chistech

Well, we've only got over 3' of snow on the ground so no flying of warbirds with retracts! LOL I originally intended to put stops in the OLEOs so I wouldn't mess up the gear doors by hitting the ground when the struts worked under load. These past couple of days I decided and changed to two piece gear doors with the lower section attached to the lower strut so it will move with the lower strut through it's complete stroke.

Made up a couple of wheel collars ground to the correct angle and soldered on a brass strip. I mounted the bottom edge of the door to the brass strip with small 2/56 screws and the collar on the wheel axle. The upper screw goes through the outside of the door, then through a piece of nylon as a spacer which also acts like thread locker on the screw and into the lower strut tube. The lower door's upper edge is set up just proud of the upper door's lower edge at the separation point. Right now they appear to work good and once I'm able to finally maiden it, I'll know for sure. Hurry up Spring!

chistech

Been waiting for all things for a 13x6 prop. I like the Evolution props and it seems they are out of stock still so I got a MA to put on it. I also put a 6v 2400 NiMh pack in and with it on mount right on the main spar area, it balanced right on the recommended mark without any additional weight. I fueled it up and started it. It ran pretty darn perfect without much adjusting then gave me an issue. Turns out the fuel line I used in the tank had broken at the fitting so I was getting air bubbles at the 1/2 empty mark.

Some quick dis-assembly, some new fuel line, and then it was back together. I ran it full bore until it ran out of fuel. It died at the 14:58 mark so that's pretty good with an 10ounce tank. Our field has been rolled and I'm just waiting for the monsoon winds to calm down to maiden it. Got some shots of it in the good sunlight finally. Hope to get it airborne sometime this week.

chistech

Finally got the weather and time to go to the field this afternoon. Flew a couple other of my scale planes to loosen up the fingers for this year and decided to take up the George. Started it up and let it warm real good checking throttle transition. It's warmer today so I had to open the needle a few clicks but that was it. Taxied it down the runway, pointed it into the wind (about 8mph SW) and throttled it up. It tracks super nice down the runway and comes tail up pretty quickly. Very easy to keep it on the runway to gain speed and then it kind of just leaves the ground on it's own. Left the gear down for a minute or two while I was getting the feel for her. Then it was gear up and everything tucked up nice and clean.
Flight performance is excellent with very high maneuverability and low throws. Slow speed it showed no bad tendencies and a few minutes I realized it loaded up some and it went dead as I was coming across the runway. Didn't even drop the gear, just kept the nose up slightly and it touched down perfectly on it's belly with no damage at all. Fueled it back up and adjusted the needle a couple clicks and took it back up.
Another perfect scale like takeoff and a ten minute flight. Loops, rolls, and most everything it like it's on rail. Very little stick movement is needed. While the plane isn't light, it doesn't fly like it's heavy. On landing approaches airspeed bleeds off fast and I found I has to slightly increase the throttle but no bad characteristics were to be found. Touched it down on the mains perfectly with half flap down and taxied it out.
I have to say Mr. Tangiku designed a beautiful building, looking, and flying kit. Even with all the modifications and scale appointments the flying of this plane was not affected. The Saito .65 FS is a perfect engine for this plane at the 6.75lbs. The HK electric retracts and the VK struts worked excellent. All in all a very good day. Got some video but it's not much or not that good.

scale only 4 me

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Awesome, Ted,, Have fun with it