Mein Duff

Pete, glad to see your long project completed and beautifully detailed...and she is a beauty !
Wishing you many years of accident free and fun flying...what's your next project??

Rocketman612

My Feedback: (85)

Thanks,

I purchased the AT502B 100 in WS short kit and plans from Team Duster last year at the Perry Swap Meet. I'd like to make it a gasser if possible vs the Moki 180. I also have plans to do a 1/5 He-100. In the short term I'm going to do some maintenance on the fleet.

http://www.teamduster.com/at502b100.html


Pete

Gremlin Castle

My Feedback: (14)

In regard to the control throws no I did not change them. If the cg is in the proper range the elevator is not that sensitive, nor are the ailerons and rudder. What I did do was mix in about 25% rudder with the ailerons on a switch. This allows for scale turns when flying race track patterns at large fly in events plus it makes the rolls into a barrel as opposed to a very axial roll that modern aerobatic aircraft demonstrate. This thing will do a pretty decent axial roll if that is you want but somehow the barrel roll seems a little more in keeping with it's time.

Rocketman612

My Feedback: (85)

Successful Maiden


Well the weather was about as good as it gets for February in lower Alabama low 60's with light winds. I had cycled the Duralite battery earlier in the week as I didn't want to fly on the first charge. The G62 started right up and we adjusted the idle to 2k with great transition. Taxied out and slowly advanced the throttle. With good speed she lifted off with no problem. We had a quartering crosswind and I let her weathervain into it but will use more rudder in future flights. Got up 3 mistakes high and trimmed her out with some up elevator and left aileron. This plane is rock solid in the air and tracks very well. I felt the aileron throws are suboptimal as it took awhile to roll inverted and do a split S. I'm going to increase the throw by 10% for the next flight. A few low passes and inverted flight went well, The CG is spot on with some down elevator needed. Lined up the for landing reducing power to 1/4 throttle on final then to idle when in ground effect. She bled off speed well with a nice flare she rested on the mains with just a slight bounce. All in all she is a keeper with a great presence in the air. Here are some photo's. My family took some video with their digital cameras and will post that later.

Thanks to everyone who tagged along from the beginning. Deeply appreciate the tips and feedback as they contributed to a great flying model.

Pete

mrwad

My Feedback: (4)

Doesn't get any better than that, Pete !

Congratulations !!!

Don

Mein Duff

Awesome Pete....glad to get that first one behind you I bet... You D'man

rcfrey

My Feedback: (4)

Awesome Pete. I'm glad I didn't miss it. Congrats!

LarsL

Well Pete, congratulations are very much in order. Your plane looks great in the air. I've been following along since the beginning and posted a comment or two noting the extraordinary nature of your build. It is nice to see the build come to full fruition. So many builds sort of die on the vine but yours never petered out (pun intended). You were clearly taking your time to get it right and the effort was well worth it.

Lars

Rocketman612

My Feedback: (85)

Thanks fellas,

As I said before there were several times that finishing was in serious doubt due to health issues. The kind words and interest in the build here helped keep me motivated to finish. Being able to finish it and fly was truly a gift from above. As promised here is the link for the YouTube video.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKv8qS5J2P8

Don't know how to embed the video in the post[&o]

Pete

Mein Duff

Thanks for the video Pete, she looks like the rock of Gibraltar in the air..rock solid...I was also just viewing Weddel Williams flying the real thing back then....those were the days !. Nice to see all that hard work and dedication paying off for you..also one of the nicer maiden flights I've seen!

Gremlin Castle

My Feedback: (14)

Just got back to this thread after several weeks. Congratulations on your maiden flight. I am happy to see another #44 in the air.

If I had my big Stinson done I would think about adding a second one to my fleet but this time as the Gilmore Red Lion paint scheme.

Once again Congrats and many happy flights.

Rocketman612

My Feedback: (85)

My WWR developed a problem regarding air pressure build up in the fuse. I first noticed paint from the pilot head on the canopy despite good clearance. I wrote this off to vibration but a few flights later I noticed the canopy cracked at the rear screw. The fuse hatch was also coming loose. The firewall was cut to account for the muffler and air enters the fuse and builds pressure. I had been looking for ways to vent the fuse without looking bad or compromising strength. I found the solution in a recent RC mag the showed a new product from Valley View, Aluminum cowl vents. The cost shipped was about 17$. I measured and cut the openings in the hatch. Glued ply for the screws, Painted the vents and reassembled. This gives about 4 sq in of exit area for relief of air pressure.

LarsL

Have you noticed a discernable difference yet?

Lars

Mein Duff

What a cool solution and looks great !!

Rocketman612

My Feedback: (85)

LarsL

I just finished the fix and hope to fly her this weekend. We saw the same problem in a friends H9 Yak. The pressure blew the canopy off on the maiden and he had to close off several open areas on his engine box.

Pete

LarsL

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Lars

Rocketman612

My Feedback: (85)

Hello All,
It's been awhile and I hope all had a good Thanksgiving. I got a PM today asking about the WWR as Space Cowboy just scored a NIB kit. Everything is here but I wanted to update. I found that the G62 was not giving me the performance I desired. I have G62's on two other aircraft and they scream. Both of those have Bennett Mufflers on them. So last year I did a test comparing rpm's with the Pitts and the Bennett using Xoar 22x10 and 23x8 props. I found the Bennett gave over 400rpm's better top end than the Pitts and the 22x10 was the better prop.

I fabricated a hatch to cover the part of the firewall removed for the Pitts muffler (post #106). I weighed the mufflers and added weight to the hatch to make up the difference for the lighter Bennett muffler. Will post some photo's tomorrow.

Pete

Rocketman612

My Feedback: (85)

Here are the photo's of closing off the firewall opening where the Pitts muffler was located. I fabricated a hatch out of aircraft ply that has a tongue that extended up behind the firewall. two blind nuts were used so the hex head bolts could secure it. the hatch had to cover the cut away fiberglass. This also eliminated the pressurization of the fuselage that occurred in flight. I added an appropriate amount of weight to compensate for the lighter muffler. There is a layer of gasket material between the layers with some RTV silicone to keep it stable. With the cowl on this area and hatch is still accessible.