Woo hoo! Go Mike!!!! If anybody is waiting for Mike to finish their airplane, please have patience. Mike hasn't built anything for himself in a while. It's time. I REALLY want to see what comes out of this...

Mike + Dean - I'm getting a really good vibe from these 2 airplanes. They're almost putting themselves together. Maybe it's because I've finally gone to the Dark Side.

John Pavlick
Team Black Magic, Tech-Aero Designs

Don't worry Mike, I'll be ready for the NATS in 2009...had 2 years to think about this....looking forward to flying a bunch when I'm back in December and January..ahh...south Texas is so nice...

Arch

John,

You came to the light...not the dark side.

If you only knew the power.......

[8D]

-M

Now, thats funny Mike
Bryan

Nicely done....

Arch

very nice.

well the New black magic foamie is done. and has been test flown. and let me tell you, I dont know what I did but this is the best flying one yet. here are some pics.

Chris
Team Black Magic

Is that the VF-4? .....

yes it is you should see it do the F-11 sequence. its a breeze! lol

Chris Odom
Team Black Magic

is there a tailwheel detail on the vf3 ????????????????

Mike recommends the MK tail wheel assembly.

Cheers
Jason.

Here is a picture of mine's setup. MK setup is the way to go.

Arch

Thanks for the tail wheel picture, thats what I needed.

Can you tell me the dimension from the axle th the mounting plate? And the dimension between the wheels?

What size wheels should be used?

hey FF....

the MK tailwheel assembly comes complete with the wheel - ready to install. the plate just needs to be the size of the tail wheel mount.

for the main gear most guys are running the large F3A bolly gear or the comp-arf integral gear. with 2 1/4 - 2 1/5 wheels. you can find that gear at the comp arf website....

Bolly small F3A wheel pants are ideal, you can get cheap wheel pants from towerhobbies, the venus 90 wheel pants work and come painted for about 15 bucks.

Hey All,

HAPPY THANKSGIVING !!!!

I wish everybody the best Thanksgiving, since I started this thread a year and a half ago it been fun and a great way to meet many nice people. I hope your all getting ready for the holidays and more importantly the building season. Looks like we will have a fine crop of new Black Magics for 2009 coming out, I'll have 3 new planes for 2009. I also want to thank all my friends for all the support this year. It's been a tough one for my family. I am really looking forward to the new flying season and the 09 Nats.

I am finishing my second VF3 this winter and painting a couple new planes. I am working on a fiberglass super curare and some new foamie designs.

wishing all of you the best holiday!

Dean
Team Black Magic

Thanks on the gear, but what is comp-arf ? I tried www.comp-arf.com and get nothing?

I found the site but went through all the accessories and never found the gear? Can you tell me the dimensions and I will make my own.

Look under the integral. Look under spare parts to the left. Can't miss it.

-M

http://www.composite-arf.com.hk/ar/Product?700409

Chris Odom
Team Black Magic

It's time to wake this thing up again.

Larry

yes please!

handglider, i'm hoping you'll get back into it & show us the rest of your build (wings, rc install maybe) that you started here. i miss reading about it & seeing how you guys do things.

maybe slightly ot, but mike's forum on finishing recommends sealing balsa with balsarite before fibreglassing. no-one in australia seems to be importing it anymore, and as it's a "dangerous substance", getting it posted here is nigh impossible (unless you know someone with a fast rowboat...). anyone here prepared to recommend something similar, that will also be ok weightwise? i'm thinking diluted pva (white) glue.

all the best, dave

Dope works.

Cheers
Jason.

Dave,

I'm not sure what you have available in Australia, but you want something to seal the wood that is lite. With the resin thin the balsa will absorb some of the resin and causing the addition of extra weight. I'm hoping Dean, Mike or someone can chime in with other sudjestions where you live or give other ideas. Maybe clear dope or something like that, but not sure if that's the best idea.

Larry

Hi Dave,

I have to apologize as I did take a break from posting. But brother I will be more than happy to crank things up here. Things got a little bit weird this summer and that was a shame.

i am sure you could use something else to replace the balsarite, maybe hairspray, maybe thinned out clear dope, maybe a thinned urethane, all your doing is sealing the wood so not to absorb a lot of resin.

After taking a bit of an extended break this summer I am getting ready to maiden my VF3, she is completely finished, I've been running in the YS 160 and the plane is looking great. I'll get some detail photos of my new plane when I get a chance. There is a great chance that I'll have her at the field this weekend.

I am building a second VF3 that will be all paint this winter, I am going to do my best to push this new plane way over the top in every regard.

My wife and I visited Adelaide 4 years ago, we spent 3 months in Australia, we drove all the way round from Sydney, we talk about that trip all the time and really want to come back. I was in your country competing in the hang gliding world championship that your great country hosted in 2005 - My highlight was launching off Mt. Buffalo at 1700 meters and flying 160 KM cross country in the Australian Alps and second highlight was camping for 5 days at Wilsons Promontory. We love your country !!!!

Hey what is the job market like right now? Really I am looking and moving to Australia would be AWESOME !!!!!

stay tuned dave,

regards, dean