Hi all,

See pics. I was just working on doing some recovering of my wings on my WH 30%/50cc bird when one of my aileron linkages came apart in my hand. [X(] I was confused and shocked as I had flown these wings on my airplane just yesterday. Thinking what might have happened [:'(] made me go check the other wing and it had the same sort of issue! Checking the other two on the original Edge wings (which I have flown for a full season plus) showed them to be fine. I don't have a clue what would have caused the failures... I'm more than willing to think it is something I did, either when assembling these this last winter or perhaps during transport... The new set have not had wing bags on them and those linkages could easily be hit on something but I have most often had them on the back seat in the truck which is padded so not really sure.

Anyway, not placing blame or trying to badmouth Tom's products... on the contrary I love the way my Edge flies now that I've converted it to a Slick 540 with the new wings... thus why I was working to recover them in something that will match my Red/White/Black color scheme!! [8D]

At this point I just want to preach some caution... Check those linkages and look closely for hairline cracks and such along the areas where mine broke. Hopefully this will save someone an airplane!

I am planning to replace with 2 of the same type from the remainder I have for an unbuilt WH I have handy and I will keep a close eye on those to see if they do better. These that broke came from that same batch. I will certainly check all the similar linkages closely before I fly in the future. Will keep you posted.

Anyone else had this happen??

Hi

Great post and a timely reminder for all of us to check out hinges and horns - regardless of brand.
I do remimber reading something in an Australian RC mag of a simular failure - but I dont think it was from a wildhare product.
My only concern looking at the linkage is the rebate in the horn to accomodate the counter sunk screw. Is that what's creating the weak point?
I use the same type of horn (Dubro I think) but there is no recess and no counter sunk screw - it just bolts through using a 4/40 bold and nut.

Possibly from screwing them down on the shaft with the linkage arm? Stressed?
Just a thought...........

It could be from cinching the screws/nuts down too tight on the ball. In fact, they shouldn't be tight at all, really, just tight enough that there is no slop. The locknut will hold them in. The heads on those screws are countersink heads, and if they go just a bit too far, they'll be pushing out on the pan of the horn, trying to expand it, and could cause a crack that way.

Just a theory.

-Pat

We do not make the control horns, we buy them from various sources.

If you are having problems I am happy to replace the control hoprns if I have them. At the moment I am out, will be getting some more in a few weeks.

TF

Thanks for the offer Tom, may take you up on it when I call in my next order. I need a pilot for my Edge anyway so might call you for one of those sometime soon. Probably, I'll wait 'till you have some horns and ask you to throw a couple in the package. So far the replacements have done fine so just a bad pair or perhaps I overtightened... I'll be mindful of that, just in case. Don't think I did but hey, I've slept since then and I have done a dumb thing or two in the past!

Once again just want to stress what a great airplane the Slick variant is to fly. I was a bit worried that it wouldn't live up to the Edge layout but for what I do most of the time (precision aero and IMAC type flying mostly) it's even better! Flying these two planes (Well, same plane with 2 wing sets) has given me the confidence to pull out the Baby Edge (120 size with a 28cc on it) and push the envelope a bit more as it reacts pretty similarly to the full size edge and I am getting to where I trust myself and the airplane to be able to "escape" if I foul up a manuever... provided I leave a bit of altitude to play with!

Another note of interest is that the Slick Wings (Extra 300 Wings I believe??) are actually 8oz EACH lighter than the Edge wings. Between that and the shape difference I've also needed to shed some nose weight which I could easily do as I had far more battery than needed. Did that just because I won't add lead to a plane... weight is always useful for something! The net-net is that my airplane is also now about 1-1/4 to maybe 1-1/2 pound lighter which of course makes it fly EVEN better!

Did I mention.. .LOVE the Slick!!!