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Old 09-23-2012 | 09:57 AM
  #104  
David Searles
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From: SANTA ANA, CA
Default RE: COMP-ARF A-4 BUILD
Today started out to be a great day. Install completed, everything functioning properly. Now is the time for the turbine run-up and taxi testing prior to first flights at BITW in 3 weeks.

Turbine and fuel systems test: A-OK

Radio Range Check: Static A-OK; Turbine running: A-OK

Control Surfaces Check: All surfaces functioning, proper directions, no binding: A-OK

Taxi test: What an absolute, abject, POS FAIL![:'(]

The weakness in this jet, and the primary reason Comp ARF factory are still the only people to successfully fly one of these, is that their nose steering system simply doesn't work! I can't tell you how many hours I have put into trying to get this system to function properly. Finally when I hit upon a combination that worked well on the test bench, I find it simply doesn't have enough power to move the nose wheel under load![:@][:@][:'(]

So now I've got a beautiful jet that looks like it should fly very well, but which I can't get safely off the ground! And other than to blame Intairco for faulty cylinders, Comp ARF has been less than useful in providing a solution to the problem.[:'(]

So now with three weeks left before BITW, my 2 year sojourn into the abyss, has to start over at square one, with the messy job of trying to develop an hydraulic steering set-up that will work under load. I know it can be done, I've seen Andreas fly theirs at Buttonwillow on numerous occasions, but when I've asked Andreas to send me photos of exactly how they accomplished it, my response from him is: "I don't have pictures of the steering. I just know that it indeed is critical and we have not gotten the manufacturer (Intairco) of the gear to admit that something needs to be done about the cylinders he is providing. "

BOLLOX!

David S
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