Finally got a break in the weather for a couple hours to get a couple flights in
I flew my Pawnee for the third time today.I went with the 25 size motor.The first couple flights where without flaps as you have the option of cutting the ailerons to designate about a third of each as a flap.The first flight I tore the gear off.During the repair I noticed a lack of glue in the area the gear mounts to,no serious damage but some epoxy in the area makes it stronger now.The Second flight was fine except for the overshoot on landing,nose over ,new prop.The stubble field I fly from has a bare patch about 75 feet long.This is my runway,Ya I know Ive been meaning to join the local flying club but this spot is so darn close to home.Anyway.Ive cut the ailerons and now have flaps.I still get a decent roll rate with max deflection on the ailerons.
After a couple of passes to get used to the flaps I put that plane down 6 feet from me and the roll out was maybe 20 feet.WOW.This is one cool plane now.It flies really well on half throttle and looks great in the air.A little right rudder and shes off the ground in 25 feet.I would recommend this plane to anyone that likes low wing sport planes because it flies almost like my Sportster.
Now the question.On the last mod I have not reinstalled the wing struts.I know They should be there to be scale but I'm willing to omit this scale detail to get rid of the drag.These struts are only held on by some small screws that maybe go into the fuse and wing about 1/8 of an inch.What I want to know is do these struts really support the wing on this model?Am I flirting with disaster?
Maybe these struts need to be there,If anyone out there knows this model and thinks they should be there let me know and I will reinstall them.
Thanks...................Cub Killer