OH SNAP! WHY?!!!!
09-26-2006 | 07:46 PM
#1
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From: Dublin,
OH
OH SNAP! WHY?!!!!
Since I'm close to getting a GLOW trainer, I'd thought I'd take my aerobird Xtreme out for a fun fly just now. So it was going well, did a few loops, stalls. So then, I decided to do a nose dive from approx 500+ feet and when I pulled up (down) A V-TAIL FIN CAME FLYING OFF DUE TO OVERSTRESS! There was no way to control it as it plunged into the concrete ground after nose diving for 500+ feet going god-knows-how-fast and now nearly everything on the plane is destroyed except for the battery! 
Receiver's gone. Servos stripped. Fuselage bent/cracked. Motor seems fine but didn't even bother testing it with a broken receiver. Wing's broken in 3, yes THREE. I'm going insane right now with my recent -$220.00 transaction [
]
So this thought came into my head. Could a glow trainer's wing or tail come off like this due to over stress? I'm now worried about buying and flying a glow plane since this fear has been forever instilled into my mind... [&o]
Please inform me here...
-thanks
Receiver's gone. Servos stripped. Fuselage bent/cracked. Motor seems fine but didn't even bother testing it with a broken receiver. Wing's broken in 3, yes THREE. I'm going insane right now with my recent -$220.00 transaction [] So this thought came into my head. Could a glow trainer's wing or tail come off like this due to over stress? I'm now worried about buying and flying a glow plane since this fear has been forever instilled into my mind... [&o]
Please inform me here...
-thanks
09-26-2006 | 08:30 PM
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From: Corona, CA
RE: OH SNAP! WHY?!!!!
Yup, I have lost 2 wings in flight due to my poor maintenance.
You'd think I'd learn, but Nooooo.
BTW...they fly like Cr@p that way...and tend to fly a bit nose-heavy for about 3-5 seconds. Anyone up for a game of lawn darts?
You'd think I'd learn, but Nooooo.
BTW...they fly like Cr@p that way...and tend to fly a bit nose-heavy for about 3-5 seconds. Anyone up for a game of lawn darts?
09-26-2006 | 08:33 PM
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From: Dublin,
OH
RE: OH SNAP! WHY?!!!!
ORIGINAL: agexpert
Yup, I have lost 2 wings in flight due to my poor maintenance.
You'd think I'd learn, but Nooooo.
Yup, I have lost 2 wings in flight due to my poor maintenance.
You'd think I'd learn, but Nooooo.
I know how you feel, except, I lost a whole plane I'm afraid of flying now
09-26-2006 | 08:35 PM
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From: Mira Mesa, CA
RE: OH SNAP! WHY?!!!!
Yes it can happen but you just need to avoid 500 foot dives with abrupt pull-outs. 
Usually the wing will snap near the middle when you do this....
Usually the wing will snap near the middle when you do this....
09-26-2006 | 08:41 PM
#6
RE: OH SNAP! WHY?!!!!
Every plane has a velocity at which point aerodynamic forces overcome structural integrity, and structural failure is the end result. On a plane like Aerobird, which is all foam, it doesn’t take that much to over stress it, and it looks like you found that point.
Hard lesson to learn, but a lot of us have been there – done that.
Hogflyer
Hard lesson to learn, but a lot of us have been there – done that.
Hogflyer
09-26-2006 | 08:47 PM
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From: Dublin,
OH
RE: OH SNAP! WHY?!!!!
ORIGINAL: hogflyer
Every plane has a velocity at which point aerodynamic forces overcome structural integrity, and structural failure is the end result. On a plane like Aerobird, which is all foam, it doesn’t take that much to over stress it, and it looks like you found that point.
Hard lesson to learn, but a lot of us have been there – done that.
Hogflyer
Every plane has a velocity at which point aerodynamic forces overcome structural integrity, and structural failure is the end result. On a plane like Aerobird, which is all foam, it doesn’t take that much to over stress it, and it looks like you found that point.
Hard lesson to learn, but a lot of us have been there – done that.
Hogflyer
Only ONE v-tail fin snapped off due to my "pro tail mod" I underestimated it's durability It has a 55" wing span BTW
and no. I'm a perfectly capable flyer. *Or so says the $200 flight sim at my local hobby shop
I guess the simulator doesn't cover wings snapping in half
09-26-2006 | 09:19 PM
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From: Galloway,
NJ
RE: OH SNAP! WHY?!!!!
