Well, the expiration date for my H-9 Pulse XT 40 came today. [] I was doing some simple maneuvers about 50-100’ high. I started doing a series of snap rolls, even though the pulse doesn’t “snap” very well, it still is fun to watch. I came out of about the fourth roll pointing almost straight down 50’ high. No problem, done this many times before. This time, I pulled up on the stick and nothing happened. I said to my son “uh-oh” [X(] and the plane just went straight in. I’m standing there amazed at what just happened. My first real crash (had a few scrapes in the beginning, but nothing major), and I can’t believe it just happened. Strangest feeling I’ve had in a long time. Brought the plane back home and stripped it. I could not find any indication that the elevator/controls broke. I have the Futaba 6EX 2.4 radio. Just not sure what happened. It’s really hard to tell because there was so much crash damage. I had wrapped the receiver and battery separately in foam, but the crash was too much for the foam to handle. Battery pack was broke in half, and the receiver is in bad shape. The throttle servo is also stripped. I will send the receiver in to Futaba and have it checked out. I pulled the engine (OS 55) out and at first I thought something had happened to it internally, because when I turned the shaft I could feel something rubbing inside. There was not prop on it. So I pulled the back plate off and couldn’t find anything wrong, except that the crank shaft has some in and out play to it. I bolted a prop on, and the rubbing went away, as did the shaft play. Does this sound normal to you guys? Flipped the engine over (not trying to start it) a few times and it seems fine.
I was coming up on 300 flights on the Pulse, so I don’t feel too bad about the plane. But I only had about 20 flights on the 55, and that hurt! I also had just re-worked the wheels and axles, and modified the wheel pants, because I had worn out the original ones.
My son had to call my wife and say “dad crashed his Pulse!” so he put me on the phone with my wife. She said I can buy whatever plane I want to replace the Pulse, because I just had a traumatic experience and she doesn’t want me to be sad. Isn’t she the best! Now quick, before she changes her mind, I need a plane one step up from the Pulse that will work my 55! Any suggestions? I was thinking of the H-9 twist. http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...ProdID=HAN2650

What do you guys think?