Sig SE First Flight Report
10-28-2002 | 02:13 PM
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From: Tampa, FL
Sig SE First Flight Report
Well since I got so much info from this forum and had a few specific questions answered by you guys, I though I would report my first flights. Here are the specs:
SE Kit
Saito .72
12oz tank
13x6 APC
Taller Landing Gear
Sullivan Tail Wheel
Added 1" to rudder
Rudder servo in rear (Hitec 605)
Rest of servos are Futaba 3004
Carbon Fiber linkage to elevator
DuBro Fueler
Finished in purple and white monocote
Futabla 6XAS and Futable PCM receiver
1400 mha battery
Balanced at 4.25" with battery just behind the fuel tank and little lead up front
Aileron Low: 70% of Sig recommendation
Airleron High: 100% of Sig recommendation
Elevator Low: 100% of Sig recommendation
Elevator High: 125% of Sig recommendation
Exponential set at 25% on elevator and ailerons
Differential set on ailerson for 25% less on down travel
Went out yesterday afternoon. Check the plane over before I left the house so I would not have to do that at the field.
Primed the engine, attached the glow charger, spun it over and it would not start. This was the first time I attempted to start the engine on the plane. I had broke in the Saito on the bench for about 6 runs and it started very easily every time. I got to to fire for a breaf second after each time I primed it. It seemed like it was not getting any fuel. Did some more checking and figured out that I had the fuel lines switched. Fixed that and it fired instantly.
Tuned the engine a little and got out my rpm gauge and it was not working so I just set it to be fairly rich. Did a range check and all was well. Time to take it up.
Got a fellow flyer to come with me to help trim it if needed. First thing I noticed is that this engine has a huge amount of torque/power for this plane. The biggest engines I have run in the past are .46 on 40 sized planes. It idled slow enough for it not to roll (grass field).
Got out on the runway and setup going into the wind. Advanced the throttle slowly and had to add quite a bit of rudder to keep it straight. It was off the ground in about 50 feet and 1/2 throttle. It needed a few clicks of aileron and elevator trim.
In the past I have only flown stick planes and trainers so this one is very different but so much better. Once I got it trimmed I noticed that it really goes where you point it and is very smooth compared to the other stuff that I have flown. I flew a few patterns and decided to try a landing. This plane really slows down quicky to a certain point then it just flys slowly and I had a hard time getting it to the ground. It required a long decent. I may need to adjust my idle down some more. It took a few times going around and made a perfect three point landing. This plane is so smooth, it is definately easier to land than my Tiger Stick. By the way, the whole flight I ran at 1/3 to 1/2 throttle and it flew very well. I think I am going to really like this Saito on this plane.
Second flight went well. Tried high rates some and it was still easy to control. Did some rolls and they were fairly quick. Tried out the rudder some and it responds very well. Flew around quit a bit just trying to get used to it. I had a harder time getting it down this time. I think that I really noticed the tail getting heaverier when trying to land it this time. With most of fuel gone the CG will shift quite a bit. On approaches at slow speed the tail hung low and I and just kept flying. I tried several passed with the same results. I had to finally add some down elevetor to get it to the ground. Once I got it down the landing was perfect again.
Third flight did not end very well. I was just still getting to used to it and the guy who helped me trim asked if he could fly it for a minute. He told me earlier that he was interested in getting one. I had seen him fly other fun-fly style planes and knew he was a good pilot so I was not concerned. I landed and let him take the controls. He is a much better pilot than I so he was able to do alot of stuff that I am not capable of yet. He flew it well and really liked it. He landed it and gave the controls back to me and thanked me. I advanced the thottle quickly this time for a short take off and steep ascent. Then the engine quit abrubly about 15 to 20 feet in the air. I pointed the nose down to gain as much speed as possible and landed on the gear in the high grass. The landing gear definatedly came loose but I was hopefull that the nylon bolts broke rather than the belly comming out. Well, the belly came out. It was a clean break where the plywood was glued in. In hindsite, I may have been able to make a easier landing if I would have flipped on high rates and flaps but I did not think of that in the 3 or 4 seconds that I had. Hopefully next time I will. Upon inspection, I found a noticable amount of fuel on the belly, in the fuel compartment and elsewhere. I have not dismantled it yet but it apears that a fuel line came loose on the dubro fueler inside the fuel compartment and that must be why the engine quit. I have used the dubro fueler on other planes without trouble so it is probably user error.