Ice i feel your pain, but get back in the saddle and enjoy the hobby. i have been flying a firebird XL for 3 years and the only crashes i had were due to wind. i never tried anything crazy because the v-tail on the xl is only to turn you can't do loops.
about 2 months ago i took it out after a long break from flying it and it went up fine and came down in one piece, after hitting the ground it was in many pieces, oops
forgot to range check it . it doesn't go far with a broken antenna wire. after joining a club and spending some quality time on a simulator i am taking my Senior out this weekend for the first time with my INSTRUCTOR. i too am worried about crashing
but i want to fly and the only way to learn is in the air. sims are only so real i want the real experience.
good luck in the future and i hope this one bad experience doesn't ruin your perception of the hobby.
about 2 months ago i took it out after a long break from flying it and it went up fine and came down in one piece, after hitting the ground it was in many pieces, oops
forgot to range check it . it doesn't go far with a broken antenna wire. after joining a club and spending some quality time on a simulator i am taking my Senior out this weekend for the first time with my INSTRUCTOR. i too am worried about crashing
but i want to fly and the only way to learn is in the air. sims are only so real i want the real experience.
good luck in the future and i hope this one bad experience doesn't ruin your perception of the hobby.
09-27-2006 | 03:04 AM
#9
RE: OH SNAP! WHY?!!!!
Visual inspection of one of my planes recently reviealed a stress crack about 2.5 inches long from the leading edge towards the trailing in the balsa sheeting at the root rib of one of my planes. It is a World models Skyraider Mach II .40 sized sport trainer. Hmm ya think that OS 50sx swinging that 11x9 prop had anything to do with the crack?...Nah; poor craftsmanship
(Just kidding World Models, I love your products.)
(Just kidding World Models, I love your products.)
09-27-2006 | 05:31 AM
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From: Park Rapids, MN
RE: OH SNAP! WHY?!!!!
In real airplane terms, you exceeded this airframe's VNE. This is the airplanes "Velocity Never Exceed" speed. Simple fix: Don't dive! This is a simple trainer airplane, built light to make it easy to fly.
09-27-2006 | 05:59 AM
#11
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RE: OH SNAP! WHY?!!!!
If you do a 500' vertical dive with a sharp pull-out, most plane's wings will come off. Basically, you flew the plane outside the "envelope". You made it do something it was never designed to do, and paid for it.
Fly your trainer (with an instructor) like it's designed to fly, and it will hold together for many years.
Dr.1
Fly your trainer (with an instructor) like it's designed to fly, and it will hold together for many years.
Dr.1
09-27-2006 | 10:44 AM
#13
RE: OH SNAP! WHY?!!!!
500 FEET with an Aerobird? What the heck were you doing up there anyway? That's much too high for normal flying of a plane like that IMO. Chances are you are overestimating the altitude but it shows an attempt to fly too high. Planes of that type and most trainers are not meant for that type of stress. Sorry for the loss but ya kinda asked for it and that's not meant in a mean spirited way. There are more crashes in your future but you can control MOST of them by being careful and still have fun.
09-27-2006 | 02:19 PM
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From: Dublin,
OH
RE: OH SNAP! WHY?!!!!
ORIGINAL: bruce88123
500 FEET with an Aerobird? What the heck were you doing up there anyway? That's much too high for normal flying of a plane like that IMO. Chances are you are overestimating the altitude but it shows an attempt to fly too high. Planes of that type and most trainers are not meant for that type of stress. Sorry for the loss but ya kinda asked for it and that's not meant in a mean spirited way. There are more crashes in your future but you can control MOST of them by being careful and still have fun.
500 FEET with an Aerobird? What the heck were you doing up there anyway? That's much too high for normal flying of a plane like that IMO. Chances are you are overestimating the altitude but it shows an attempt to fly too high. Planes of that type and most trainers are not meant for that type of stress. Sorry for the loss but ya kinda asked for it and that's not meant in a mean spirited way. There are more crashes in your future but you can control MOST of them by being careful and still have fun.
