steve jones 7

Nice to se the post from Dave Hardaker. He was my inspiration when I was struggling with cheap radio gear and lack of help. (there's no such thing as cheap radio gear - I finally submitted and bought Skyleader - never looked back). A long, long time ago I was up on Baildon moor and Dave was flying there, it was the field by the farm, which soon after became forbidden territory for flying. I think it might have been a Kwik fly or something similar - we used to call that layout 'A Shovel' in Hanworth Airpark MAC. Dave had a mate with him who had a big dog - maybe a setter. Dave astounded me by flying in circles about 20 ft in diameter or less, and about 6 ft above the dog's head, while they (dog and aeroplane) were 20 or 30 yards away. Couldn't believe it! Years before, when I was a kid still messing about with rubber power and the Veron Cardinal, I watched Stewart Uwins fly his Uproar and then, while watching an unknown bloke flying his single channel Junior 60 lookalike, I was privileged to see the 'Dalesman' being practice flown by it's original team. On another day I saw the Mercury Aeronca with it's radio PC board complete with valve suspended on 4 elastic bands inside the cockpit. Happy days! Anyone hear from Dave Nieman nowadays? another Hanworth guy who, with Clive Weller, finally got me to the stage where I didn't have to take my plane home in a paper bag every outing! This is a great thread - brings back all sorts of memories. Cheers Steve Jones

I'm new to this technology. It seems to me that there is an unsafe condition lurking in a very complex array of hardware and software issues which could end up killing somebody. Neither the manufacturers, suppliers or 'power users' of the equipment seem able to agree what the problem is. The average buyer/operator (me) wuold have no idea what he has bought. The operator of the equipment acquires it in good faith and is first in line of responsibility for its use.... who will the lawyers come after? seems to me someone needs to get a grip on these problems.In full size aviation the CAA watches for the problems and demands that whoever is responsible takes appropriate action, if necessary restricting use of equipment to ensure it will not fail fatally. Who is responsible here?

found some pictures...

Hi guys. Just browsing this topic and saw a picture of Clive Weller. I knew him bakc in the early '70's when he flew for Flight Link - Idris Francis's outfit. I bought one and Clive was one of those who helped me learn to fly. Another one was Dave Nieman - we all used to fly at the Hanworth Airpark Model Flying Club of which I was a founding member, albeit a raw beginner. Clive used to roll up with his model sticking out of the top of an Isetta bubble car. I think the Capricorn was the best looking of the old classic aerobatic models. I built one up from a set of bits I got from the man himself and it did wonders for my aerobatic flying. Good to see the oldies are stil popular. Another personal favourite is the Mustfire. Whatever happened to Keith Maundrell? he was a real hot dogger when the term hadn't been invented. He flew a Kwik Fly III, and many a time took off, rolled inverted, ditd the whole flight inverted and landed out after rolling upright at the last minute. He did fly for Skyleader for a while and then I moved abroad and lost touch. Clive, if you are out there, Hi from me! Steve Jones

Just an update to all who replied and helped me out with my Imax B6AC charger. I have now completed my aircraft, itself a new experience because for the first time I used fibreglass to glass in a false floor to strap the battery to with velcro. All went well. I have flown many times now, sadly there is a warp in the wing which requires a significant amount of trim to fly straight. Oddly it doesn't seem to affect the set trim of the aircraft. In previous experience trimming out a warp was only good for one airspeed. Faster and it would go one way, slower and it would go the other. This one seems to be quite steady regardless of speed. Caught a few thermals and am enjoying flying again. gaining experience with the electrics and am now up to 16 minutes on the tranny timer. At that I'm still on 11.34 v on landing. should get better with better weather and thermal activity, should be able to throttle right back for longer flights. Have written up a full set of instructions for charging lipo batteries eiththe imax in what I consider to be proper english. If anyone is interested, let me have some contact details and I'll send. So, thanks again, guys. Steve

OK, Graham - success. just ordered some, thanks Steve

Hi Guys, I'm just finishing an ARTF power glider ehich should have come with hinged surfaces -- they weren't, and no material in the box. I'm looking for the flocked hinges mentioned in this thresd. Can anyone give me a trade name and source of some of this stuff? Graham - I'm off to look st the SLEC site now..... many thanks Steve

Hi guys, Josip, Major, Flyboy and BBC. Thanks for the good words. BBC - is that your TF? did you restore it yourself? Looks good. I had a TD, I'll see if I can find a pic. Then we must get back to aeroplanes! Cheers Steve

Phil Which two wires do you join for a Spektrum DX6i? Thanks Steve

Hi Tim. Amazing resource, this! I'm getting there...... however, not being of the texting generation I don't know what these abbreviations mean, all found in this thread. sorry to be a pain. UBEC - what kind of BEC is that? HTH? IYSWIM???? Is there a glossary page somewhere? Keep up the good work. Steve

Yeah, it's me again... found out how to create an album... hope it's accessible from the forum. Cheers Steve