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Old 12-31-2003 | 02:23 AM
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RichLockyer
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From: Chino, CA
Default RE: CHeap man's brakes??

LOL!
My buddy lost a wheel on his Sukhoi .40 on takeoff a couple of weeks ago.
He enjoyed the flight, but the landing was constantly in the back of his mind.
He ended up coming in a bit hot to keep the tail up and allow use of the rudder, then used aileron to hold the "broken" side up as long as possible, while keeping the heading correct with the rudder.
Actually got down to a decent speed before the tail (and right wing) dropped, and it didn't flip or loop... just slid a couple of feet and spun to the right... engine still running.

For those using the "screw through the wheel and into the gear mount" system popular on small ARFs, check those "axles" regularly. Screws are not really the best material, and if the nuts locking into the gear loosen even slightly (which you won't notice unless they also capture the wheel pants) then you'll have an "axle" rotating in the aluminum gear strut... wearing down. This is what happened to his gear.
A year ago, he had something similar happen to his Global Tequila .40... a wheel pant flipped upside down during flight.