Siemens Schuckart D1 Maiden Flight
08-30-2005, 10:23 PM
#1
Siemens Schuckart D1 Maiden Flight
It flies!
After much last minute (more like 5 hours) tweaking. Billy Thompson flew my 1/4 scale Siemens Schuckart D1 on it's maiden flight Sunday. Prior to the second flight, we found that a rudder hinges had become loose, and called it a day. Yes, I chickend out and didn't feel comfortable making the first flight myself. This was the first time I'd ever built anything like this. Plus, Bill has built and flown two of these (as Nieuport 17s) and I felt he'd be more likely to save the plane if there was real problem. I also wanted his assessment of power and flight behavior of mine compared to his.
Billy's assessment was that it may be a little underpowered (Ryobi 31cc that wasn't delivering the RPMs it had the day before), but otherwise flew great!
A few other small issues need to be resolved and, hopefully, I'll get some stick time in this holiday weekend.
There are still a number of detail issues to address. Install the gun, add the "spyder" framework to cowl, spinner, pilot, etc.
The last picture is the line up Sunday of my SSWD1, Art Shelton's captured Nieuport 17 and Billy Thompson's Italian 17. All from kits cuts from Scratch-A-Plans. [link=http://www.bealmear.com/dawn_patrol/nieuport_17.htm]Nieuport Project page.[/link]
Many thanks to Art Shelton, Steve Percifield and (of course) Billy for their help. And to Rhonda Shelton for getting some great pictures. And the biggest thanks goes to my very patient wife Kathy, for her patience with me as maiden flight time grew near. I am a "Lucky Dog!"
After much last minute (more like 5 hours) tweaking. Billy Thompson flew my 1/4 scale Siemens Schuckart D1 on it's maiden flight Sunday. Prior to the second flight, we found that a rudder hinges had become loose, and called it a day. Yes, I chickend out and didn't feel comfortable making the first flight myself. This was the first time I'd ever built anything like this. Plus, Bill has built and flown two of these (as Nieuport 17s) and I felt he'd be more likely to save the plane if there was real problem. I also wanted his assessment of power and flight behavior of mine compared to his.
Billy's assessment was that it may be a little underpowered (Ryobi 31cc that wasn't delivering the RPMs it had the day before), but otherwise flew great!
A few other small issues need to be resolved and, hopefully, I'll get some stick time in this holiday weekend.
There are still a number of detail issues to address. Install the gun, add the "spyder" framework to cowl, spinner, pilot, etc.
The last picture is the line up Sunday of my SSWD1, Art Shelton's captured Nieuport 17 and Billy Thompson's Italian 17. All from kits cuts from Scratch-A-Plans. [link=http://www.bealmear.com/dawn_patrol/nieuport_17.htm]Nieuport Project page.[/link]
Many thanks to Art Shelton, Steve Percifield and (of course) Billy for their help. And to Rhonda Shelton for getting some great pictures. And the biggest thanks goes to my very patient wife Kathy, for her patience with me as maiden flight time grew near. I am a "Lucky Dog!"
08-30-2005, 10:55 PM
#3
RE: Siemens Schuckart D1 Maiden Flight
Congratulations on a successful maiden, Mike! It's great to see these flying as it gives me a bit of hope for my own N.11 and N.17. Unfortunately, I'll have to maiden mine myself because my radio is set up for mode 2 while everyone in my Japanese club are mode 1. [&o]
PS. Oh, how I envy you folks with grass fields!
PS. Oh, how I envy you folks with grass fields!
