Aviatik DI build
09-04-2012, 06:59 PM
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RE: Aviatik DI build
Goodluck Martin, wair fior the wind to be straight on down the runway then give her.
I'm not familiar with all the large scale gasser 'stuff' but learning from you and others on the forum. I do agree with you on the safety aspects though. Looking good!
Cheers,
Bri
I'm not familiar with all the large scale gasser 'stuff' but learning from you and others on the forum. I do agree with you on the safety aspects though. Looking good!
Cheers,
Bri
09-05-2012, 04:50 AM
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RE: Aviatik DI build
Hello Martin:
Good luck,
with your test flights, too bad you do not live closer.
The 400 field is Omni for wind direction.
We will be in Kitchner this week-end with the Messenger M-38.
Regards Larry
Good luck,
with your test flights, too bad you do not live closer.The 400 field is Omni for wind direction.
We will be in Kitchner this week-end with the Messenger M-38.
Regards Larry
09-12-2012, 06:47 PM
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RE: Aviatik DI build
Thanks guys. It was a great weekend, in spite of the Saturday storm..
Hoping to test fly tomorrow afternoon. My test pilot is going away for the weekend so it's Thursday, or next week. Fingers crossed for the wind.
Martin
Hoping to test fly tomorrow afternoon. My test pilot is going away for the weekend so it's Thursday, or next week. Fingers crossed for the wind.
Martin
09-13-2012, 07:09 PM
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RE: Aviatik DI build
SUCCESS!!!
I did a test flight this evening and everything went well. We did a couple of power run-ups, range check, slight radio programming adjustments and then I handed the box over to Rolly Siemensen, a club member who has been flying since the 60s. Rolly does this for a lot of our club - test flights are no place for egos.
I have a couple of videos, but only one is worth downloading. (I am loading it on YouTube tonight.) You will see that the tail lifts quite easily with the application of power. This was reassuring as it confirmed that the CG must be close. Takeoff was straightforward and climb out at 1/2 throttle was good. A little up trim was needed but other than that, it flew fine. I got the transmitter a couple of minutes into the flight and found that it was very neutral laterally - it needed opposite aileron and rudder to come out of turns. The elevator is very powerful and only a very small amount was needed. It is a draggy plane that needs more power than I had thought, (I still have lots of reserve) The landing approach started WAY out, (I will have to do some "perceptual adjusting" for this size of plane), but touched down smoothly. Thanks Roll!
Overall, I felt a little like I was "balancing on a ball", but never like I was going to "fall off". The elevator sensitivity was surprising. While it is quite large, it is on a long tail moment which usually smooths things out, (think about pattern planes) . Normally, I would suspect a CG too far aft, but it's at 25% of MAC, and it's easy to lift the tail taxiing. I think it will get some expo to soften it around neutral and I'll dial down the throws. I think I'll also increase the aileron differential and see if that improves the roll rate.
I checked the head temp on landing. Now, it had been at low throttle during the approach and landing, and it took about a minute for me to get a reading. however, it read 188C with suggests that I'm right in the middle of the ZDZ recommended 180-210C.
After winning the "Spirit of Rhinebeck" award last weekend, (and a 1/3 scale Balsa USA Fokker DrI now in the basement), this caps off a great week.
Martin
I did a test flight this evening and everything went well. We did a couple of power run-ups, range check, slight radio programming adjustments and then I handed the box over to Rolly Siemensen, a club member who has been flying since the 60s. Rolly does this for a lot of our club - test flights are no place for egos.
I have a couple of videos, but only one is worth downloading. (I am loading it on YouTube tonight.) You will see that the tail lifts quite easily with the application of power. This was reassuring as it confirmed that the CG must be close. Takeoff was straightforward and climb out at 1/2 throttle was good. A little up trim was needed but other than that, it flew fine. I got the transmitter a couple of minutes into the flight and found that it was very neutral laterally - it needed opposite aileron and rudder to come out of turns. The elevator is very powerful and only a very small amount was needed. It is a draggy plane that needs more power than I had thought, (I still have lots of reserve) The landing approach started WAY out, (I will have to do some "perceptual adjusting" for this size of plane), but touched down smoothly. Thanks Roll!
