When to retire a plane
 

I was curious to see how many people had to finally retire a kit built airplane.
I have a falcon 56 that has wore out its OS .40fp 5 years ago { although I think it will run forever } Has been fully recovered and modified somewhat. added a magnum .40 BB. Now I have noticed the airframe is started to show its age The only thing holding on to the vertical stab is the monocoat the wood beam mount needs to be cut off and a conventional mount added. Control surfaces are getting sloppy.

Decision time do I retire. or recover and modify again Hmmm.

Dave

RE: When to retire a plane
 

I guess that would pretty much depend on how much you like the plane. if you really want to keep flying it, rebuilt it! if not, make it a display queen and remember all of the times you flew it. keep it the way it is, put the old engine back in it, if you still have it and hang it up from the ceiling in your shop

RE: When to retire a plane
 

I like it a lot. I will probably retire it. servos were used " Bushed type " servos and they are getting loose. could always hang it then get er going again someday.

RE: When to retire a plane
 

I have a old trainer that is in some what the same condition! I would like to sell it but I built it.. I tell people that married to it (emotionally invested). I guess this is one nice thing about ARF's.
For Me, I put it up and then bring it down one or two times a year just to remember (telling My age).

RE: When to retire a plane
 

this was always my "the old reliable" I would fly the falcon before I would maiden a new plane or if I had just enough time to run to the field and put in a flight or two it would be the falcon. But I have a new Hog Bipe with one flight on it maybe it will be the "GO TO " plane

RE: When to retire a plane
 

I have flown mine until the wings come off, litterally. Had a GB Tiger that was 25 yrs old and flown daily until the old joints just gave out. At least it went down with honor upon final approach during a flight instead of rotting away; subjected to dust and hangar rash in the rafters.

RE: When to retire a plane
 

Never

RE: When to retire a plane
 

I am laughing as I didnt have to decide when to retire my my stick.It has been my "goto" beater ,sunday flyer plane over 4 seasons until last week..I was enjoying a nice fall day and suddenly the wings folded and you can guess the rest!I have had a couple where the firewall was so fuel loggedon landing the front end came off .

RE: When to retire a plane
 

cloudancer03 i feel i would retire it that way 2 otherwise its on!

RE: When to retire a plane
 

Usually when I re-kit it !!

RE: When to retire a plane
 

I had a balsa USA stick 40 for many years, since the eighties. Wore out a bushed Enya .35 engine with it. retired it and resurrected it two times. the last time I modified the wing saddle for a Avistar .40 wing and had a Como .40 in it. the original wing did not have ailerons. and the Avistar wing was semi symmetrical and did have ailerons. Let the daughter fly, and ,lets just say she was one of those " push the sticks to the corners when you are in trouble" people so when I had the transmitter back, well, you don't pull back to go up when inverted. The demise of my planes always ends up with broken peaces and splintered balsa to take home.

RE: When to retire a plane
 

My planes generally retire themselves before I'm given the option... As long as they're fun to fly and can be repaired I generally keep them in the rotation.

I've only retired 2 planes over the years. One is a 1/2a Zero that turned out to be too much work to fly due to a high wing loading. The other is a Stik-clone that already had so much reglue and recovering that there was nothing left to glue to that had any structural integrity. Both are hanging from my son's ceiling.

EG

RE: When to retire a plane
 

I never retire a plane I just re-kit it.

RE: When to retire a plane
 

My planes never make it to "retirement" !!! I think as my planes get "long in the tooth", I tend not to "concentrate" as I should & end up doing something stupid. However, I do enjoy flying them while I have them. Year before last, I put 4 planes in, last yr none, & this year 1. I usually fly 2 to 3 times a week,so, I get my "money's worth".

RE: When to retire a plane
 

I haven't had a crash in several years....and I haven't had to retire a plane ever.

My Great Planes Extra kit has well over 2,000 flights on it...and it just looks tired. Covering is missing all over, hinges are loosening, servos are tired, many parts are oil soaked.

I think I'll retire it when I plow it into the ground.

RE: When to retire a plane
 

Entirely up to the pilot/builder. For me I still have the first RC plane I built in 1983 (Carl Goldburg Eagle 63). It's been rekitted three times over the years, but is still very flyable. Lately it's collecting more dust than I'd like it too. As far as when to retire a plane, it depends on ones ability, available tools and ones willingness to rebuild.

Steve

[8D]

RE: When to retire a plane
 

I am still flying three planes I built up back circa 1990. One plane a 40size pattern plane that has wore out a Saito 65 after a few years andis now sporting a Saito 80. The paint is getting a lot of cracks init, but the plane still flies great.
The other is a cheap Tower Starfire 40 that wore out a couple of 40engines (running a tuned pipe didn't help engine life). The plasticbits and pieces on the Starfire is starting to crack and break off, butit still works. I was using it to test new RC systems and receivers for a while. As if the radio flakes out on me it won't be a big deal.
The third plane is a Airmadillo Combat Twin 40. Basically it is more of less indestructable. Great for those crowded busy flying days at the club field. You don't want to mid air a Airmadillo plane. I did crash it a while back when one of the nylon wing bolts broke off and it rendered the ailerons pretty much useless. But a little work with a hammer and a couple of crescent wrenches and a pair of vice grips had it all back in shape again.

I also have a Sig Senior Kadet, that I built up back around 1987, butit is semi-retired, until i decide to recover it as the monokote is allraggidy now. it was built as a electric plane first using lots ofnicads and a Astro-Flite 40 geared motor. later I converted it to fueland am running a old OS 60 FS four cycle with the open rocker arms andpushrods. it is fun to just putt around at 1/4 throttle. i diodaccidentally crash it when it was electric when the battery ran out ofpower and I couldn't fit it in between the power lines on the landingapproach. but it was quickly fixed and I converted it to fuel powerthen. I did send the Astro-Flite motor in for repair and it came backthough, I just haven't used it since.

I know some guys retire a plane after a season of flying. I usually go until the plane is deemed unflyable for whatever reason.
I replace the on/off switch from time to time, and the battery before it gets too weak. Plus a servo every now and then too.

RE: When to retire a plane
 

Never unless it is too far gone to rebuild after a bad crash. My 60 size Kaos is on it's forth rebuild and cover job right now. I have broken the fuse in half twice over the years. It's 12 years old and sees more stick time then any of my other planes. My CG Extra is about the same age, maybe a bit older? It had the nose of the fuse break in half and I did the repair on it and I'm still flying it. Both planes will go out with me tonight for an evening fly. These are kit built planes, not some ARF that was built without using any wood. They will go forever unless something really bad happens. They do get a little beat and require some new covering once in a while and minor repairs but they are worth it.