Finished my skis for the Decathlon 120 a couple of weeks ago I used 4" x 12" x 1/8" Lexan. Finaly got a day where the weather and health issues were not at odds with me so I hauled the plane to the pond for a test go. The skis were unfortunatley to small to do the job with the conditions at hand. We had a lite crust on top of soft powder snow with slush down a couple of inches, the skis would break thru the crust then bury them selves into the powder and down to the slush. For most of the conditions we typicaly have here (usualy its wind blown hard pack) I think these would be fine but just too short for what I was faced with Saturday.

I plan to pick up some more lexan but make it 4" by 24" and give it a go again. I think the lexan I made the current ones out of worked nice just too short for the soft stuff.

I have the 1.20 size Decathlon. Does anybody find the strut attachments to be of lesser quality than the rest of the plane? I really don't like the clevices they used. They don't close down on the brass inserts in the wing. The clevices are a loose fit on those brass pieces. I put fuel tubing over each one and pushed it until it covered the brass insert to stop any rattles.

Why don’t you use plastic clevises for the struts? There is not so much pressure on them (decoration) at all. As you see, Seagull uses the same clevises everywhere which is understandable; however, elevator, rudder and the struts on this plane are under different pressure. I use different clevises and ball links in this plane. Plastic clevises for struts and engine throttle arm. The ball links for rudder, elevator and their servos. Metal Sullivan clevises are for ailerons.

PS

I don’t use a central supporting portion of the struts. May be for that, you can keep metal clevises

I am still looking for the 'right' item to use. I don't like nylon too much. Last night I opened a pkg with nylon clevices attched to a 12 " metal pushrod (to use on something else) and the nylon clevice just broke in my hand trying to unsnap it. Not good. Nylon needs moisture to stay pliable. We used to boil our nylon props before use so they wouldn't crack. I am trying to find the right size clevice for the 3mm rod that comes out of the strut that I can put a bolt through and cinch down tight that way. I would leave the clevices in the middle section and collapse them for transpoport. clevices for 3mm are rather large...

Yes, you right. I said
>>>
I don’t use a central supporting portion of the struts. May be for that, you can keep metal clevises
<<<
However, you need to connect the nylon clevises to the ends of struts just once. You do not need to disconnect those clevises even during the transportation time in your wing bags.

The final CG check before a flight test (when weather allows). CG is 90mm with an empty tank.
The struts are made from scratch from these light aluminum tubes. I use JB Weld & epoxy.
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXR855
The weight of each strut is around 45g. .

Eclipse, you really did a nice job finishing your SD Hope all goes well

Thank you!

Nice!! Great job on the struts.


I finally finnished the new skis and got them mounted on my SD but with the weather we have had there has been no flying on the weekends here for months. now with the rain we have been getting there will be no snow on the lakes so its back to wheels again. Maybe I will get to test them next winter.

Spring is so close now I can taste it... green grass warm sun on my face. the smell of nitro.. cant wait just a few more weeks...

Finaly got to fly her today. made 2 flights before the wind picked up and made us pick up and head home. She handles nice but with one issue. my normal field alows long take offs and shallow pull ots so normaly I dont have to hammer the throtle after lift offs but the field I flew out of today was ruff and the trees were a bit close so I had to run the speed up slowly on the ground then hit the throttle once I got her air born to pull up over the trees..
when I hit the trottle just after lift off she has a tendance to torque roll to the right. this was easily handle with a quick response of left rudder and left Aileron. I never noticed it last winter flying of the lake but I had long smooth runways and didnt need steep pullouts so never hit the trottle hard after takeoff.

the G20 was plenty of power it wont hang off the prop but its got excelent verticle performance. my up lines were great.

Great report. Most often takeoff torque is left so maybe some of that wind was hitting the tail and yawing it. Was there some cross wind from your right?

I've admired the Decathalon and am a fan of the Zenoah G-20. I've one installed on my current build in progress, a Seagull AT-6 Texan.

