Flying for Real..

[VEGAS]

Enjoyed that Eddie.. thanks for posting

ATB
DaveB

No probs mate.

You sorted a camera for the bixler yet?

[DaveB]

Yo Eddie

No mate.. not yet and I won't be able to for a while unfortunately. However.. it IS high on my list of things to do Not had any of the models up for over a week now.. getting withdrawal symptoms

ATB
DaveB

[DaveB]

A bit of good luck for a change!

A lovely morning today.. hardly any breeze and clear blues. Got the Bixler out of the shed.. put new batts in the txer and off across the common. During PFC's, I heard a crack.. like something letting go. Immediately looked at the elevator to see if my 'botch' had held and it was fine. The elevator control horn had come away from the elevator! No chance of gluing it there and then so back home. The glider was fully fuelled and ready to go so I grabbed that and walked back over.. thanking my lucky stars that the elevator horn on the Bixler had let go during PFC's and not while in flight.

Perhaps someone up there has finally taken pity on me!
ATB
DaveB

[VEGAS]

Good skills mate. Glad you had luck on your side for a change.

Something many have probably fallen victim to during their flying.

The more I think about it, the more I think that I lost the EZ Hawk to circumstances like this.

As I learn and progress in this hobby, I have started to foresee problems and issues arising before they actually do.

When I flew the Hawk I didn't bother with any PFC's, apart from control surface checks.

I never even inspected them for wear and tear or possible fractures or cracks in the plastic.

[Vc Ten]

Think it will be a while before the cap is flown
Dale

[VEGAS]

Perfect for an Icon A5..

Dale,

Out of interest whats your opinion of your Stryker?

Is it the F-27Q?

I'm giving one of them serious thought now over a Mulitplex FunJet.

[Vc Ten]

I thought the field may be waterlogged but wasnt prepared for that Drove down the lane and could see that the lane was flooded bout 100 yds before getting to our gate into the field The field is about 1ft lower than the lane
The funjet is not for the faint hearted well the ultra anyhow Gets very small very quick its faster than the stryker Dosent fly as slow and difficult to launch The stryker is great I have had at least 3 of the old versions all built up from bare bodies so ive never had a stock one before getting the 27q. The new one is quicker then the old version but that may have something to do with the motor i fitted ( although it was no slouch) I fitted 4 channel control (Rudders) to the last old version but the new one you can make use of them Knife edges are possible Its great it a bit of a blow Once through the initial ground effect stage You can really punch through the wind Landings are no problem just give yourself plenty of distance because she can glide forever
Dale

[DaveB]

I was thinking about the IconA5 or even the SCub on floats

I took the Bixler up this afternoon in a hole in the weather that turned out be not a long as I'd have hoped. Took the anemometer with me and wind across the ground had risen to 10mph plus. Took me two goes to get it low enough to attempt a landing I managed just over 7mins in the air which was more than I'd expected Had the Cat out yesterday for another 6mins of sheer terror

ATB
DaveB

[DaveB]

RIP Gunfighter

Well me hearties.. the run of good luck came to an unceremonious end this morning. Had been wanting to get the P51 out for a few days now and while this mornings weather looked fair to marginal, I decided to give it a go. Winds over the common weren't too bad (sub 5mph) so I launched. Gained a good amount of height then turned right for the first cct. Turned right again running over the other side of the canal and went to turn right again to bring it back but it didn't turn right Instead.. it started going down.. at full chat and despite my best efforts, it went straight in. To this moment, I've no idea what the hell happened
Having brought all the bits back and reconnected them to the rxer, they're all working so why I lost control will remain a mystery. Why would it dive instead of turning right?? I dunno I've flown over that same area many many times.. every day I've flown on that part of the common. Shadowing shouldn't be a problem as I had the 27mhz receiver in The txer was still in low rate.. I'd not had a chance to switch it over.. so everything should have been nice and docile. It almost seemed like control was regained at about 80ft but at that speed and height, there wasn't enough elevator authority to pull out. Perhaps if I'd been on high rate, this would have been different but that's academic now.

Anyway.. having looked at all the bits (and there are a few believe me).. I don't think my old mates epoxy and Foam2Foam can save it this time It's not so much that it's crashed and been written off.. it's the fact I don't know why it did what it did and that's annoying Pilot error I can cope with but this...

I have plenty of spares now though
ATB
DaveB

[NigelC]

Sorry to hear that Dave.