It was 500 feet or higher. Just wanted to do something "xtreme"
This one guy did 1000+ feet with the Xtreme. He even has the video on Youtube
09-27-2006 | 03:03 PM
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From: Harker Heights,
TX
RE: OH SNAP! WHY?!!!!
Ice Man, that's what your new call-sign should be__ I know what you were doing___ practicing to give Chip Hyde and them a run for thier money. I applaud your enthusiasm, Dude..[sm=thumbs_up.gif]. But I think they meant Xtreme in size not stunts. Now if you get yourself a $10,000 Carden w/ a DA-150 or a $15,000 Composite ARF YAK 55SP w/ a ZDZ 210 and all digitals and LIPOS on board then you can do this stunt. I think it's called " The Haymaker" or somethin'__ don't quote me on it.
As a note though, I have seen a guy do this w/ a Alpha .40 trainer approx. 200 ft. up not 500 ft. and I just kept waitin' for that loud shot-gun sound of the wings exploding. Never happened__ I guess it wasn't his time yet 'cause he kept doing it over and over.
Now, don't get discouraged. Just don't intentionally do this w/ your NextStar........... Rob
P.S. I have two phrases.....Slow down to speed up and go slow to go fast..............
___ practicing to give Chip Hyde and them a run for thier money. I applaud your enthusiasm, Dude..[sm=thumbs_up.gif]. But I think they meant Xtreme in size not stunts. Now if you get yourself a $10,000 Carden w/ a DA-150 or a $15,000 Composite ARF YAK 55SP w/ a ZDZ 210 and all digitals and LIPOS on board then you can do this stunt. I think it's called " The Haymaker" or somethin'__ don't quote me on it. As a note though, I have seen a guy do this w/ a Alpha .40 trainer approx. 200 ft. up not 500 ft. and I just kept waitin' for that loud shot-gun sound of the wings exploding. Never happened__ I guess it wasn't his time yet 'cause he kept doing it over and over.
Now, don't get discouraged. Just don't intentionally do this w/ your NextStar........... Rob
P.S. I have two phrases.....Slow down to speed up and go slow to go fast..............
09-27-2006 | 03:40 PM
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RE: OH SNAP! WHY?!!!!
ORIGINAL: Ice Fun
Since I'm close to getting a GLOW trainer, I'd thought I'd take my aerobird Xtreme out for a fun fly just now. So it was going well, did a few loops, stalls. So then, I decided to do a nose dive from approx 500+ feet and when I pulled up (down) A V-TAIL FIN CAME FLYING OFF DUE TO OVERSTRESS! There was no way to control it as it plunged into the concrete ground after nose diving for 500+ feet going god-knows-how-fast and now nearly everything on the plane is destroyed except for the battery! Receiver's gone. Servos stripped. Fuselage bent/cracked. Motor seems fine but didn't even bother testing it with a broken receiver. Wing's broken in 3, yes THREE. I'm going insane right now with my recent -$220.00 transaction []
So this thought came into my head. Could a glow trainer's wing or tail come off like this due to over stress? I'm now worried about buying and flying a glow plane since this fear has been forever instilled into my mind... [&o]
Please inform me here...
-thanks
Since I'm close to getting a GLOW trainer, I'd thought I'd take my aerobird Xtreme out for a fun fly just now. So it was going well, did a few loops, stalls. So then, I decided to do a nose dive from approx 500+ feet and when I pulled up (down) A V-TAIL FIN CAME FLYING OFF DUE TO OVERSTRESS! There was no way to control it as it plunged into the concrete ground after nose diving for 500+ feet going god-knows-how-fast and now nearly everything on the plane is destroyed except for the battery!
Receiver's gone. Servos stripped. Fuselage bent/cracked. Motor seems fine but didn't even bother testing it with a broken receiver. Wing's broken in 3, yes THREE. I'm going insane right now with my recent -$220.00 transaction [] So this thought came into my head. Could a glow trainer's wing or tail come off like this due to over stress? I'm now worried about buying and flying a glow plane since this fear has been forever instilled into my mind... [&o]
Please inform me here...
-thanks
09-27-2006 | 03:50 PM
#19
RE: OH SNAP! WHY?!!!!
ORIGINAL: Ice Fun
So this thought came into my head. Could a glow trainer's wing or tail come off like this due to over stress? I'm now worried about buying and flying a glow plane since this fear has been forever instilled into my mind... [&o]
Please inform me here...
