Pilot Dolphin Review and Build
01-26-2017, 05:46 AM
#427
I guess I ran out of skill ;-)
Overhead pass with headwind, with what I thought was enough speed. Not quite sure of the throttle setting. When I turned left after the pass it dropped the left wing, and went straight into a spin, and I did not have enough altitude to recover. Made 1/2 to 3/4 turn in the spin before impact nose first. The stall was sudden and rather violent.
My spotter and I was both really surprised that it stalled, but non of us have any real turbine experience, so I guess you can say over confidence is part of it all. We both have a lot of experience with high wing loading and difficult flying planes, so I thought we should be OK.
Just for the record, I´m not in the US or UK, so no special rules apply for flying turbine models where I live. No waiver needed etc.
I´m moving on, and considering alternatives. The wings are repairable with minimal effort, and everything behind the wing is OK. Electron struts (which by the way worked perfectly) survived, so did rest of the gear and electronics. I could get a second dolphin with the sport wing, and have both wing sets for the model. I have asked Tony if he will do the free wood thing, and I will also ask him for the price of a new fuse only.
I´ve read in this thread that several other dolphins also have stalled and crashed, so I´m not sure if this is the best modell to move on with. I do have an Ultra Flash on order, but I´d like something more trainer like before that. Considering the Xcalibur Plus, all my equipment from the Dolphin, minus the legs and wheels, will fit that one.
Overhead pass with headwind, with what I thought was enough speed. Not quite sure of the throttle setting. When I turned left after the pass it dropped the left wing, and went straight into a spin, and I did not have enough altitude to recover. Made 1/2 to 3/4 turn in the spin before impact nose first. The stall was sudden and rather violent.
My spotter and I was both really surprised that it stalled, but non of us have any real turbine experience, so I guess you can say over confidence is part of it all. We both have a lot of experience with high wing loading and difficult flying planes, so I thought we should be OK.
Just for the record, I´m not in the US or UK, so no special rules apply for flying turbine models where I live. No waiver needed etc.
I´m moving on, and considering alternatives. The wings are repairable with minimal effort, and everything behind the wing is OK. Electron struts (which by the way worked perfectly) survived, so did rest of the gear and electronics. I could get a second dolphin with the sport wing, and have both wing sets for the model. I have asked Tony if he will do the free wood thing, and I will also ask him for the price of a new fuse only.
I´ve read in this thread that several other dolphins also have stalled and crashed, so I´m not sure if this is the best modell to move on with. I do have an Ultra Flash on order, but I´d like something more trainer like before that. Considering the Xcalibur Plus, all my equipment from the Dolphin, minus the legs and wheels, will fit that one.
01-26-2017, 06:26 AM
#428
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For what it's worth, I don't think you ran out of skill! My First Dophin rolled over and crashed on take off. If you read this thread in full, there are some mods that seem to help, as well as moving the CG forward with the " big" wing. I have a new one, with the modifications....we'll see this spring.
01-27-2017, 01:59 AM
#429
My Feedback: (3)
I guess I ran out of skill ;-)
Overhead pass with headwind, with what I thought was enough speed. Not quite sure of the throttle setting. When I turned left after the pass it dropped the left wing, and went straight into a spin, and I did not have enough altitude to recover. Made 1/2 to 3/4 turn in the spin before impact nose first. The stall was sudden and rather violent.
My spotter and I was both really surprised that it stalled, but non of us have any real turbine experience, so I guess you can say over confidence is part of it all. We both have a lot of experience with high wing loading and difficult flying planes, so I thought we should be OK.
Just for the record, I´m not in the US or UK, so no special rules apply for flying turbine models where I live. No waiver needed etc.
I´m moving on, and considering alternatives. The wings are repairable with minimal effort, and everything behind the wing is OK. Electron struts (which by the way worked perfectly) survived, so did rest of the gear and electronics. I could get a second dolphin with the sport wing, and have both wing sets for the model. I have asked Tony if he will do the free wood thing, and I will also ask him for the price of a new fuse only.
I´ve read in this thread that several other dolphins also have stalled and crashed, so I´m not sure if this is the best modell to move on with. I do have an Ultra Flash on order, but I´d like something more trainer like before that. Considering the Xcalibur Plus, all my equipment from the Dolphin, minus the legs and wheels, will fit that one.
Overhead pass with headwind, with what I thought was enough speed. Not quite sure of the throttle setting. When I turned left after the pass it dropped the left wing, and went straight into a spin, and I did not have enough altitude to recover. Made 1/2 to 3/4 turn in the spin before impact nose first. The stall was sudden and rather violent.
