ZK BAP

Hi Martin. bending the wheels forward is also achieving the same effect, but looks a bit funny. you are right about the tail bouncing. To keep the looks right shifting the U/C forward that wee bit will solve any nose overs. We mostly fly on grass, so it seemed the logical way to go. Of course if you are lucky enough to have an asphalt or concrete runway it will not be a problem. My C of G is as per plan, but the back end is incredibly light, so any resistance on the main wheels caused a nose over.

Yes ten to fifthteen will be fine it just shifts the weight more onto the gear and will prevent the nose over issue

Hi David, after the 2nd broken cowl I moved my U/C forward simply by placing another block forward of the original ones removing portions of the ribs along the way. Since then I have not had any nose overs. Like you say, may be best to wait but is a certainly a mod worth looking at. Another thing to add that is also a bonus is a steerable tail wheel. This can be done by using the rudder and having a piece of wire protruding straight through to the bottom and placing an arm on the existing one and simply linking them up by means of an adjustable coupling. I am currently helping a mate build his one and he is very lucky to have all the heads up so things are being modded as we build. We are putting a 91 four stroke in it so we have also beefed up where required as he wants the speed and vertical performance. What engine choice have you gone with by the way? Key factor is to keep the back end as light as possible. I would also recommend either a dual elevator push rod ( one for each side ) or more stiffer wire joiner as the slave side tends to get pushed back under high speed making loops not so straight. my one has a 61 four stroke in it and goes very well, but I have managed to get Brian Borland to get me another kit which I will start after we finish my mates, and I too will be using a 91 four stroke. Also make sure you have plenty of air going through the cowl as the heat tends to make the ABS cowl go brittle. Cheers for now Regards ZK BAP

There is one thing I was going to mention to you David, and that is during the build ( may be too late now but could still be done ) is to move the U/C mounts about 10mm forward as the plane is prone to 'nose overs' on landings, especially on rough grass strips. The real one was also prone to this a wee bit. If you dont want any broken cowls ( I have replaced mine 3 times ) then moving the mounts solves the problem. I know it is not quite scale in doing so, but is hardly noticeable and more practical for the average strip. Oh and I have just posted a note on washout too on my thread if it is of any help. Regards ZK BAP MFNZ11300

Yes Martin and Colin are right. Washout is built into the wing to stop tip stalling. This is done by placing the wing panel on the building board flat along the main spar and a 6.5mm packer is put under the rear tip spar and a 2.5mm packer placed under the root rear spar. This should not be forgotten when building the wing as it greatly improves the slow flying characteristics and prevents the nasty tip stall that can sneak up on you on a slow approach. Also because the wing is similar to a spitty, ( hence ' poor mans spitfire ' ) the aircraft is quite aerobatic, but because the pointy tips have been replaced with blunt ends it is much more predictable whereas the spitfire was designed to be thrown around in dog fights. The chippie was designed as a trainer. I have seen many spitfire models destroyed on landing due to a too slow approach resulting in a tip stall only meters above ground level which is almost impossible to rectify at that height resulting in matchwood. The trick is to get both wings exactly the same with washout or the aircraft will constantly want to pull one direction. This must be done during the building of the wing and not simply 'twisted' using the covering to hold its position. If done that way you end up with twisted wings from root to tip and no washout as to say. I can slow my one down on landing so much so that a three pointer is very easy to achieve safely at nothing more so than a fast walking pace. Bear in mind to keep the weight down too. This will ensure a never ending glide when power is pulled back. The flaps are also very effective and I recommend everyone build flaps into their chippie. You will kick yourself in the future if you choose to not put flaps on. luckily the kits we have sent now come with laser cut parts for the flap addition, making building the wing much more enjoyable. Regards ZK BAP MFNZ 11300

Hi John. Wing incidence on a chippie should be 2 deg. The Airsail plan is quiet accurate and shows a positive incidence. All chippies I build have the 2 deg and fly superb. Im not sure what the other plans out there show, but I would still be inclined to put the 2 deg in, just to be safe. regards ZK BAP

Yep 2 deg is correct for wing same as a spitty

Hi David, great to see another kiwi building a kiwi made plane. I have built one a few years ago and use it every weekend at the field down here in NZCH for the last 3yrs with no accidents ( apart from a small pits incidence which was not my fault ) and flies very well indeed. I think the Airsail lans are very accurate scale wise and the strakes are important as mentioned above. I have a few build blogs and pics of most Airsail planes I have built on this site. Colin, thanks for the invite for the Greenacres airshow, but I don't think I will be able to make it Im sorry. I am currently on holiday in Orewa, north of Auckland so too far away to upload some pics for David on the other chippie I am currently building for my mate. I also have another one in a box ready to go as soon as I have finished my Auster AOP9. If demand is there after the 40 kits arrive ( due Nov I believe ) I may be able to convince Brian Borland from Airsail to maybe do another production run in the near future. We shall have to see. I know of one last kit here for sale in NZ. After that goes there will possibly be no more. Sorry for being sparse on post as of lately I have moved house and taken some time out. Hope to catch up with you guys when I return home. Cheers and happy building Regards ZK BAP MFNZ 11300

As far as we understand the kits are somewhere between China and UK. The importer is trying to get a more precise delivery date, but sounds not too far away. Just to 'chip in' I have also managed to wangle a kit out of Airsail so i can build another one. this time i have a 91fs to put in. i dont know when i will start the kit as i already have two others on the build. Took my one out for the first time in four weeks due to moving house, but after many attempts to start the 61fs was left returning home. Once home i pulled the cowling off to find a simple fuel filter was blocked causing no fuel to get to the carb. My own doing as i should of pre run it the day before after sitting for so long. never the less, i have a few weeks up my sleeve now so will be heading back to the field as the weather improves. On another note, my mates chippy that he is building in my hangar is at the stage where he has now sheeted the wing with the washout in etc and will hopefully be starting the fuse next week. will try and get some more pics. His build blog was published in our national magazine last month model flying nz. Sorry for being sparse as i have been unpacking boxes and fighting with tv aerials etc due to the move. Will keep you posted. Cheers ZK BAP

Martin, i managed to get my mates scales and weighed mine again. I was not too far out as it came in at 2.69kg with no cowling or fuel Fuel tank is 600ml dubro so a full tank will bring it up a bit. Using a foam tail wheel also helps in keeping the tail weight down.

Made these simple little things up pretty quickly and easily. Will be useful when displaying at air shows. They look the part at least lol

The first set of flaps and ailerons have been built and shaved and just tacked ready for the big twisting exercise for washout. Top sheeting will then go on. Each panel is done on its own and left to really let things dry. Work and family has keep busy days so not much progress so far. But still 'chippin' away at her lol. This is the gee gee to pull her. FS91ar. lovely little 15cc four.