-thanks
So this thought came into my head. Could a glow trainer's wing or tail come off like this due to over stress? I'm now worried about buying and flying a glow plane since this fear has been forever instilled into my mind... [&o]
Please inform me here...
-thanks
09-27-2006 | 04:30 PM
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From: Jacksonville, FL
RE: OH SNAP! WHY?!!!!
well i built a 4*60 using elmers white glue for balsa on balsa and the wing ribs to the spar used epoxy on the spar doublers and joining the wing halves.
anyway to settle an argument about elmers i put her in a power dive from a ways up, did not pull back throttle and just yanked full up elevator. she came through just fine but i wouldn't do it again.
good luck
anyway to settle an argument about elmers i put her in a power dive from a ways up, did not pull back throttle and just yanked full up elevator. she came through just fine but i wouldn't do it again.
good luck
09-27-2006 | 04:44 PM
#22
RE: OH SNAP! WHY?!!!!
I used to do that stunt with my Scat Cat 500 all the time - go up 800 - 1000 feet, then straight down full throttle . Hard pull-out and low fly-by. Of course the Scat Cat has a huge maple block running from gear to gear, and I hit the center section with a 7" wide piece of heavy fiberglass. Boy howdy did that Irving .40 Mk II ever scream on that down hill express......still have the plane sitting here to this day too.....
Hogflyer
. Hard pull-out and low fly-by. Of course the Scat Cat has a huge maple block running from gear to gear, and I hit the center section with a 7" wide piece of heavy fiberglass. Boy howdy did that Irving .40 Mk II ever scream on that down hill express......still have the plane sitting here to this day too.....Hogflyer
09-27-2006 | 05:14 PM
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From: Dublin,
OH
RE: OH SNAP! WHY?!!!!
ORIGINAL: hogflyer
I used to do that stunt with my Scat Cat 500 all the time - go up 800 - 1000 feet, then straight down full throttle. Hard pull-out and low fly-by. Of course the Scat Cat has a huge maple block running from gear to gear, and I hit the center section with a 7" wide piece of heavy fiberglass. Boy howdy did that Irving .40 Mk II ever scream on that down hill express......still have the plane sitting here to this day too.....
Hogflyer
I used to do that stunt with my Scat Cat 500 all the time - go up 800 - 1000 feet, then straight down full throttle
. Hard pull-out and low fly-by. Of course the Scat Cat has a huge maple block running from gear to gear, and I hit the center section with a 7" wide piece of heavy fiberglass. Boy howdy did that Irving .40 Mk II ever scream on that down hill express......still have the plane sitting here to this day too.....Hogflyer
09-27-2006 | 05:42 PM
#24
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RE: OH SNAP! WHY?!!!!
The wing on the Nexstar is held on the plane by a pin in the front of the wing that is inserted into the fuselage former, and then the rear is held on by using a nylon bolt to hold down the wing.
If you're interested you can read the manual online if have any other questions such as this. The manual can be found at [link]http://www.hobbiconexstar.com/downloads/hcaa17-manual-v1_1.pdf[/link]
Durable and sturdy would depend on what you plan on doing with it. If you plan on doing the same thing with the Nexstar as you did with your other plane it's a pretty good chance you'll wind up with the same results. But if you plan on using it to learn to fly then this plane is more than adequately strong. It holds up quite well to the rigors of training. I've taught plenty of students using this plane.
Hope this helps
Ken
If you're interested you can read the manual online if have any other questions such as this. The manual can be found at [link]http://www.hobbiconexstar.com/downloads/hcaa17-manual-v1_1.pdf[/link]
Durable and sturdy would depend on what you plan on doing with it. If you plan on doing the same thing with the Nexstar as you did with your other plane it's a pretty good chance you'll wind up with the same results. But if you plan on using it to learn to fly then this plane is more than adequately strong. It holds up quite well to the rigors of training. I've taught plenty of students using this plane.
Hope this helps
Ken
09-27-2006 | 06:07 PM
#25
RE: OH SNAP! WHY?!!!!
Here's a picture of the top side of the wing showing the front hold down dowel and the bolt for the aft mount. The dowel is part of the center joiner that also holds a servo on the bottom side.
Hogflyer
Hogflyer
