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aryajet -> SEBART KATANA 50E - FLIGHT REPORT (4/17/2008 4:55:30 PM)
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SEBART KATANA 50E - FLIGHT REPORT
Ok, with a half healed thumb, and 20MPH wind gusts I coud not wait any longer and proceeded maiden flight.
I timed my flight for 6m30s, and commenced count down the moment I went hot with the radio and not the moment I began take off, i wanted to be using battery power for only that time for test purposes. (Timed from switch on to off).
Balanced at 122mm from leading edge could not go any further back with the battery which is kind of a bummer, I might have to get creative like remove the spinner or something I really wanted to go 130-135mm, Sebart recom. 130mm back for good 3D.
Checked flight control surfaces, I have 35 deg on high rate on all surfaces with 45% expo. I chose to do the maiden entirely on low rates. Which is set 40% of those values at the same expo rate. Cleared flight and went to crosshairs on the runway.
Take off was done with moderate parallel wind (10-12mph measured) with high gusts of 20-23mph. Throttle was applied slowly and absolutely no yaw coupling was necessary to keep the Katana straight as an arrow. When I reached half throttle the Katana began rotation and I pushed to about 3/4 throttle and began my crosswind leg, amazing tracking thus far . Downwind pass was done with the throttle reduced to half after adequate altitude was achieved for comfortable testing. The katana flew straight and level downwind and no trim was necessary, I was very very impressed. Came around on base leg, and during the first upwind pass one click of right aileron was required for staright and level flight at half throttle.
With trimming out of the way I began a series of aerobatic tests, and decided to throw my idea of doing all this on low rates out the window !! Rolls, inside & outside, axial and hell fast. Loops, power was steady and plentiful through all the maneuver, the big prop slowed it down nice coming down and out. Stalls, vertical and no wing drop noted. Snaps, inside & outside, up & down, were amazing the plane seemed to come loose during the snap and lock back up like two earth magnets whe you released the stick. These 4 snaps were done inverted as well, and same behavior was noted. No 3D was attempted during maiden flight.
THIS IS WHERE I NEED HELP, I have never encountered this before and I think I may know the culprit. I tried then to do a series of knife edge passes up and down wind. The moment I fed any amount of rudder in, the Katana would pull to the belly like I was putting a considerable amount of down elevator, but I wasnt it was the action caused by applying rudder in knife edge. I literally had to put very close to full up elevator on low rates to keep her straight, and with all that input during knife edge, it looks ugly!! So I thought at that time it would be perfect to test stall turns and hammerheads, SAME THING!! Everytime I apply rudder the plane doesnt pull, it YANKS to the belly. Even during straight and level flight, trying to test yaw authority causes it to descend and pull to the belly.
I think I could have possibly not have the motor stand-offs measured exactly. Or I may have to install a little up thrust into the motor standoffs. I have a digital incidence/throw meter and could accurately measure and adjust. But I dont know for sure that is where the problem could be. SOme guys at the field mentioned balancing but its balanced perfect, and flew that way as well.
When I heard the last minute alarm I landed the Katana with no incident, greased her in, went full crow, up with both ailerons, and elevators and slowed her down to a stop. Taxi is easy with full steering authority even in the gusty wind.
I removed the canopy and the battery was warm to the touch, and maybe even hot. But nothing that I would consider worrying about, I only went full throttle twice during the whole flight. I am most worried about the knife edge pulling to the belly than anything else.
** My test revealed I would definatlely like to change my battery, it seemed the power system had more in it, this flight stressed no part of the system all components were either warm or luke warm to the touch. I am going to remove my spinner to get the CG to move back a few MM. I want to move my BEC as far back as I can get it too help the CG as well. I am stuck on this knife edge problem though, Low Knife Edge passes are probably my favorite things to do Knife Edge Stalls, Knife Edge harriers, I love these show stoppers. And Im afraid of not being able to do them with this plane, im hoping modifying the standoffs will help me negate this issue....
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