I was a set to test fly this morning. I had added tip wight, engine offset. I had made up a set of lines with spectra multi strand 30# test. Technically I made one line (about 90') since it loops through the line plate effectively giving me a set of 45" lines.
Learning to tie the 5 turn uni knot was frustrating. I got a nice loop in one line (much desired) and the other knot cinched all the way down. I think I need a form (dowel) to get it to make a nice loop (to facilitate removing and adding line clips).

The only thing that I need to do is neutralize the lines. Can't do that in the apartment. That only involves loosening the clamping bolt (nylon 1/4 20 RC wing bolt) pulling the lines till the elevator and handle are level and then tighten the bolt.

My wife is scare to hold planes with the motor running, so I need a stooge. I made one up that uses a piece of small diameter rope (maybe 1/8") with two loops. One loop is permanently fastened to the stooge and the other is retained by a sliding rod (ny rod yellow inner).

I wanted to make sure the release loop did not get hung up on the plane. So I did not tie a knot in it. I formed a loop and then secured the loop by wrapping some Kevlar thread (1/2A fling line) around the end. I then put some heat shrink over the end. Makes for a nice smooth loop end with nothing to catch and hang upon the plane.

Well I awoke to the sound of thunder this morning so I just rolled over. A little later it was pouring down, about the time I had planned to be at the site I was going to fly at. I had been scouting out possible flying sites for awhile now and found a dirt parking lot in an industrial area about 8 miles down the road I live on. It is rarely used during work days and then only as a staging area, and never ever on weekends. It is not fenced or posted or marked in any way. Noise will not be a problem.

Here are some pictures of my stooge. It is just some Ny Rod blue outer and yellow inner with a 2/56 rod in one bent into a loop for the pull string. The base is a piece of 1/8" ply door skin that I fasten to my starter box with a spring clamp. Not very heavy duty but should hand up to maybe a .25 or .35 powered plane. I can beef it up by adding a peice of music wire inside the yellow inner and fiber glassing over the blue outer.

So I hope to test fly next Saturday.


Ken