Um, what happens when you do?

See my problem, after I found out why it was running at full throttle at half throttle stick, was that I could never get to the point where I would be able to tweak it out. Last year I remember just going full throttle, turning the valve until it stopped screaming...then backing off a bit.

On saturday, someone else tuned it for me. First time it was tuned properly all year. And it was only run a handful of times all year to begin with. However as I said, trying to tweak it..it sounded like it was WAY to rich to begin with. I am hoping I didn't damage anything. I would lock up if I didn't hurry and drop the needle to make it rich again. Locking up or stalling at LEAN is probably real bad. But I can't imagine how much really and doubt anything horribly wrong will occur as it is pretty basic concept of combustion. Longevity? Who needs it. I just don't want to replace this pig this year, and would like to keep this trainer in tact for others to fly.

TODAY was a GREAT day! Hurricane Isabel is coming. Not that it will make it through two mountain ranges..but it WILL make it unflyable for more than a few days here. I have a day off coming on friday but I know (as in the past) my days off I choose always result in rain/cold or general pestilence to combat with. Knowing this, I am way too itchy to fly. I left work a tad bit early and hoped someone would be at the airfield. And there was. Just not the someones I was hoping for (experienced pilots) Unfortunatly our airfield was built by those that believe it is to be looked at but not flown in any manner. So they built a walking trail RIGHT next to the end of the runway and refused to clear some 40 foot trees. Actually it really isn't too much of a problem as long as you don't suck really really bad. But the other bad thing is that the walking trail also continues along side of the airfield approximately where most would normally consider the 'spectator' line. Thus it brings a plentiful crowd of people...ESPECIALLY on a nice day as it was this evening. The sun shinning as it sets right where we need to fly. The only reason to fly over the walking area is for the 2nd to last leg of a landing. My muffler redirector (plastic thingy) fell off on my 3rd turn and I watched it bounce about 20 feet from a family walking their dog.
BTW I HATE WALMART, story about that later.
Ok, so not sure if I touched on this or not. But I only really flew about 8 times last year. Of which I didn't do the landing or the takeoffs on most. In total I have 3 landings 4 takeoffs and 1 semi solo flight as of last year. This year I have 0 as someone took my FINALLY working plane up and down for me. I just puttered around.
Fed up with the lack of help and the year growing short. I went for it today. I tuned my engine slightly to decently rich. I even let about 1/2 of a tank go through it only the LOWEST idle speed I could get to without it stalling. I was actually amazed as it seems many have stated this is a point I would not acheive for quite some time. I then SLOWLY taxied up and down the runway to cool it before shutting it down and refueling. The windsock (standard sock) was solid crosswind of about 15 mph. I flew in it on sunday with the instructor, but only really worried about 2 things. Stalling on takeoff and landing. Before I tookoff I made sure my engine could run on high speed and hold the model up in the air. The response was a bit sloppy. but I was happy with the reliability factor as it was set at the time. So I had to decide to either go, or pack up and wait and hope the next time I came out there would be someone there to help me...or the people that I could schedule with could correspond their schedule to mine and the weather (fat chance). So I said screw it. I gassed her up. She puttered and spit as oil spewed out of the muffler but finally caught at about 1/2 throttle and started really speeding up. Just before I hit the grass I pulled back and about 2 feet in I was up. Nice and beautiful sharp yet gentle climb and I made my first turn. Just above the sun as I made my full 180. I invented a new way to fly with the sun in your face..but it can't be explained on here but I'm sure many know how to So I decide I am going to fly a box and land it AS SOON as possible because I REALLY wanted it back down almost as fast as I had made the decision to take it up eheh. I made a box. then another. I cut the throttle. It climbed more. I pushed down AND cut the throttle. It still climbed. So I stopped fighting it and made sure I was at the 180 degree point of landing and really cut the throttle. THIS ENYA is POWERFUL. At only 3 notches...it flies with absolutely NO problem. I had to cut down to the last idle point with my trim up high on the throttle to find a nice landing speed. I made my descent (ugly) made my 2nd to last turn (very ugly) pulled up...opps to far over ...pointed it RIGHT at me. Let her fly a bit more..more ahhh pull up..no push down. ok over the runway 'area'. Ok now in the safe short grass (only 15 feet from a cliff and very tall grass) Ok 10 feet off the ground..CUT the throttle. descent pretty flat and quick, just skimmed the grass..then rolled across the runway ...back into the grass about 2 feet and stopped 1 inch from my foot!

WOOOOH!

MY FIRST SOLO. Without a person there. Last year I only solod once and had two good pilots next to me to help out if disaster struck. I was proud of my speed of learning back then, and am actually just as proud today as noone was with me...and I only flew one other time (sunday) since I did that solo last year almost to the date.

Anyway, the Enya seems to be running. At first she is still starting backwards, running rough and stalling when I pull the glo charger off (rich obviously). But after the 3rd start she wants to run. I will tweak it out more as I get the time and patients. But today I didn't want to risk getting to that point where I couldn't start it again and couldnt figure out why it would stall like it did so many other times. Even the guys at the airfield couldnt get it running until sunday both myself and another worked with it for 20 minutes and it magically seemed to run correctly. (not to mention with the correct glow plug in it hehe, sure helps)

Anyway, that's my story. I'm a happy camper but not NEARLY as much as I was when I landed that sucker..shook like hell and didn't kill any walkers, pets, or what-nots

OH and why do I hate walmart. WELL after I landed. Just before I was about to switch off my power. My servos starting going NUTS. I said ***?!?! Then I hear this whinning behind me. Some beavis and his kid are walking on the the trail behind me with this giant RC truck. Not a care in the world. UM. I suppose this was why? Or do they use a different frequency? Anyway, I have seen this truck in wally mart for 99 bux. Anyone know which I speak of? It takes up and entire endcap shelve. Could this 'toy' interfere with my plane, and if so doesn't the guy have to check the airfield first before using that thing?

Just wondering. I asked him to tell use the next time he comes down even though I wasnt sure cause it 'COULD' cause one of use to lose our stuff or worse, damage/ hurt someone.

S