I have been doing a lot of thinking lately about the Rapture's maiden flight.
I'm gonna head to Wisconsin Rapids this week to see one of my favorite bands, and I mentioned to my wife that I would like go early to check out the club there.
I'm gonna also check out the one in Iola.
I decided until I find that dime at the front of my little runway I am not going to fly it on my land.
I don't mind to much the little repairs on my ARF/RTF trainer but I would like to keep the Rapture patch free for awhile if I can.
I figure I can get to a club once a week and while doing that I will keep looking for that dime on my runway with the Tower Trainer.
My latest mishap happened a couple of days ago, nothing major. Lost a small bit of the leading edge. Even though I checked my watch at takeoff I lost track of the time. Conditions were perfect. No wind, a little overcast. Came in fine on a dead stick, unfortunately I greased the landing and it rolled into a 1 inch dia oak I allowed to live at the beginning of the approach area for my runway. Had I bounced her as I am so good at it would not have rolled that far.
I touched down about mid point on the runway. Thus pounding into my brain that I need a longer runway or to find that dime at the front of the runway.
By the way, Alpha 2 is in mint shape as I have only a half a dozen flights on it. Again, hoping I find that dime with the Tower.

Skynyrd Where do you stand on your field??? At one end, in the center or where???? If you can stand closer to your approach end you may have a better chance finding at least a quarter. I used to tell my students that they use ALL the runway for take off but don't use the first 25' on landing. That way if it flames out on TO you may have some room to stop before hitting something and on landing if you don't use the first 25' you may not end up short all the time as a lot of folks do. ENJOY !!!! RED

Thanks for the tip Red. I'll give it a try. You may be on to something, I stand in the middle and I am good at hitting the middle.
I let you know how it goes.
Still gonna look at the clubs though.

Sounds like a good idea. You will meet a lot of good guys.

I hate to say it, but the little oak tree will one day become a big tree. Transplant it now if you want to continue to fly on your land. Another couple of tricks that is both helpful but degrades the planes takeoff performance is to tighten the wheel collors a little to add some more friction on the wheels (they are now your brakes). Or go to smaller wheels. Depending on how long your runway is, you might want to start trying to land on the "numbers" (the end of the runway) just like on full size. A couple of good tricks in learning spot landings (or close to where you want to land consistanly) is to put a paper plate (or paint a white circle) on the runway and practice hitting it with your mains 7 times out of ten (or just be real close). Not only will it help you out with your landings, it may be good practice for future fun-fly events. Dead stick landings can be unnerving, but if you are familier enough with your plane and have really gotten your landings down using the above method, you should not have to worry about a long roll out unless you are coming in with a lot of airspeed.

I'm afraid the tree has already met it's dimise, along with a couple more small pines. I should not have let my bro talk me into leaving them up.
Guess I was surprised how far these things roll with no power on a greased landing.
I will see if I can get a little friction on the wheels also

Skynyrd,
Use a small bit of fuel tubing between the wheel and the wheel collar to slow down. You can adjust the "braking" by moving the collar in to put more tension on the tubing.

Hope this helps

Good tip RCKen. I forgot the fuel tubing trick.

Do you have problems with the fuel line slipping out? Do you use something to attach the ends?

I'm not sure what you mean by "slipping out". The tubing is sandwiched between the wheel collar and the wheel. I've never had any problems with it moving.

Put the axle in the tube just like it was a fuel line from the tank. Don't wrap it around the axle.

I will give the tubing a try also, can't do it today as we are heading down to Milwaukee to visit some freinds. Figures,[:@]Nice calm day for flying too.
Thanks,
Jim

Where are your priorities? Take a plane with you.

Better yet, make your friends come visit you!!! While they are on the road traveling, you can be out flying!!!!

Skynard,
You are being smart and getting an instructor or club. And not being "counterproductive".

Some things amuse me...

im thinking he knows how to fly already man^^

if hes already set up his own runway...