....do not attempt to fly at night. I've been getting off work at 4:00PM this week and yesterday we happened to have unseasonably warm temps for southern Indiana (54*F). Plus it was rather dry, wind was not too bad, and the sun was shining. A beautiful day........I just had to fly!

The bird of choice: my newly restored Tiger 2. I did have a few things to work on and some adjustments to make after its "maiden" flight, but I figured I could beat sundown if I hurried. By the time I got the plane ready and got things together it was after 5:30 PM.....hmmmm, I can still get in at least one flight. Unfortunately the field is over 20 minutes away. I didn't get there til about 6:00. Sun was below horizon.....doh. No problem, it was still light enough. But then the engine wouldn't start! Once again, my electric starter wouldn't even turn it over (any suggestions on a better starting solution than a Tower starter with a 12v lead acid are welcome, heh). After turning it over by hand a while, it was loose enough I could spin it up with the starter. Ignition soon followed, but now the sky was starting to get rather dim. Hey, I can do this...............takeoff, make a turn.........oooops. Hummm, it's rather dark to the southeast, but hey I drove all the way over here, spent my last $5 of cash on gas, I've had a rough day at work and want some fun, I'm gonna make it worth my while. I could make out the outline of the plane more or less, until it was at a low profile angle (like directly from front or back), then it would almost disappear. After a brief turn around the patch, to the southeast where it was darker, I decided I definitely wanted to land! Once I got the plane back towards the north I could see it better (outlined against the sky). Fortunately the field runs in such a way I could make an approach from this direction. Quick approach, surprisingly decent touchdown, and the plane was decelerating as the wheels caught the grass and I lowered the tail. WHEW!!!!! It's been a long time since I've been THAT relieved to get a plane down in one piece!!!!

I was pretty mad at myself for doing something so stupid. I could easily have lost the nicest plane in my fleet, on the second flight since its restoration. I'm glad for the experience though, it was a little bit of wake-up call I guess. In full-scale flight training they're always telling you about stress, meeting schedules, "get-home-itis", and other pressures, and how not properly dealing with these things can lead you to going over your normal personal limits (either by skipping over important things, or flying when maybe you shouldn't). It all makes sense, but yesterday really drove the point home. I have a new personal limit now: no flying after sun-down.

On the plus side, the less windy conditions of yesterday vs the day of the "maiden" flight gave me a better idea of how the mod'd plane flies. It was a lot easier to handle, plus I'd backed off elevator travel a bit which I'm sure helped. Looks like the current setup yields a sweet flying plane, perhaps even a little better than before the restoration (and very quick). I was also a bit surprised to see that, when slowed down as normal, the plane sticks to the ground on landing just like it did before when it had tricycle gear. Just had to hold in some up elevator to keep things reasonable. I love the way these things land, so cool....the plane just sort of attaches itself to the ground.

I have to admit, once I got things loaded back up and started driving home, I realized I actually got a good kick out scaring myself like that.

-Matt Bailey

LMAF.
The sun went over the mountain all ready.
I had 4 flights already. It was so fun flying the SE
I didn't put a 1100 pack in for nothing.
I put neon checkers on the bottom, figure it would glow a little.
I drove all the way out here.!
there was still some when I took off.
It sucks looking for piece in the dark.lol
I was a little mad at first because I have just got done dialing in
the plane and getting comfortable with it. Plus I wasn't really
taking chances with manuvers. I just couldn't see the damn thing.

Me old lady don't smile any more like she use too
she knows or figure out my fleet dosen't really get smaller.
She encourage me to fly. I'm not sure if it's just to get me out of
the house becuase I get on her nerves.
She said there's something differnent about me when I go flying.[8D]

I like to go after work also, but have to wait until after march or april.
day light saving time and less chances of a windy day.
Sometimes it's too windy or the weather gets bad on the weekends.
It helps relieve work stree.
I love wacthing plane land during a CA sunset.
I hear peace and quite when my plane is shutoff out in the middle of no where
plus I can pratice and have the sky to myself.
I use to put in 5 flights a day

Matt

Night flying is fun - you just need to be prepared for it. At my previous club we would have 2 night-flyins each year. A moonless night, cylumes on each wingtip and fin, 3 lights on the runway that you can align yourself. A good safety pilot also helps. Not for the faint-hearted though!

Glad to hear your plane survived.

Safe flying!

Heh, it occurred to me that night flying might be interesting, but I probably won't try it any time soon. Not sure I would enjoy looking at a few strips of light vs the usual view of a cool model plane.

I hear ya on the evening flights..........last year I was flying my Cub a lot late in the day. I routinely would be airborne for 15-20 minutes, sometimes more. One time I landed because it was getting too dark, heh. It wasn't really unsafe yet but I could tell it was getting difficult. The evening flights are nice, Cubs are awesome for that. Calm, clear, sun starting to set, and an old Cub with a 4-stroke puttering away as you practice the pattern and shoot approaches. I now live in town (grew up in several different places but almost always in the country). It occurred to me yesterday when I took a moment to look around, that I can't even remember the last time I had a good clear, unobstructed view of the horizon. I also noticed yesterday how much I miss flying, I was really eager to get the plane out and fly. I flew once in December, and before that I hadn't flown much since summer (due to cold weather, mostly). I even enjoyed the drive back home.

Can hardly wait for spring....I need this flying stuff.

-Matt Bailey

I have flown on the slope till long after dark. Just a sillohette of a plane in the sky. Its great till you have to land. That gets tough. Would suck with a power plane.

You need some of those glow sticks you break and they light up. You put one on the tail and one on each wingtip. Least thats the theory.

I tried electric lights one time, but it made the glider too heavy to fly. It didn't work well.

I've got a brick of 14 Gold Peak 1100mah 2/3A NIMH cells on the way from www.cheapbatterypacks.com.

It is a $45 pack, but rated to 20 amp pull, and it wil be almost 17 volts so it should spin just about everything. By my measurements it will fit inside the housing on my Hobbico power pack: http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXL372&P=ML

Should be a nice setup.

I use 2, seven cell RC car packs on my starter. 14.4 volts gives it a little extra oomph without hurting it any.

I had one evening like the one you described. It was light enough when I took off, but the light had faded considerably by the time I went to land. WHen the plane dropped below the tree line on it's landing approach it was pure instinct and intuition that brought it down safely.

And yes Matt, it was my 80" CUb with a 52 four stroke putting around in nice calm evening air!
Dennis-

Matt, make sure you are not flooded if you put a lot more power to that starter. You can bend the rod and shaft if you liquid lock it and hit it hard with a starter.

Some engines have a ton of compression, but if your battery and starter are weak, they won't be turning them over.

Best of luck.