoah engine, then Barry stood over the PD, blocking it's forward movement by having the stabilizer up against the backs of his legs. This is pretty standard gasser hold-back technique, and it works well. I donned a padded leather work glove (I like my fingers), closed the PD's choke, turned on the transmitter and receiver, turned on the ignition, and began flipping the prop vigorously. I had fuelled up while waiting for people to arrive, in case you were waiting for that step. I'd also conducted radio range tests both at the field and at home previously. Well, after a half dozen choking flips, the zenoah coughed, so I opened the choke, and it fired on the next flip. A few seconds later, it quit, air bubble in the fuel line. Choked again for 4 flips or so, then open choke, 3 flips and it roared to life. With Barry holding the plane back, I goosed the throttle some, and we warmed the big engine up. I adjusted the idle trim for a nice flight idle, started the onboard video camera, and we declared ourselves ready.
The PD taxied onto the runway, and I verified the control directions and function as it moved towards the end of the runway. Taxi required only a click or 2 of throttle to move nicely, and ground handling was predictable, typical tail-dragger. When I had made enough runway available, I turned the big orange plane into the wind. One last check of elevator, rudder and ailerons. All good. Gut check. Quivery but ready. Wind's straight down the runway. 3/4 sock. It's time.
I slowly advance the throttle, and the PD begins to roll. A bit of right rudder and some down elevator as she starts to roll, like any tail dragger on the ground. Speed and throttle build, and I release the elevator to neutral. The tail begins to fly. Full throttle now, ground is being eaten up at a fair clip. I touch the up elevator, and the mains break ground. We're flying!
Needs some down elevator trim, and she's rolling left slowly, so I keep her level and control the climb-out, reducing throttle at about 100', and begin my first circuit of the pattern. Once I've achieved enough altitude, I put in about half the available down elevator trim and a couple clicks of aileron. She's flying straight and level now, or close enough in the gusty skys. At part throttle, the zenoah is making a beautiful 4-stroke sound, breaking to a clean 2 stroke occasionally, or whenever I add power. All the controls are responsiv
_____________________________
Revver Bro. #220
|
Printable Version
All Forums >> RC Airplanes >> Sport Flying >> Byron Originals Pipe Dream 
Byron Originals Pipe Dream - 
RE: Byron Originals Pipe Dream - 
