langerl
Posts: 138
Score: 100
Joined: 9/26/2003
Last Login: 11/21/2009
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Status: offline
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G-Pete,
Though I dearly want to use Solo's on several of my large scale projects, RCU threads like this one, http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_5349526/mpage_17/key_/tm.htm (and others in RCU and RCSB for which I have not kept a link) bother me. Like I said, a number of the really big airplane builders have not been using Solo props for their projects. Wonder why? If I can be assured the props are as sound as fixed, carbon fiber props, I'll jump on 'em... even if they cost as much as they do now. For the moment however, I think I'll hold off.
Regarding the Twin Synch, here's my thoughts. Sure, good throttle management and rudder work will help you save a big P38 with a failed engine, but the first 2-3 seconds of the in-flight emergency are usually fatal. Since it is likely you won't hear the loss of one engine (when you're flying on a busy field or at a Fly In) at near full throttle, the first thing you'll notice on loss of an engine (in a '38 or most twins) is quick snap or if you're lucky, a fast roll toward the dead engine. Unless you're right on top of it, this will fast become a rapid spin that, unless you're high, will usually end in a dead airplane. I know, I've seen it first hand many times, with good pilots on the sticks. Though some planes (like Z P-61s) are tolerant of single engine flight, if you follow twin or warbird threads on RCU or RCSB, you'll see many records of twins killed by engine failure. The Twin Synch can help prevent this, or at least give you some time to catch up to the plane when you are surprised by an engine failure. Here's the sequence. 1. You're burning up the field with your Twin X along with a bunch of other warbirds. 2. For whatever reason, one of your model's engines quits. 3. The Twin Synch senses the engine failure (or rapid slow down if that's what happened) and either chops the good engine to a pre-set idle or retards the good engine to match the sick engine. 4. You, naturally push the throttle forward thinking, "Hmm. I'm slowing down". 5. Nothing happens except your model contines to slow. 6. Now you realize you have an Emergency. 6. YOU pull the throttles to idle, the good engine slows to idle and the dead / sick engine does too.
7. With a second or two to decide whether you can make the field, you push the throttle forward mixed WITH PROPER aileron and rudder inputs and steer the plane in toward the good engine to a controlled approach and hopefully uneventfull landing.
The difference here is the time you've been given from the Emergency to pilot input to recover the plane. The Twin Synch allows you to respond in a (semi) calm manner and manage the single engine condition properly. Without the Synch, unless you are a very quick, veteran twin flyer, you begin single engine flight operations from a stalled, spinning attitude. As I said, unless you're lucky enough to be high, your P38 will likely be about 1-2 mistakes lower than that need to recover the aircraft.
The point you made regarding automatic response on take offs is moot. You have two options under a failed engine on climb out. You could have de-selected the Twin Synch for take off; in which case the model either snaps and crashes under full power as normal or you're quick and lucky as either the operating Twin Synch or you pull the thottles to idle, point the nose toward the ground to gain/maintain airspeed and controllability, and idle in to a safe belly landing at the take-off end of the field (yeah, it COULD happen). The point being, you're gonna' come down, fast, when ever you have a failed engine on take off. Whether its you or the Twin Synch is immaterial. The same thing happens with many full sized twins.
It all comes down to this. Would you like another 4-6 seconds to plan for and execute a single engine Emergency or do you want to take your chances and use your Cat-like lightning reflexes to save you? For me, I guess I'm more of a Dog Man. Under Emergency conditions, the Twin Synch engine RPM synchronizer function is gravy. I'm thinking the auto-throttle management function is cheap insurance for a big twin or four-engined model.
Oh, and I have no financial association with either RCS or the Twin Synch manufacturer. I DO however know and trust one of the principal Twin Synch beta testers. He regularly flys great twins, all using the many (unmentioned) nice Twin Synch functions. He has taught me all I know about the technology. I've seen it first hand and it WORKS as advertised.
Sorry to take the thread off-topic, but as P38 drivers, we all should understand this subject and the options available to us.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Lynn
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All Forums >> RC Airplanes >> RC Warbirds and Warplanes >> RE: P-38 Ziroli designed, built and aluminum plated by Metal-morphous 
RE: P-38 Ziroli designed, built and aluminum plated by ... - 
and they are so slow. I do not buy items from companies who only use them due to the past bad experiences. 
PAH. 