Dang I need my reading glasses. You said in your report that the tail wheel came down, not off. 34 years old and I am going senile. You probally wander what in the world this guy talkin about?LOL

Ray, the checkerboard is a definite plus. In the short flight that I had, I was able to maintain excellant orientation. Especially when I yanked too hard on the elevator and she nose dived for the ground. I could easily tell which way was up and down and gently pulled out of the dive.

Gotta run. I have a physical fitness test to take for my S.W.A.T. unit. Wish me luck.

Later.

Congrats Gary. Glad to hear the maiden went well, inspite of all of the nuisances... To bad you have to wait for flight #2. On second thought, at least you are able to fly! Not too much chance of that happening up here. Between snow, rain, and sub-zero temps (all in a 36 hour period) I don't think I'll be up anytime soon.
Thanks for the tips on the Robart installation. Robarts are now install in all surfaces and it turned out great! I have to admit though that I was so concerned about screwing up the ailerons, I drilled pilot holes and the main holes by hand. Nothing like finger-tip control you know.. On to the next step - permanently mounting the belly pan....

All RRighttt!! Congratulations Gary on the maiden! That was quite a thriller! Glad to know it went well. You must be really wanting to go today even with the high winds, personally I wouldnt mind being grounded in such conditions!

If your flying level with down trim, and the CG is correct, I would suggest shimming in a small amount of down thrust, about one degree. It should fly straight and level at cruising throttle within just a click or two of trim adjustment from actual elevator neutral. With the right amount of down thrust, inverted flight will not require more than a click or two elevator trim change. This way you will be able to slow roll across the field with very little if any elevator input. Just one less thing to worry about.

What a great and enjoyable thread!! nice work guys, some really excellent ideas and pictures. I am seriously considering the dowel method to secure my belly pan.

Cal, I think my down trim problem came from me not rebalanceing the plane after some of the mods and readjusting the linkages for the elevator last night. If I recall, I think I actually had a half degree of up in it and was too lazy to fix that. I redid the elevator linkage tonight while I was waiting for the epoxy on the hinge points to dry on the rudder. I think I have it as close as I can get it. I even recentered the servo arm. I didn't realize that it was actually off center in the subtrim menu. I am going to try to check the CG tomorrow evening.

On a side note. I just returned from my physical assessment for my SWAT team. I beat everyone. That was a huge accomplishment for me. I have never been able to come out on top before. This time I stomped 'em all. Thanks for listening to me gloat for a second. It just felt really good beating all the "hotheads" in the group.

Gotta get some rest now. I have to be up for work in 4.5 hours. Later.

Well let me also say congrats on the awsome maiden flight. Personally i wouldn't fly in that weather. Definately on a maiden. Sometimes its hard for me to fly my own plane for the first flight, and with such a beautiful plane like the Edge hate to bring it in because of dumb thumbs.
As for my build everything is almost done. Finished the sullivan flying wires this afternoon, and started fitting the cowl for the final fit. With all my exhaust troubles and companies not reponding to my e-mails. Decided to hang it out the side.

>>On a side note. I just returned from my physical assessment for my SWAT team. I beat everyone. <<

Memo to self: Don't get Gary p*ssed at you.



Congrats on your maiden. I hope you get some nice weather soon so you can really wring her out.

I guess I'm at about the 6 week wait mark. Time to clean off the work table in eager anticipation.

Do you guys tape the hinges? If so, what is a good product for doing this?

WOW! I wake up this morning and another 14 posts have found thier way into this thread.

Gary, Congrats on the maiden. Even though it was a bit rough around the edges (no pun intended), I know you had a blast. I also know that it can only get better! P.S. Good job on passing your PA test.[8D]

rcjon - Using hingepoints, the gap was so minimal I decided it wasn't necessary to seal the hinge, less than 1/16". If I was going to seal them however, I would get some vinyl strips from the local sign maker. Looking forward to hearing your opinions when your new bird arrives.

rcfury - You may have already posted this, but what motor are you using? Can you snap a couple of pics?

Calflyer - I second the idea of using a thrust washer where needed. I have downloaded one of Minnflyer's pics of a list of tests to do to check thurst angles and trims. As soon as I get a decent day to fly, I am going to use it to fine tune the flight characteristics.

rkohler663 - Glad to hear your hinge point install went well. You won't be dissappointed in the added strength and security they provide.

Ray - Gary is right on with the checkerboard. It makes the plane very visable from the ground. Some nice fat stripes would look pretty smooth as well.

My Brother -N-Law builds Race Cars for a living(Munson Racing Enterprises), and he has a computerized machine that Cuts all these fancy Vinyl Graphics that he applies to his finished cars after the Customer tells him what they want. The Machine he has uses these big Roles of adhesive sign Vinyl which looks like the same stuff on my Plane. He has tons of colors, and you just make a design on the Computer, and this machine automatically cuts the design you drew up on the Computer. So I am trying to come up with a good pattern for the underside of my wings, so I can take it to him and have him whip me out the design in vinyl.