Anyway, this was a little disappointing but the damage is not that bad. The hardest part will be getting the fuel out of the balsa.
Conclusion: I know that I am going to really enjoy this plane/engine. In hindsite, maybe putting the dubro fueler in the fuel compartment where there is not a way to check it out since there is not hatch was a bad idea. I may elimate it all together or move it out by the engine and/or put a hatch on the bottom. I was really happy with the way it performed and now know what it is like to fly a good sport plane. It will be fixed and back up in the air next weekend I hope.
Thanks for your help on specific questions I had and for the help that you gave to others that helped me build this plane. I took some pics that I will scan in as soon as they are developed.
SE Kit
Saito .72
12oz tank
13x6 APC
Taller Landing Gear
Sullivan Tail Wheel
Added 1" to rudder
Rudder servo in rear (Hitec 605)
Rest of servos are Futaba 3004
Carbon Fiber linkage to elevator
DuBro Fueler
Finished in purple and white monocote
Futabla 6XAS and Futable PCM receiver
1400 mha battery
Balanced at 4.25" with battery just behind the fuel tank and little lead up front
Aileron Low: 70% of Sig recommendation
Airleron High: 100% of Sig recommendation
Elevator Low: 100% of Sig recommendation
Elevator High: 125% of Sig recommendation
Exponential set at 25% on elevator and ailerons
Differential set on ailerson for 25% less on down travel
Went out yesterday afternoon. Check the plane over before I left the house so I would not have to do that at the field.
Primed the engine, attached the glow charger, spun it over and it would not start. This was the first time I attempted to start the engine on the plane. I had broke in the Saito on the bench for about 6 runs and it started very easily every time. I got to to fire for a breaf second after each time I primed it. It seemed like it was not getting any fuel. Did some more checking and figured out that I had the fuel lines switched. Fixed that and it fired instantly.
Tuned the engine a little and got out my rpm gauge and it was not working so I just set it to be fairly rich. Did a range check and all was well. Time to take it up.
Got a fellow flyer to come with me to help trim it if needed. First thing I noticed is that this engine has a huge amount of torque/power for this plane. The biggest engines I have run in the past are .46 on 40 sized planes. It idled slow enough for it not to roll (grass field).
Got out on the runway and setup going into the wind. Advanced the throttle slowly and had to add quite a bit of rudder to keep it straight. It was off the ground in about 50 feet and 1/2 throttle. It needed a few clicks of aileron and elevator trim.
In the past I have only flown stick planes and trainers so this one is very different but so much better. Once I got it trimmed I noticed that it really goes where you point it and is very smooth compared to the other stuff that I have flown. I flew a few patterns and decided to try a landing. This plane really slows down quicky to a certain point then it just flys slowly and I had a hard time getting it to the ground. It required a long decent. I may need to adjust my idle down some more. It took a few times going around and made a perfect three point landing. This plane is so smooth, it is definately easier to land than my Tiger Stick. By the way, the whole flight I ran at 1/3 to 1/2 throttle and it flew very well. I think I am going to really like this Saito on this plane.
Second flight went well. Tried high rates some and it was still easy to control. Did some rolls and they were fairly quick. Tried out the rudder some and it responds very well. Flew around quit a bit just trying to get used to it. I had a harder time getting it down this time. I think that I really noticed the tail getting heaverier when trying to land it this time. With most of fuel gone the CG will shift quite a bit. On approaches at slow speed the tail hung low and I and just kept flying. I tried several passed with the same results. I had to finally add some down elevetor to get it to the ground. Once I got it down the landing was perfect again.
Third flight did not end very well. I was just still getting to used to it and the guy who helped me trim asked if he could fly it for a minute. He told me earlier that he was interested in getting one. I had seen him fly other fun-fly style planes and knew he was a good pilot so I was not concerned. I landed and let him take the controls. He is a much better pilot than I so he was able to do alot of stuff that I am not capable of yet. He flew it well and really liked it. He landed it and gave the controls back to me and thanked me. I advanced the thottle quickly this time for a short take off and steep ascent. Then the engine quit abrubly about 15 to 20 feet in the air. I pointed the nose down to gain as much speed as possible and landed on the gear in the high grass. The landing gear definatedly came loose but I was hopefull that the nylon bolts broke rather than the belly comming out. Well, the belly came out. It was a clean break where the plywood was glued in. In hindsite, I may have been able to make a easier landing if I would have flipped on high rates and flaps but I did not think of that in the 3 or 4 seconds that I had. Hopefully next time I will. Upon inspection, I found a noticable amount of fuel on the belly, in the fuel compartment and elsewhere. I have not dismantled it yet but it apears that a fuel line came loose on the dubro fueler inside the fuel compartment and that must be why the engine quit. I have used the dubro fueler on other planes without trouble so it is probably user error.
