Well, today was the day it finally happened. I was getting confident (maybe overly so ) with my trainer (H9 Alpha 40) and had good landings, loops, rolls, stall turns. And today I decided I would try flying inverted. It really didn't like it, it kept trying to roll and nose in, but I was able to make a few passes doing it. Then I got a little too low, and it rolled straight into the ground before I could recover. Thankfully, the plane was in pretty decent shape (all things considered). Everyone at the field thought I subconsciously crashed to give me an excuse to get a new plane (low-wing tail dragger). Other than the fusealge, the engine and electronics looks to be in pretty good shape so people were telling me it's time to put the parts in a 4* (but I'm thinking Pulse XT).

Anyways, I got my Alpha as an RTF, and buying the plane one day and flying the next is cool, but I know I'm missing out on some of the experience on how these things are put together. I would like to get this flying again to maybe put on floats one day. People at the field were telling me that this is fixable to it's fixable if you're feeling adventurous. I'm pretty confident the wing is fixable by me, but I'm not sure about the fuse. keep in mind I don't have any experience with repair/building so if you think the damage is beyond a first timers abilities, let me know. I'm not beyond buying a new fuse from H9. Here's a summary of the damage with pics.

1. Wing spar tube is bent. I'm assuming if I bed this back straight I'll be OK
2. Rubber bands crushed portion of leading edge of right wing. Not quite sure how to fix this
3. Left wing is surprisingly OK, excepth for the portion the servo tray attached to because it apparently tore out in the crash. Again, not sure how to fix.
4. Front part of the fuse is destroyed, firewall is toast, and the two frame pieces in the front of the plane are cracked. My first though is that maybe I need to just cut off the front and fashion new balsa/plywood pieces. Take a looks and see what you think.

Like I said I'm new to this, so don't be afraid to tell me if this is beyond my skill level. Also, what tools/parts will I need? Balsa sheeting, hobby knife, dremel, ultracoat? What thickness plywood? Thanks for any and all help.

First, the tube. If it is bent, replace it. It is very difficult to straighten a bent tube as it is work hardened from the first bend and attmepts to straighten will usualy end in a colapsed tube or a cracked one.

You can fix the fuselage. Remove the covering and then patch together the broken parts with CA. Kind of like putting a puzzle together. Then after that make a set of side doublers from 1/16" aircraft ply and epoxy them in place. MAKE SURE you clean all of the covering residual off or the epoxy will not stick. Ad re-enforcements on teh bulkheads that are dammage. For the firewal, piece together the parts and use it as a pattern to cut a new one. Same for any bulkheads that are beyond salvage.

You will never know if it is beyond your skill level until you try. Also you will never aquire the skills unless you try. A little failure now and then is good as long as you learn from it.

A new fuselage would be quicker though. Or the 4*. I just ordered a 4* 60 a couple days ago. I'm getting a kit so I know what is inside and I'll also have a set of plans for rebuilding if needed.

Good luck.

Don

trash it and buy a tower trainer....put the engine and radio in it...do you have an iron and a roll of covering?...that'll run you about $30 and a tt will cost you about twice that..just my opinion,,trainers are too cheap to bother with a major repair..read, if you tear the engine off the front of a plane..I'd say its major.....Rog

First of all, the plane IS repairable. Repairable by you? Maybe, maybe not. If you have few building skills and no crash damage repair skills, it may be easier for you to start at the beginning (as in building a kit). Building a kit from the start is often easier than repairing crash damage. Building a kit will teach you valuable skills that you will use later to repair that crash damage.

As for the tools you'll need, there are several threads in RCU on this subject. You can get by with a few hand tools, or you can go hog wild with all power stuff.

Bottom line: I recommend something like a 4*, GP Super Sportster, Goldberg Tiger or any of the other excellent low wing designs. When you finish building that, and you're flying it well, then sit down at your workbench with your trainer. You'll be able to evaluate for yourself whether or not you have the ability to fix it.

If you really want to attempt to repair your trainer now, contact some of your club members who are experienced at crash repair. They may be able to walk you through the repair. You'll learn a lot that way, too.

Good luck with it. Keep us posted.

Dr.1

It is repairable. The questions is if you really want to put the time into it or not. Perhaps move on to another plane and repair this at your liesure over the winter when you are not in a hurry? You will need time, materials, tools and ideas you don't have. You still have good flying time this season, get back in the air.

NEW tube, NEW firewall, repair/replace much of the nose area. The Alpha is a very basic design and lends to repair quite well but NOBODY should rush their first attempt. Take your time and do it right.

Thanks for the input guys, this is what I needed. Here's what I'm thinking...transfer the guts of the plane over to a Pulse XT to get me back in the air quickly. I'm going to do a basic repair on the wing (probably cut out the damaged wood, replace and fill what I can then cover with packing tape) I think I'm going to just go ahead and buy a new fuselage and wing spar for just over $60. She may not be as pretty as she once was, but atleast that should get her in the air someday.

When I finally put floats on the alpha, I know it will take some cutting on the fuselage, so I'll have a cadaver to practice with before I do it on the real thing.

I would suggest you get that Pulse XT and get back in the air. It sounds like you're ready for it.

Then on some rainy days when you have nothing to do, you can start putzing around with fixing the Alpha

Sounds like a plan go for it.