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Old 02-06-2004 | 09:05 PM
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Patriot
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From: Port Orchard, WA
Default RE: more on arf quality/ safety

Well, I am going to chime in here and really take the high road, and do my best not to laugh and bash the ARF's.

If it was that far off incedence when made in the factory, then I would definitely get in contact with the H-9 company and tell them that it was grossly out of tolerance in order to achieve acceptable flight characteristics. And that they should inspect the assembly line to ensure the same problem doesn't exist with the rest of them.

Now, with that said, I don't want to stab you in the back here, but as we really discussed in the previous thread, safety is in your hands, especially with the wing incedence, since it is easily visible when measured during assembly. It would have been a good idea to have measured this during the assembly process, and when you noticed it out of whack, you should have contacted H-9 about it before going to the field.
Now, granted, I am not making big issue of this, as it really doesn't seem to have been a death defying situation to begin with, so don't take it like that. My point is simply that, with ARF's, you tend (And probably me and everyone else) not to pay as close attention to the integrity of the plane as closely as you would if you had built it from the ground up.

I think with ARF's, one automatically goes into sort of an assumption mode. This mode gives you the assumption that the plane has been constructed right and everything will be fine. All you have to do is bolt it together and sore off into the wild blue yonder. This is unfortunately a real problem with the advertising of these planes. The companies make it seem like you don't have to do anything, which is of course the intention. But, unfortunately, it just isn't like that.
I don't care if it is the most expensive, most popular, most high tech, most divinely inspired ARF company in the world. EVERY plane, including arf's, should be thouroughly inspected. The airframe, and full measurements of all surfaces should be second nature when assembling the wings, tail surfaces, engine mount etc, etc, etc. Measuring tips to tips, measuring incedence of wing and tail, checking the squareness of the wing and tail to fuse, etc,etc,etc.

OK, OK, you don't need a lecture from me, so I'll knock it off.

I just hope everyone gets my point. And hopefully, without being offended. Even I hate constructive criticism.

Patriot