Primdous: Im using the Saito 100 in my plane with the stock side mounted. I was having all these issues with trying to find a good way to mount the exhaust. I dont know how many times i had to take that god for saking motor off. Its the same picture i posted earlier in this thread.

ez2bgman: Kinda off the subject, If S.W.A.T was anything like I was in the Infantry training for Kosovo in the army your gonna have fun. Clearing rooms/ buildings. Its a rush but, watch your 6!

I just ran my exaust right out the side. I could have put the engine inverted, but I like to show off the Saito. The engine looks as great as the Plane in my opinion, and I didn't want to cover it all up. I hated to cut on the nice cowl, but I was pleased with the final result. Also I can easily get to the exaust without removing the cowl if it was to come loose. I used a silicone exaust extension on mine to help get the exuast away from the Plane which is not shown in the photo.

Thanks for the recognition guys.

rcfury, great job on your build thus far. You should try to do a little more documentation of it on this thread and try to post more pics. I started this thread for that very idea. I want to see what everyone else is doing and hear all the great ideas that are bottled up in your wee little minds...[sm=spinnyeyes.gif]

I too was in the Army assigned to a Military Intelligence unit in the early '90's. Damn, am I getting that old? [sm=bananahead.gif]. I have done some room clearing excerises and other tatical scenarios before. Let me clarify one thing, we are not really referred to as SWAT, but ERT (Emergency Response Team). We do everything your typical SWAT unit does, PLUS we are HAZMAT specialists as well. We cover a much wider spectrum of tatical situations. We responded to a bomb threat once. The NOPD bomb squad arrived on sceen before us and inspected the package. Once they realized that it may be a Chlorine bomb, they backed off. We took control and difused the situation. It was indeed chlorine, but not a true bomb. Nevertheless, NOPD realized that they were not trained to handle this situation and we were. I cannot wait to resume our training. We have not been able to train like we want to due to the holidays and Mardi Gras that is just around the corner. I am slated to go to a law enforcement sniper training course in the future. Of all the members, I am the best shot with a qualification score of 117 out of 120 (Expert). One point away from being a Master Marksman.

Gotta run, talk to yas later.

Gary
I had a GWS Tiger Moth stuck way up in a tree a few months ago. Could have used you to shoot the small limb out that had it trapped. My Marksman skills with Dirt Clods, and Chunks of wood was not to good. I shoot some Clay Pigeons and hit about 1 out of 2. So if I would have tried to shoot the limb I would say there about a 50% chance that I would have splattered the Plane instead.LOL I was a fireman for 8 years, and Airpack Training was always my favorite which I am sure you have done for HazMat. My problem is that I never could learn to control my breathing that good, and would suck down a bottle of air in about 10 minutes. I was also on the Rescue Unit for 5 Years as a Illinois Liscensed First Responder, plus I worked for the Ambulance Service as a Driver, and sometimes in the back as an extra hand. It finally got to me though, so I gave it all up. To much stress for me dealing with injured and sick people all the time, and my last call was a suicide. Laying Bricks and Blocks for a living much less stressful. Glad there people like you around that can handle the tough situations that comes with work like that.

Now back to the less depressing stuff!

You was talking about flying your Edge in a Cross Wind in your report. Our Club has a East to West Runway, and a North to South Runway. I am just curious to how your Fields are set up? I came in fast on landing both times with my edge, but luckily our strips are fairly long. I know alot of Clubs don't have the luxury of Long Landing Strips. Just curious to what kind of field conditions you guys fly off of?

Here is a couple Photos of the Airfield I fly from. The Pictures really don't show how big it actually is, but its a nice field, and the Club does an outstanding job of keeping it like a golf course. The one Photo is of Me flying my Aero Subaru, and the other is just my Subaru sitting on the starting Bench. I have a Video Camera and would like to get some Video of the Edge this Spring. Hopefully not a Crash video!

Ray, I really appreciate the words of encouragement. Looks like your history is just as varied as mine. Too few people actually realize what we go through in Public Safety. It is a tough world out here on the streets and many people have no idea the stresses that we encounter ona daily basis. I am fortunate that I can handle the stress fairly well. I guess that's why I was crazy enough to maiden in 15-20 mph crosswinds [sm=spinnyeyes.gif].

