Mike:

Not too long ago I had an airplane on the downwind leg, a strip of something came off, there was a short moan from the plane, then a balsa cloud with several heavy things falling from it. It was an OLD airplane, the observed strip was the seal from an aileron.

Speak true - the above description is something you would love to get on videotape, but it is far more dramatic than the actuality. I did lose an aileron, and the plane did have a hard landing, but it's repaired now with all the sealing strips replaced.

One good result, I now check all the gap seals more closely than I have in the past, found some more that needed replacement. If you don't keep your planes flying for ten or fifteen years you'll probably never have this worry.

Take care of them, they last a long time. My oldest r/c is about 20, it has worn out three engines so far. My oldest twin is seven, never had even a hard landing. Or never hard engough to do any damage, I should say.

Flown with care, twins stay in the air.

Bill.