Overall, I felt a little like I was "balancing on a ball", but never like I was going to "fall off". The elevator sensitivity was surprising. While it is quite large, it is on a long tail moment which usually smooths things out, (think about pattern planes) . Normally, I would suspect a CG too far aft, but it's at 25% of MAC, and it's easy to lift the tail taxiing. I think it will get some expo to soften it around neutral and I'll dial down the throws. I think I'll also increase the aileron differential and see if that improves the roll rate.
I checked the head temp on landing. Now, it had been at low throttle during the approach and landing, and it took about a minute for me to get a reading. however, it read 188C with suggests that I'm right in the middle of the ZDZ recommended 180-210C.
After winning the "Spirit of Rhinebeck" award last weekend, (and a 1/3 scale Balsa USA Fokker DrI now in the basement), this caps off a great week.
Martin
09-13-2012, 11:56 PM
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RE: Aviatik DI build
Congratulations Martin [8D]
Both with your maiden flight and your award at Rhinebeck.
Looking forward to the video when uploaded.
About your elevator controls; I also use expo to smooth out the controls on my planes but I don't dial the controls back when too sensitive. I use the max up elevator to hold the tail down when taxiing and during landing to prevent a flip over. It's sometime easy to have max elevator deflection.
Both with your maiden flight and your award at Rhinebeck.
Looking forward to the video when uploaded.
About your elevator controls; I also use expo to smooth out the controls on my planes but I don't dial the controls back when too sensitive. I use the max up elevator to hold the tail down when taxiing and during landing to prevent a flip over. It's sometime easy to have max elevator deflection.
09-14-2012, 03:29 AM
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RE: Aviatik DI build
http://www.youtube.com/my_videos_edi...id=OHqNdWELZoc
Thanks Teus. Yes, just using exponential would allow full deflection for ground handling purposes. By the way, the ground handling is very good - short, wide gear fairly far forward.
Martin
Thanks Teus. Yes, just using exponential would allow full deflection for ground handling purposes. By the way, the ground handling is very good - short, wide gear fairly far forward.
Martin
09-14-2012, 03:49 AM
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RE: Aviatik DI build
OK. Video is up but I don't get it with a search, so you'll have to just click the link above.
Thanks Doc. I can't say it flies gently yet, but not a problem. I have high hopes for the expo on the elevator based on my experience with my Dewoitine 501 some years ago.
Martin
Thanks Doc. I can't say it flies gently yet, but not a problem. I have high hopes for the expo on the elevator based on my experience with my Dewoitine 501 some years ago.
Martin
09-14-2012, 04:38 AM
#188
RE: Aviatik DI build
Beautiful take-off and landing! Very well done. But "the team" at the field there needs some education on maiden-flight protocols. 
First, the "photo ops" need to be separated from the actual maiden. I was shocked to see that one guy out there taking photos while the pilots waits with the engine running for him to finish! Second rule, for videographers, keep the camera on the dang model! Don't the dogs or the pits or the windsock. And don't stand way back in the cheap seats. 
But again Congrats on a amazing model...successfully maidened!
First, the "photo ops" need to be separated from the actual maiden. I was shocked to see that one guy out there taking photos while the pilots waits with the engine running for him to finish! Second rule, for videographers, keep the camera on the dang model! Don't the dogs or the pits or the windsock. And don't stand way back in the cheap seats. But again Congrats on a amazing model...successfully maidened!
09-14-2012, 04:43 AM
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RE: Aviatik DI build
Gosh darn, Teus, how did you do that?
I tried using YouTube's embed feature and all I got was the url and picture specifics, (ie a line of text), when I tried to post it here.
Curious as to your inability to make the link work, (it works for me), as well as your ability to find it on YouTube! I couldn't.
Don, it was the wife of a club member who was videoing. Hopefully I'll be getting some better video and still soon. As for photo ops - I have a ton of still from this build so that's not may orientation so much - sorry! The landing was every bit as good as the take off which is why Rolly always gets my "more complicated" test flights.
Martin
I tried using YouTube's embed feature and all I got was the url and picture specifics, (ie a line of text), when I tried to post it here.
Curious as to your inability to make the link work, (it works for me), as well as your ability to find it on YouTube! I couldn't.
Don, it was the wife of a club member who was videoing. Hopefully I'll be getting some better video and still soon. As for photo ops - I have a ton of still from this build so that's not may orientation so much - sorry! The landing was every bit as good as the take off which is why Rolly always gets my "more complicated" test flights.