Anyway, this was a little disappointing but the damage is not that bad. The hardest part will be getting the fuel out of the balsa.
Conclusion: I know that I am going to really enjoy this plane/engine. In hindsite, maybe putting the dubro fueler in the fuel compartment where there is not a way to check it out since there is not hatch was a bad idea. I may elimate it all together or move it out by the engine and/or put a hatch on the bottom. I was really happy with the way it performed and now know what it is like to fly a good sport plane. It will be fixed and back up in the air next weekend I hope.
Thanks for your help on specific questions I had and for the help that you gave to others that helped me build this plane. I took some pics that I will scan in as soon as they are developed.
10-28-2002 | 04:02 PM
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From: Terrell,
TX
Sig SE First Flight Report
on my se, went with 3 line fuel system and used fuel dots, also on 4s engine added 2 degrees right offset,have os 70 up front and have to keep a little power on to land,I'm ticking over at 1900 rpm,it's a well used engine.Don't know what radio you have, but if you progam in air brakes the plane will slow quick like,with practice it will harrier with air brakes
10-29-2002 | 06:04 AM
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From: Houston, TX
Sig SE First Flight Report
Getting fuel out of balsa is pretty easy actually. Go to your local pharmacy and find an aerosol spray called K2R - it sprays on white and absorbs the fuel from the wood - you'll have to clean out the white stuff when it dries, and be very careful not to inhale this stuff when you're spraying/cleaning it out. Had to do it for my sister's ARF trainer when the fuel tank stopper cracked and leaked all over the insides.
Cheers
Cheers
11-04-2002 | 03:58 PM
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From: Tampa, FL
Sig SE First Flight Report
On Saturday, I finally got some time to figure out what went wrong.
Opened up the bottom of the fuselage under the fuel tank. Saw that the fuel line was cut off by the brass tube for the fuel pickup line. That is what caused the engine to quite abruptly. After further investigation, it appears that the platform that the fuel tank rests on broke and since the take was fairly full it pulled enough on the fuel line to cut it. The brass tubing had some burs on it as well that contributed to the fuel line getting cut.
It turned out that there was not that much fuel in the fueslage so I just used the iron on high heat to boil it out.
I rerouted the fuel lines so there would not be as much pressure on them and remove the burs on the brass tubes. That should reduce or elimate the chance of this happening again.
I also decided to make a hatch under the fuel tank since this was the 2nd time I needed to get in there and had to cut the bottom of the fuselage. It was easy enough and I should have done it in the the first place. That also made it easy for me to locate the battery up front so I did not have to add any lead.
Flew two times yesterday and it flew well. When the tank is full it seems quite nose heavy but once it is empty it seems tail heavy. I can really now see the benefit of having the tank over the CG or a smaller tank so there is not as much shifting of the CG.
Opened up the bottom of the fuselage under the fuel tank. Saw that the fuel line was cut off by the brass tube for the fuel pickup line. That is what caused the engine to quite abruptly. After further investigation, it appears that the platform that the fuel tank rests on broke and since the take was fairly full it pulled enough on the fuel line to cut it. The brass tubing had some burs on it as well that contributed to the fuel line getting cut.
It turned out that there was not that much fuel in the fueslage so I just used the iron on high heat to boil it out.
I rerouted the fuel lines so there would not be as much pressure on them and remove the burs on the brass tubes. That should reduce or elimate the chance of this happening again.
I also decided to make a hatch under the fuel tank since this was the 2nd time I needed to get in there and had to cut the bottom of the fuselage. It was easy enough and I should have done it in the the first place. That also made it easy for me to locate the battery up front so I did not have to add any lead.
Flew two times yesterday and it flew well. When the tank is full it seems quite nose heavy but once it is empty it seems tail heavy. I can really now see the benefit of having the tank over the CG or a smaller tank so there is not as much shifting of the CG.