Onto my field. Our fields is 500 ft. x 150 ft. It is still a little rough around the edges (no pun intended). We just reoccupied this fireld last year after more than 10 years of being deserted. We still have a few small grass mounds to flatten out and we are in a constant battle with red ants (one that we never win). Our runway is situated in a north-south orientation. There are plans in the works to add a east-west runway this year. We are still expanding and currently have about 20 members. With our low yearly registration fee ($50.00/year) it is kinda tough to do some of the things that we want. Right now we have a small covered pit area about 20-30 ft. long and no tables as of yet. Like I said, we are still working on it. With my decent skills with lumber, I have offered my services to extend the pit area and throw some inexpensive tables together. I love to build (if you guys haven't noticed). Our club president is in construction and I know a few guys in construction too. We are going to try to acquire some empty spools from those big spools of wire/cable that are commonly used. The spools make excellant tables when they are turned up on their sides. Here is a link to my field: http://www.noerc.com/

As you can see we have a generous amount of airspace. The area is surrounded by tall weeds/grass/whatever. It makes it much easier on our planes when the "Oh *****" syndrome hits. I went deadstick with my Aresti 40 after I overshot the runway and it came down in the weeds with nothing but pollen on the wings. But on the outskirts of our flying area are trees. There is one particular area that is hoorible to fly near. When the winds hit these trees, it seems that all lift is lost due to the turbulence produced. I almost lost my US40 in it. Now I stay well away from that area. I should have listened to the others and stayed away, but crazy me wanted to find out for myself [&:]

Later guys.

Guys,

Just a quick note....

We all need to do a product review of this great plane. We are not doing Vectorflight enough justice if we do not rate their wonderful product.

Thanks.

Hey Gary. I looked at your website, was reviewing your links wondered what your connection was to David Scott's 1st US RC Flight School?

Yeah I havn't done a lot of documention of my build and i wish i did.. I maybe get to my plane a couple hours a day and never really dawned on me to get the camera out. Guess ill post more pictures for whats left in my build.

When i last told everyone that i kinda rushed on drilling the belly pan on the plane, it left me with a pretty big gap in the front. Well last night i took some balsa sticks and glued them to the former near the L.G. I sanded the balsa in contour of the former and the shape of the belly pan. I recovered it with some extra covering laying around. Looks really good and it also adds a little seal on the front from the exhaust residue. Ill add a picture to that after I get home. The hobby shop is real slow right now.

rkohler, the website was made our club president and vice president. I am unsure of their connection to David Scott's 1st US RC Flight School.

rcfury, can't wait to see how your belly pan mod came out. I too have a small gap between the former and the front of the pan, about 1/16". So far I have put about 5.5 tanks of fuel through the Saito and haven't had any fuel/oil residue make into the fuselage. I think that because that big ***** 16x6 APC prop produces so much wash combined with the muffler sticking out about 1.5" from the bottom of the cowl, the exhaust is just blown clear of the pan. In fact, I have yet to wipe any exhaust residue off my belly pan. But I would still like a better seal and would like to see how you did it.

Thanks again and later.

Well i called my father and he took some pictures of the plane for me.. Hense the short period of time between posts. Anyway.
So far that you could see from the pictures. Ive replaced the stock bolts with wing bolts, so on the hard landings im prone to do wont rip the entire bottom of the plane off. As for the belly pan mod I just sanded some balsa sticks which were epoxied together, in shape of the contour of the former. Then recovered. So when the belly pan is attached via 4-40 bolts no gap whats so ever and a very tight seal. On the tail section, you could see the reciently installed sullivan flying wires, and reinforced with silver solder.
Forgot to add that i did tint the canopy. I just thinned out some tamaya smoke color and airbrushed. Granted the picture could do some justice but, you get the idea. But, then you cant see the hiding fingerprints inside too. ooops.

rcfury, excellant job on the belly pan and flying wires. I may switch to flying wires as well. When my plane was blown off the table yesterday, it not only took the rudder off at the hindes, but also slightly bent one of my tail braces. Although I was able to straighten it back out, but I think that it is now a weak link. I think I may have enough left over tubing to make another brace. I have to think about which way I will do it. At least I have a little over a week before I'll be able to get back to the field to think about it.

We have Gophers(Ground Squirrels) at our field. Not to good on the Airplanes to hit a Gopher Hole on take off or Landing. On guy actually hit one with his Plane one year. Upset him so bad, he had to pack it up and go home.

We have about 40 members, and I guess I should feel guilty for paying only $20 a year dues, but then I have to pay $58 on top for AMA membership.

That seems like the ideal amount of members. Wish my dues were only $20/year. I too have to have AMA membership to fly at my field. In fact, all the fields I fly at are Charter AMA clubs.

Ray, I am with you on the Saito's looks. In my opinion (not that it is worth much) your job on the muffler looks great. Nothing wrong with it coming out the side. I put a Saito 82 in my FuntanaS 40 and mounted the muffler just like you did. I will be using the Saito 100 on my VF Edge and I am sure I will install it just like yours. Good Job and nice plane.