I fancy getting a decathlon 120, I have a Saito 115 doing nothing, do you think it would be suitable for this plane or be too small. I don't want speed and really fancy aerobatics ( too old for that).

SJNason

Maybe your prop is too big in diameter for your plane. Decathlon has a very short fuselage to handle big props IMO
What is the size of your prop?

It could be wind related, This was at an unfamiliar field and the lay of the land there creates some odd ball winds, I was taking off into the wind that was shifting around on us a bit and it could have been hit with an cross wind gust.
I will have to experiment to know for sure. Only a couple more weeks and the club field should be open at last. The road in takes a long time to melt the snow and dry up. we need an emote icon that taps its foot and looks at its watch.

I am currently running an APC 15 x 6 its the smallest prop I have for this motor. If it needs something smaller I will just have to learn to deal with it but as suggested by others it may have been wind related. I will post more info when I get a chance to give it a real work out.


Come on Sun melt that snow!!

I'm impressed with progress on all your planes, so I thought I'd put mine up on site, I'm building a knock off of one I've know for a few years - here's progress

Had an eventful day Sunday, the wind did not calm down as predicted and having issues with the other plane I had brought to the field to fly I desided to fly the Decathlon. As they say if you dont learn to fly in the wind you wont get to fly a lot. I dont mind a bit of wind with my Edge as it handles it nicely but the Decathlon is new to me and its charateristics I am still learning.

Event # 1 while making a banked turn with plenty of speed the wind must have hit it just right because one wing completly stalled and the plane just headed for mother earth in a spin.... OMG..... managed to pull it out inches from the dirt only to nearly loose it again due to to much elevator and the Decathlon trying to snap. By now it was almost into the bushes and ended up setting her down hard so as to not take a trip thru the brush and down into the gully. She caught up in some briors and flipped over but only minor damage occured I bunged up one of the wheel pants and had a small bemish on one wing tip.

Several uneventful flights later, on landing a strong gust came up as I was touching down. It picked her up off the grass then blew the tail sideways. I was way to slow on the rudder and she came down still traveling in the same direction but pointed about 30 degrees to the right. OUCH. ripped the landing gear block out. Dang looks like a few nights with ply, balsa and glue comming my way.

All in all I had a great weekend of flying cant wait next weekend.

I have a Saito 120. Has anyone used this size engine on the Decathlon and, if so, how did it preform?

I maidened my SD 120 today, and it has a real learning curve for me on takeoffs! The DLE20 is just the right amount of power and it balances right on. The only question I have is, can these planes be safely flown without the struts? I've got a 30cc size YAK that has a smaller wing tube than this one, and it has'nt folded yet.
Thanks in advance, Mark.

I think the Struts are cosmetic but I did keep them on mine just in case.

Andy

Started to put my one together over the last few days, putting a 26cc rear carb up front. Pictures of the build so far.
Oh the observant of you will see led on the wing tips! thay are Air Navigation lights "flashing"







As you can see from this picture I am putting a door handle on as I am planning on using magnets to hold the door closed.




Plenty of air around the head so should not have any problem with over heating.



More to come over the next few days as I need to make a hole in the fire wall to get the HT cap through as there is no room for the ignition module to stay in the engine compartment.

Darjen, I'll be keeping an eye on this thread, should be very aerobatic with the 26.

Almost finished, got the electrics in but just need to tidy them up.

Pictures to follow & hope to maiden on the weekend.

Gave her a Maiden today, She flys nice I just had to put a bit of weight on the tail but now its good. Had a reciever problem though I run with a Spektrum 8 and was useing AR6200 reciever, even though my transmitter was returned back to Horrison I still have a Backwards compatibility issue So have changed to the AR8000 and now have no problems....

I will give it a full test again on Saturday...

Anyone used a DLE 20cc on the 1.20 Decathlon ? I wonder if that will be a good match.

Thanks,

George