Mike,

It's collecting dust, grafitti and critters (scorpions, spiders and snakes).

Al Asad air base was one of the largest Iraqi air bases (pre invassion). Saddam figured we would take Al Asad, so he hid his planes all over the desert in the event that we failed in our take-over, he'd still have his air force. After the initial bombing, the Iraqi soldiers abandoned their posts and their planes. The base was first taken over by the Austailian Special Forces and later turned over to the US Marines. We counted close to 50 planes scattered throughout the base and dessert.
It was pretty cool checking out the planes and tanks.

Ted

Don't worry, you'll get it back!

BTW, I was in the AF from 72-76 - Avionics Instrument Tech, worked on KC-135s, B-52Ds and F-4C & Ds. The KCs and B-52 were at Carswell and Guam (late 73-early 74) and the F-4s were Udorn in Thailand (late 74 to late 75). That was probably the most memorable 4 years of my life - learned a ton (but can't say I applied it well) Anyway, it was a HOOT!

Mike,

How familiar are you with F4 history? Ever hear of Pardo's Push? My Friend's dad was the pilot of the F4 being pushed. I think the F4 is my favorite fighter. The B1 is my favorite bomber. I got to climb up into the cockpit of one at McChord. Pretty sweet ride!

Ted

Never heard of Pardo's Push! But I can believe it - I've heard of bringing planes home by resting the wings on two other planes like a sling!

[link]http://www.af.mil/news/airman/1296/pardo.htm[/link]

And, the B-1 WAS a fantastic low level supersonic bomber until the government gutted it - lowered the top speed to subsonic and lowered the wing sweep. My year in Thailand was the best - we flew sorties for both the Mayaguez capture and Saigon falling - then my last duty station was Kinchloe AFB Upper Peninsula, Michigan - got there on Xmas day 1975 and left May 5th 1976 and there was still snow on the ground! They didn't close the flight line down until it was 70 degrees below zero!

That would suck if you worked on the snow removal team.
I've seen them on the flight line at Fairchild AFB with shovels and brooms when the plows and sweepers were down.
needless to say that was the first time I worked 24 hours. Were told to volunteer to work or else............. I wanted to keep my three stripes so we knocked out 5 rollover plows and a few sweepers that night. The following morning we were told that we'd do it again if we didn't get some of the aircraft de-icers out the door as well. Whats the point of clearing the flightline if the planes can't fly due to too much ice on the planes. ARGH!

Ted

Hey - I also had to work on the engines (oil pressure, fuel pressure, EGR tranducers) and had to take my gloves off to work - try grabbing hold of a 30 below zero piece of metal with perspiration on your hands!!

USP tracking says my baby should be here the 22nd - I can't wait (but I have to[sm=cry_smile.gif])

I work for the city government now and here. One of the supervisors has this great idea for which I have fallen victim too. He wants us all to "crosstrain." Okay, not a bad idea. We have 3 areas for which we were all hired to be able to perform equally in each area which we already do every single day! I feel like going off on a "Lewis Black" fit here.

My replacement was supposed to be here Monday - just checked UPS website - it is out for delivery TODAY!! Great weekend coming up!!

Got it and guess what - a complete new heli - everything, just like I bought it new!! New blades, new training gear, clean canopy and decals, everything! Charging the TX batteries now (put some rechargeable NiMh in it - charging with my Futaba TX charger - even though the heli TX says 12v, my charger is only 9.6 - but hey, that's all the batteries put out anyway (1.2v each X 8). And it recharges my Fubata 6Xa fine, and it is only a 9.6v battery)

Mike,

Thats great news. Fly the heck out of the lil bird, but becarefull you don't have to send it back in for repairs. LOL
It's looking like another week or two before I get my lil buddy back. ARGH!

Ted

How's your heli doing today?
Hope all is going well.

Ted

Been running all around today - besides, it was quite windy earlier, dying down now. Fixing to go out, a bit nervous though - rusty thumbs!

BTW, what kind of charger should I use for the Helimax TX if I put NiMH batteries in it? I tried my Futaba charger that only put out 9.6v and while it was charging if I turned it on the low battery light would always lite. However, once I unplugged the charger it didn't. I then found a 1000mh 12v transformer I plugged it into (the TX states 12v for the charger). These are 2000mAh batteries, so I figured keep it less than an hour or so on charges it should be ok - is there any kind of shut off circuitry in the TX so it won't overcharge?

Well never reported the outcome with the new heli - servos are much tighter that original heli, no slop in gear train. All three 3n1 adjustments are centered, i.e. I have some gyro gain if I want to crank it in! Had to fight the tracking - my plastic blades are kinda beat up and nothing I did got it perfect, one was always either higher or lower than the other, by about a quarter inch, depending on head speed. Got some new yellow flat bottom plastics coming in the mail. Also had a mishap with blade hitting my launch pad (3' sq piece of plywood - covered in another thread!) so waiting for LHS to get in a flybar carrier, and I also ordered one so it's in the mail.

Been extremely windy here this week - 10-15mph steady 20-25 gusts. Hopefully this will settle down by Friday (I'm off) so really couldn't have flown it if it was flyable!!

If one blade is higher than the other you need to adjust your blade tracking.

One half turn on the grip link moved the high one below the low one - nothing I did brought them exactly in line - I think the dings on the blades are causing lift differentials. Got new blades hopefully coming in today!

How are you tracking that thing?

Adjusting the linkage on the blade grips - shorten the high blade linkage to bring it down. I tell you, it's beat up blades causing the tracking issue! They track differently at different head speeds. When I put a new set of blades on, I bet I can get them right on.

EDIT
Sorry - you SHORTEN the high blade linkage to bring that blade down (unless you're standing on your head, or you have a head where the flybar is BELOW your main blades!!)

Sorry, I meant what are you using to track it?

I put a black mark (marker or piece of the tracking tape on the decal sheet) and bring the head up to just before lift off speed. Then I sight along the oncoming blade against a contrasting color (my wall) and see which blade is high - either the one with the mark or the one without it. Adjust from there.

(Although I attempted to use my shins when I first got it, as indicated by my signature!!)

I use a wooden paint stick with masking tape running up the side sticking out about a have inch. I have a photo here somewhere. I put two different color grease pencil markings on ther end of the blades. Then when the blades hit the tape, leaves two different color marks and go from their

I held the heli down with some weights

The way I do it works great - I found out if I get a flashlight and shine it onto the oncoming blades, the marks show up better. On new blades I can get tracking right on. How do you hold down the stick with the masking tape??

I just hold the stick on the flat surface like ya see it with my hand and move it in slowly until the blade touches it and then see who the markings showed up. I have it hit the tape instead of the wood. Not a bright move that way.

Well, that way DOES have it's advantages - your eyes aren't in direct line with the blades so if your head explodes (like yours!) you won't take out your face!!!

Talking about your HELI head

Well, got my parts tonight, rebuilt her. Bought some ball ends to try to put them on the flybar carrier, but balls too big (no sassy comments, here!). Used a pin vise to drill the hole, worked nicely. Now just gotta find the right size balls (see previous warning[sm=48_48.gif]) Dark here, now, so gotta align tomorrow and test fly. Got some yellow flat bottom plastic blades from HeliDirect ($12.95) - they look good, and I know they can take a beating!