My spotter and I was both really surprised that it stalled, but non of us have any real turbine experience, so I guess you can say over confidence is part of it all. We both have a lot of experience with high wing loading and difficult flying planes, so I thought we should be OK.
Just for the record, I´m not in the US or UK, so no special rules apply for flying turbine models where I live. No waiver needed etc.
I´m moving on, and considering alternatives. The wings are repairable with minimal effort, and everything behind the wing is OK. Electron struts (which by the way worked perfectly) survived, so did rest of the gear and electronics. I could get a second dolphin with the sport wing, and have both wing sets for the model. I have asked Tony if he will do the free wood thing, and I will also ask him for the price of a new fuse only.
I´ve read in this thread that several other dolphins also have stalled and crashed, so I´m not sure if this is the best modell to move on with. I do have an Ultra Flash on order, but I´d like something more trainer like before that. Considering the Xcalibur Plus, all my equipment from the Dolphin, minus the legs and wheels, will fit that one.
Regards,
01-28-2017, 02:09 AM
#431
For what it's worth, I don't think you ran out of skill! My First Dophin rolled over and crashed on take off. If you read this thread in full, there are some mods that seem to help, as well as moving the CG forward with the " big" wing. I have a new one, with the modifications....we'll see this spring.
Thanks! Yes, it was the big wing version. It really is a lot of wing on that one. I am more used to flying models with thinner wings (pylon racers, hotlines etc) and I am thinking that the really fat airfoil with lots of drag slowed down faster than what I would have thought, causing the stall. I am not blaming the design, but after a crash like this one starts to think what contributed to me not being able to fly the model.
01-28-2017, 07:56 AM
#432
The tail increase was what I did for the sport wing, really the trainer wing needs a big tail again...and more moment arm length...
This model is lightly loaded, but not naturally stable. Don't blame yourself too much, jets are different from props, not instant lift from a blast of prop wash, so when things get critical it happens suddenly.
This model is lightly loaded, but not naturally stable. Don't blame yourself too much, jets are different from props, not instant lift from a blast of prop wash, so when things get critical it happens suddenly.
01-28-2017, 09:19 AM
#433
The tail increase was what I did for the sport wing, really the trainer wing needs a big tail again...and more moment arm length...
This model is lightly loaded, but not naturally stable. Don't blame yourself too much, jets are different from props, not instant lift from a blast of prop wash, so when things get critical it happens suddenly.
This model is lightly loaded, but not naturally stable. Don't blame yourself too much, jets are different from props, not instant lift from a blast of prop wash, so when things get critical it happens suddenly.
I´m really not too worried, I will be flying jets this season. Sold my big prop planes, and I´m all inn on jets (and pylon racers and hotliners and giant scale sailplanes...). I´m working on a Mini Avanti with P20 now, and I have en Ultra Flash on order for the 140 that survived the Dolphin crash. I´m considering a Xcalibur or Xcalibur+ for something in between the Mini Avanti and the UF, but I´n not quite sure it is needed. 1st world problems, I guess :-)
03-04-2017, 08:53 PM
#434
I've been flying my Dolphin with the big wing for two years now, I have somewhere around 50 flights on it. Most of my landings have been easy on the gear but I've had a few landings that were hard on the main gear mounting area so I ordered a replacement wing set from Tony. I thought real hard about going with the sport wing instead of the trainer wing but I fly from a very short runway (300') so I decided to stick with the big wing. Anyway, the new wing set has a different flap/aileron config verses the original wing set. The flaps are smaller and the aileron does not go all the way to the wing tip, it's about 5 inches from the wing tip.
Has anyone flown this particular big wing set? If so, is there anything I need to know about it compared to the old big wing?
Thanks,
Tom
Has anyone flown this particular big wing set? If so, is there anything I need to know about it compared to the old big wing?
Thanks,
Tom
04-19-2017, 11:16 AM
#437
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You need to balance it 1 inch forward from factory recommended with the big wing. CG is different....that's why mine went in....my new one is balanced 1 inch forward. We'll see in a few weeks.
10-20-2017, 06:57 PM
#441
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If anyone has not yet added servo screws to help secure the wing servo rails to the panel suggest you do. Mine were delaminating from the panel after a few flights. Both wings fly very well but I did move the CG forward to take care of any instabilities. Nice airframe !!
