Solo Flight This Weekend
06-02-2008, 09:33 AM
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Solo Flight This Weekend
I soloed my Alpha 60 this weekend!!
Went out to the field Sunday afternoon after the wind died down a bit, hoping that there would be somone there who would take off for me and then let me do a few circuits of the pattern. One of our better flyers was there with his 96' Extra practicing patterns and offered to help. He took the plane off for me, got some altitude and handed me the box. I flew the circuit for about 10 minutes and then shot several approaches at about 25-30 feet up. Mike asked me if I wanted to land it, and I jumped at it. Came around one more time, and absolutely greased the landing! I've got too any hours to count on G4 and the simulator time has really paid off.
Flew 3 more times before heading home, all solo from engine start to landing. Loved every minute of it.
The last landing was a bit hard and the plane veered hard to the right into the grass. Turns out the set screw on the nose gear was stripped, allowing it to turn in the steering arm. Whe the plane hit the gear was jarred to the right. No damage at all, but I need to find a new steering arm.
I'm tempted to replace the entire assembly as it appears to be something of a weak spot. I've had nothing but trouble with it from the git go. Some of you may remember that my first Alpha lost it's firewall about 5 minutes into the maiden flight, so this is my second fuselage. (Horizon replaced the plane). The flat on the strut faces directly forward with the wheel centered. This puts the steering arm parallel to the firewall with only about .25" of clearance. As a result you can't get full rudder throw to the left due to the steering arm hitting the firewall. I ended up filing a new flat on the strut to give about a 25-30 degree angle on the steering arm with the wheel centered. This allows for full travel in both directions. Unfortunately the set screw has a habit of stripping out in getting it tight enough to hold the gear in place. It stripped on the first one as I was re-installing the gear on the new fuse. It's only a 4-40, so I had the arm tapped out to the next larger size on the second arm but it's still stripping quite easily. It would be nice if I could find a steering arm of the right size, but with something harder than brass threads.
Any suggestions on a replacement nose gear?
Thanks.
Went out to the field Sunday afternoon after the wind died down a bit, hoping that there would be somone there who would take off for me and then let me do a few circuits of the pattern. One of our better flyers was there with his 96' Extra practicing patterns and offered to help. He took the plane off for me, got some altitude and handed me the box. I flew the circuit for about 10 minutes and then shot several approaches at about 25-30 feet up. Mike asked me if I wanted to land it, and I jumped at it. Came around one more time, and absolutely greased the landing! I've got too any hours to count on G4 and the simulator time has really paid off.
Flew 3 more times before heading home, all solo from engine start to landing. Loved every minute of it.
The last landing was a bit hard and the plane veered hard to the right into the grass. Turns out the set screw on the nose gear was stripped, allowing it to turn in the steering arm. Whe the plane hit the gear was jarred to the right. No damage at all, but I need to find a new steering arm.
I'm tempted to replace the entire assembly as it appears to be something of a weak spot. I've had nothing but trouble with it from the git go. Some of you may remember that my first Alpha lost it's firewall about 5 minutes into the maiden flight, so this is my second fuselage. (Horizon replaced the plane). The flat on the strut faces directly forward with the wheel centered. This puts the steering arm parallel to the firewall with only about .25" of clearance. As a result you can't get full rudder throw to the left due to the steering arm hitting the firewall. I ended up filing a new flat on the strut to give about a 25-30 degree angle on the steering arm with the wheel centered. This allows for full travel in both directions. Unfortunately the set screw has a habit of stripping out in getting it tight enough to hold the gear in place. It stripped on the first one as I was re-installing the gear on the new fuse. It's only a 4-40, so I had the arm tapped out to the next larger size on the second arm but it's still stripping quite easily. It would be nice if I could find a steering arm of the right size, but with something harder than brass threads.
Any suggestions on a replacement nose gear?
Thanks.
06-02-2008, 01:36 PM
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RE: Solo Flight This Weekend
Congrates!!!!
As far as the keeping the front wheel straight I had the same problem with my Kadet LT-40 when learning how to land. I was hitting the front wheel pretty hard sometimes and bending the wire or stripping the screw. I bought a couple extra sets and replaced when needed, they are cheap. Once you get better at landing it will not be a problem.
As far as the keeping the front wheel straight I had the same problem with my Kadet LT-40 when learning how to land. I was hitting the front wheel pretty hard sometimes and bending the wire or stripping the screw. I bought a couple extra sets and replaced when needed, they are cheap. Once you get better at landing it will not be a problem.
06-02-2008, 01:57 PM
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RE: Solo Flight This Weekend
Way to go!!!!!! Now everybody at work is gonna wonder what that silly little grin on your face is all about. Don't worry, it goes away in about 3 weeks or so!!!!
A solo flight is a great accomplishment and that wins you one genuine RCU ATTABOY (Suitable for framing, wrapping fish, or lining trashcans).
Ken
A solo flight is a great accomplishment and that wins you one genuine RCU ATTABOY (Suitable for framing, wrapping fish, or lining trashcans).
Ken
06-02-2008, 04:31 PM
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RE: Solo Flight This Weekend
I have also had problems with my first plane and the front landing gear. I have replaced it twice. The first time was because the plane I bought was very old and the landing gear was bent pretty bad. The second time because I had a fairly hard dead stick landing out in the flying field that bent the landing gear. Now I have a new one on and have not flied with it yet.
But they are easy to replace, so just buy a new one and throw it on there.
But they are easy to replace, so just buy a new one and throw it on there.
06-02-2008, 09:29 PM
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RE: Solo Flight This Weekend
The default alpha60 nose gear bracket is junk! Mine broke before the planes first flight! So I replaced it with a DU-Bro one! My alpha now has well over 200 landings and the DU-Bro bracket is still in great shape!
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...b152&search=Go
Pete
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...b152&search=Go
Pete
06-03-2008, 09:53 AM
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RE: Solo Flight This Weekend
ORIGINAL: yukonpete
The default alpha60 nose gear bracket is junk! Mine broke before the planes first flight! So I replaced it with a DU-Bro one! My alpha now has well over 200 landings and the DU-Bro bracket is still in great shape!
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...b152&search=Go
Pete
The default alpha60 nose gear bracket is junk! Mine broke before the planes first flight! So I replaced it with a DU-Bro one! My alpha now has well over 200 landings and the DU-Bro bracket is still in great shape!
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...b152&search=Go
Pete
I've been looking for a forked strut to use, but none of the local shops have one that will fit. I did find a replacement steering arm so I'm back in business for training this afternoon if the weather holds.
Bob