Martin
09-14-2012, 06:01 AM
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RE: Aviatik DI build
Fantastic Martin - so happy for you!
Congratulations for winning the "Spirit of Rhinebeck" award last weekend, and more so for the very successful maiden flight of your Aviatic! It's always gratifyting to see all one's hard work and effort pay off nicely with a successful first flight. Now you can start breathing again and simply enjoy flying.
Cheers,
Bri
Congratulations for winning the "Spirit of Rhinebeck" award last weekend, and more so for the very successful maiden flight of your Aviatic! It's always gratifyting to see all one's hard work and effort pay off nicely with a successful first flight. Now you can start breathing again and simply enjoy flying.
Cheers,
Bri
09-14-2012, 06:54 AM
#193
RE: Aviatik DI build
Martin, while I'd love to see some well-done stills of the finished model, what I was trying to say is once the engine is running it's time for the photographers to get out of the way...or rather to "take their positions" so that they can take the best possible shots without in any way interfering with the flying.
BTW, more and more I like the idea of having someone else do the maiden flights of my special scale models. I'm just too much of a nervous wreck to do a decent job as a pilot.
BTW, more and more I like the idea of having someone else do the maiden flights of my special scale models. I'm just too much of a nervous wreck to do a decent job as a pilot.
09-14-2012, 07:19 AM
#195
RE: Aviatik DI build
Well, I have to admit I REALLY like that second shot with the prop spinning...and that's the very one I was complaining about! I guess it was worth the brief wait.
I guess it was worth the brief wait.
.
09-14-2012, 08:57 AM
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RE: Aviatik DI build
ORIGINAL: Nieuport nut
Gosh darn, Teus, how did you do that?
I tried using YouTube's embed feature and all I got was the url and picture specifics, (ie a line of text), when I tried to post it here.
Curious as to your inability to make the link work, (it works for me), as well as your ability to find it on YouTube! I couldn't.
Gosh darn, Teus, how did you do that?
I tried using YouTube's embed feature and all I got was the url and picture specifics, (ie a line of text), when I tried to post it here.
Curious as to your inability to make the link work, (it works for me), as well as your ability to find it on YouTube! I couldn't.
Martin, when I click your link it will redirect me to my own youtube upload page because there is "my_videos_edit" in the URL, so youtube thinks I want to upload a video. I found your video by searching the video id. (OHqNdWELZoc found in your link) with youtube search. After that it's easy. Copy the URL and past it between the youtube tags: [youtube] here your url [/youtube].
If you quote my message with the video you see what I mean.
Many happy flights Martin,
09-14-2012, 09:12 AM
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RE: Aviatik DI build
ORIGINAL: Nieuport nut
Jim Murdoch sent me some photos including takeoff, low pass and landing shots.
Martin
Jim Murdoch sent me some photos including takeoff, low pass and landing shots.
Martin
Ron
09-15-2012, 06:37 AM
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RE: Aviatik DI build
Laddie, I went with a proper canister exhaust after seeing Keith Zimmerley's DH-4 several years ago and being impressed with the sound. There is enough electric flier in me to NOT want the loud bark of so many gas "mufflers".
Larry, I traded in my BUSA certificate for a DrI, but I may try a more conveniently sized 1/4 scale model first - I like building this size. I also have a set of Teus' turnbuckles and I'd like to use them next.
Thanks Teus. I think I have it figured out now.
I am pleased with how well all the detail has stayed with the plane. Nothing has shaken loose. In fact all the rigging is still solid. I was sure I would forget something as this is my first gas plane, but so far nothing has let go. I still have to open up the radio compartment but have my fingers crossed. I'm sure that the ZDZ90 has something to do with this as it is a very smooth running engine. That is much of the reason I chose it.
Martin
Larry, I traded in my BUSA certificate for a DrI, but I may try a more conveniently sized 1/4 scale model first - I like building this size. I also have a set of Teus' turnbuckles and I'd like to use them next.
Thanks Teus. I think I have it figured out now.
I am pleased with how well all the detail has stayed with the plane. Nothing has shaken loose. In fact all the rigging is still solid. I was sure I would forget something as this is my first gas plane, but so far nothing has let go. I still have to open up the radio compartment but have my fingers crossed. I'm sure that the ZDZ90 has something to do with this as it is a very smooth running engine. That is much of the reason I chose it.
Martin