I could use some help on determining what went wrong. First, it is a world models .60 size Spit. Great plane to build. Took it out for it's maiden flight and only needed 2 clicks of down eleveator for hands off flight. It flew great on the first flight. I never had a warbird with flaps so I was a little nervous at first. It came in like a leaf. Beautiful. I took it up for a second flight and just as I was coming in to land it the plane's nose dropped dramatically. I don't know if I lost the signal temporarily or what. Any way my heart stopped, I got the nose back up, came around for a second approach when it did the same thing. Scared the crappola out of me. Came around for a third and final approach when it did it again, I pulled up on the nose with throttle and lost complete control of the plane with no response. Wham..... nose dive straight into the ground. I did a volt check on the battery and still had plenty of power.... the connections to the receiver were still attached. I am at a loss for an explanation. I fly on frquency 51... with a standard futaba flight pack with standard receiver. Why would I lose the signal? Could that just be a bad frequency in my area? I used it before with no problems. Is the standard futaba reciever crap? Any help would be appreciated. In the meantime I need to order a new fuselage and cowl.

-Webtech

Only you could accurately recall what the nose drop was like. However, regaining control makes me think that it was not a radio issue. From what I read, it sounded like you were bringing it in to slow and kept stalling it, but luckily recovered. The third time it sounds like it stalled again, then with to much up elevator, snapped and went in, giving the impression of a loss of control. Were you coming in at the same speed every time? Was it gusting or pretty calm? Sorry for your loss.

Alex

It was starting to get gusty, but when the nose dropped it didn't seem like I was going that slow. Do you think I could have stalled it? Also, I noticed when you use the flaps it seems as though it really pts a strain on the battery. Is it possible to have too much drain on the battery when you apply the flas that you could lose the signal? Thanks for your input Snownskate69!

-Webtech

The flaps should not put excessive strain on the battery if they move freely. It sounded like the plane came in a little too slow and it stalled.

sounds like a stall to me also.with flaps at full down they create alot of drag and you should still have about 1/4 to 1/2 throttle on the engine depending on size and prop.once over the threshold you cut the power and let it settle down and flair slowwly a few inches above the ground.sounds like you recovered from the stall twice and on the third time by adding elevator before the speed increased it stalled and snapped on you.any time a wing starts to drop or the nose drops during a landing approach it is an early sign of a stall.nose down then add power slowly then ease in elevator.

Warbirds fly different than other types of planes for sure. For example, my U-Can-Do floats in on landing often times I can goose the motor and sort of force it to fly. It does not tip stall and with that big thick airfoil will keep flying when other planes will fall from the sky. My P-40 needed to be flown in a more aggressive manner. more throttle and on landing I needed to keep the throttle idle pretty high then reduce to low when the wheels were just above the deck to land with the mains first.

Richard L has some excellent videos of his different planes and although I don't know him seems to be an exceptional warbird pilot.

Look at some of his threads and watch that video, I pattern my warbird flying after what I watch him and others do. It is truly a more skilled flying.

Can you rebuild you're spit? I am working on my P-40 rebuild, I hope you can get yours back in the air soon.


Tom

I have the exact same plane, and I've had mine almost stop without stalling on me.
My first thoughts on this: Is the balance set per manual? I had mine (GROSSLY) tailheavy and it was real squirrley coming in (and flying for that matter, but managable)

With a RCV 91 4S on the front, it's balanced perfect. I make my last leg, drop flaps with 25% power, and chop it to idle when I'm over the field and it drops slowly to the ground. I just have to keep it level and it hits the mains and rolls out.

The first few flights with it tail heavy, I couldn't get it to come in stable(ly?).

Thank all of you for your input and advice. I just didn't want it to be pilot error. I guess it was though. I am going to rebuild it this week and will get her in the air again. I will take all of your advice and apply it to my next flight. Thanks again.

-Webtech

I will post a pic of the remains and post it here when I get home from work tonight!!!
I crash more fricken warbirds!!! But I love em!


-Webtech

Definitely stalled her. Even though the World Model Spit isn't true scale, you are starting to get into the realm where your models will, or should, exhibit some of the same characteristics as the the 1:1 does. With just about all warbirds, you have to fly them in. Keep power on and fly them in...can't cut the throttle and let them float in like you do with sport planes. Also, do some research on the characteristics of the 1:1, if it had a tendency to drop a wing the model just may do the same thing so you can be ready if it happens. Learn what to expect and what to do if it does...even with that advanced preparation, you may not be ready for it the first time or two it happens. But don't look to blame your TX or RX or batteries...remember what happened, and how you got out of it the frist couple of times, try to remember what was different about the third time? When I have a mishap, I try to remember all the details that I can, and I will replay it in my head along with my reactions...if you do this enough, things almost become second nature, and after a while, you don't have to think about what to do, you will instinctively react to the situation. Finally, not all warbirds react the same to the similar situations. So with that in mind, doing your homework and knowing what to expect pays off in the long run.
Also, I haven't flown a Spit in a long time, but if memory serves, they like to drop a wing in a stall if you get too slow.
Just my 2 cents,
Rob / Katchmarek

I've got a similar sized Spit, it is an old PICA Spit, 65" span and ASP .61 in the nose and has flaps. Mine does similar things if I am not careful. I find that what helps me is to drop the gear into wind the peel off for the downwind leg reducing power to about 1/3 then lower flaps and retrim for level flight.

Turn to base and reduce power then onto finals by this time just a few clicks of power and trim for slightly nose high attitude. If I let the nose drop below 5 degrees it is a pig and will dive for the ground but as long as it is trimmed slightly nose high it is sweet to land. I just jockey the thottle then cut it when only a few inches off the deck. The flaps pull it up for gentle 3 pointers.

I have made the mistake in past on take off of wrenching it off too soon which gives high AOA, low airsped and results in violent snaps and roll into the deck. Very similar to what you experienced.

I don't think it is aradio problem but more a landing technique and could be CofG too. Spits are very sensitive on elevator at the best of times.
cheers
Pete