RE: Beginner??? Probably!
 

:)

RE: Beginner??? Probably!
 

911 "What's your emergency?"

"Yes, This is Farm Tower again. Could you please send out a vet. We have a sick dog out here that has been caughing up balsa wood all afternoon and I think he also just spit up a small rubber tire."

911 "We'll send one right out."

Well Kennelmaster, looks like ya better order another trainer! :D

RE: Beginner??? Probably!
 

hulio,

Don't let the DEA in on my secret...
Tonite my son is coming out and we'll bring her up again.

Got enough stuff left over from the dogs lunch....

RE: Beginner??? Probably!
 

Congratulations! Did your hands stop shaking yet?:D That runway looks narrow.

RE: Beginner??? Probably!
 

I knew you could do it bro!

RE: Beginner??? Probably!
 

Gary: runway is about ten feet long, but really wide.....

Hands stop shakin' ? No, the sedative have not worn off yet.

Thanks all...

RE: Beginner??? Probably!
 

Congrats!!! next time practice a few approch runs and take your time, don't force a landing. if it doesn't "feel" right, abort and go around again. when I was just learning I used to practice touch and goes until everything was just right, then I'd let the plane settle in. although I used to need about 1000 ft runway to shut it down back then.:D

RE: Beginner??? Probably!
 

sportrider,

That was exactly the problem.  I came in on approach, and this thing just floats, and floats, and floats.  Throttle was at idle.
I realized I had no chance of "setting" it down.  Then, rightly or wrongly, I decided I did not have enough room for a go-around.  The trees at the end of the field were already licking their lips.   Sooooo, I just "forced" the landing.  Good decision?  Bad decision?  I don't know...  I think it was a good decision after some poor choices (float too long) but considering just a broken prop and no damage to the airframe or covering, it is a decision I can happily live with.</p>

My next step in flying will be to shoot approaches and learn the "float" of the Alpha.  I hope it will be THIS Alpha but my son is coming out tonite to fly it.....[X(]</p>

Anyway, it's all good.</p>

</p>

Gary;  Thinking about your comment of perhaps a "narrow" rwy.  When I started skydiving, the landing zone seemed like a postage stamp.  Yet, everyone hit it, usually.   We moved across the field and had the entire grass rwy to use plus the perimeter and it seemed no could hit the target area.  The rest of the field at the farm is nearly as sooth as the rwy's, just not mowed.  So I think I'll leave it as it will demand skilled approach.  (Some day I might have that)</p>

RE: Beginner??? Probably!
 

off hand what size & pitch prop were you running?

RE: Beginner??? Probably!
 

I didn't say anything about a narrow runway.

RE: Beginner??? Probably!
 

You may need a roller to flatten out the runway and make it smoother...[8D]

RE: Beginner??? Probably!
 

sportrider   (or spider for short)

Prop was a 10X7   2 blade...

RE: Beginner??? Probably!
 

Gary,   you are right, it was RC Airplanenut that commented on the runway...  Me bad!

Son on his way as we speak, should be here within 10 minutes.....:D

RE: Beginner??? Probably!
 

I'm an instructor for our club. Spent a year and half with the last one, my son. He's now a 10 year old solo pilot:D. He's crashed 2 planes in the last 2 years, one as a solo pilot doing wot low flybys, damn kid!!;) There are advantages to the buddy boxes for sure, but I can relate to passing the sticks which is how I learned. If your son is a competent rc pilot, them have him trim it and pass the sticks[sm=thumbs_up.gif]just remember that altitude is the cushion!!

RE: Beginner??? Probably!
 

Congrats Kennel, glad to hear the landing was survivable. :) Just remember: never be afraid to abort an approach you're not comfortable with.....trainers have plenty of power for abrupt go-arounds, even when nearing hungry trees.

RE: Beginner??? Probably!
 

Congratulations Kennel. I wanted to go fly yesterday (Sunday), but it just kept on raining[:o]

RE: Beginner??? Probably!
 

if you drop down in pitch the plane will slow more and not have as much a tendency to keep floating.

RE: Beginner??? Probably!
 

Yes, good tip. Go up an inch in diameter and down an inch in pitch. I have a 12.25 x 3.75 on my os .46fx and I can slow the plane down nicely for landing.

RE: Beginner??? Probably!
 

"Farm Tower, this is Alpha One requesting departure Runway 36Rfor work in the pattern."
"Alpha one, proceed to Rwy 36R, hold short.... Umm, is this the same guy as this morning????"
"Farm Tower, negative, he is back at the 'home' resting comfortably under heavy sedation..."
"Alpha One, THANK YOU! You are cleared onto 36R for departure. Winds 360 degrees at 0, Barometer 29.98 . No traffic in the pattern."
"Alpha One cleared for take-off..."

Alpha rolls and lifts off gently, the begins a steep climb, following rwy heading, for altitude. Left hand ovals begin and all is well, at least until....

"Alpha One, Farm Tower... Sir, we noticed what appeared to be something fall off your aircraft."
"Roger Farm Tower, I believe one of your trees reached up at me a bit... Looked like a leaf collected for a moment and dropped from the aircraft. Will be coming around on the downwind for 36R now to inspect for damage. Aircraft seems to have no damage."

"Alpha One, you are cleared for any Runway."

"Alpha One, cleared any runway".

"Alpha One, this is Farm Tower, we seem to have lost visual. Last seen East of the Runway."</p>

"Alpha One???"

"Farm Tower, Alpha One I, er, well we are at a bit of an unusual attitude here. Please have emergency equipment respond with a ladder and a tree saw."

"Alpha One, Negative on response. Old growth forest there, Sierra Club will not allow damaging retrieval. You are on your own."

"Alpha One, this is Farm Tower, suggest you join the 'old man' at the home "

Damage assesment.... Empenage popped from fuse attachment, Wing servo popped loose. Both cleanly popped loose on the glue lines with no other damage making me wonder about the initial construction... I should be wondering about flying skills instead but am having too much fun...</p>

Pilot uninjured in the "incident" (It wasn't an accident, just a 'high' landing) so we flew his helicopter for the balance of the evening.</p>

</p>

:DPaul</p>

RE: Beginner??? Probably!
 

Korps,

Pleeeeeeze send some rain this way...  We are in drought condaitions.

RE: Beginner??? Probably!
 

Kennel, wish I could. It would be better for me and for you guys there :D. Can only pray for rain in a drought season...it's all which can bring relief and the rain.

RE: Beginner??? Probably!
 

Congrats on the first flights Kennel. One tip for landing a trainer. As you have noticed these planes will float all the way down the runway if you let them. You annot force a trainer to land. When I take mine for some abuse I have to remind myself of this design feature. I would try pulling power to an idle at the end of your downwind leg. Once you pull power add in a LITTLE up elevator. This will help to bleed off some airspeed. When you remove power to an idle the nose will automatically drop and the plane will try to maintain its airspeed. The elvator will help keep a steeper angle of attack on the wing which in turn creates drag. It takes some practice but adding up elevator will help steepen your approach angle without gaining airspeed. Once the plane gets about 3-4 feet off the ground hold it there as long as you can using the elevator. Eventually you will stall the plane and it will land on its own. I always try to land my trainer will full up elevator before it touches down. Prevents the ugly bounces down the runway.

Now get that tail glued back on and go fly!!

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truBlu,

Sounds about right....   Wish I had flaps!
Experimenting with the prop may also help.

Thanks guys.

Paul:D

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Second tip for landing a trainer. Don't do it in a tree...lol...

also not an accident a high landing- that is funny:)

Keep it up

RE: Beginner??? Probably!
 

kennel im glad that u r showing these ppl that this can be done by yourself. now it prolly is good to have an instructor if you have time and $$$ to get into a club. i also tought myself.and have not had to spend more than 10 dollars on repairs (all props cause i hit the ground and a golf cart once all on take off) i have a VERY rough runway so i got bigger tires and im constantly fighting the front wheel from the wire bending. (crapy enginiering by the makers part). my runway is a front yard in the country that is about 50 yards long and 20 yards wide. to land i come from the north and have to go under the powerlines around a pole that is right in the middle of approach and set it down where there is grass and not clumps of weeds which is about 5 yards wide the whole length. last night i finely over shot had to go around and the cross wind pushed me too far east and i nudged a tree but i was going so slow that it did not hurt the approach and it landed in the tall bluestem.