David Hardaker

Sam/Owdlad Its good to see a real Lightning built off a genuine plan. I hope all the bits fit . Single aileron servos were normal in those days, how things have changed. I believe the Rom-Air retracts are no longer manufactured. Pity, they were excellent reliable units They used freon gas as power source, happy days..... Looking forward to more pics. David

Geoff My 10 penn'orth. I've flown a few gyro's including a couple of Auto-G's, they fly well and the spin-up works a treat. They'll also withstand the odd rough and tumble "landing" . I suspect any more posts will warn you about disorientation. A friend put contrasting day-glo patches on his gyro fuselage to aid orientation. It did help a bit ! Happy gyro-ing David

It's not a serious aircraft, it doesn't have any rudder pedals !

I think it's the pilots who are unstable !!

We told you you'd fly better on Mode 1....

Some model I stand corrected !!

Vivian, Don't you really mean 500 watt ?? ( it is only a model, isn't it ?) d

Best of luck, Andy . Please don't put a glass panel in it !! David

It's been too quiet for too long... Was it something I said ??!!

I don' t see why not, providing the 2-cell and 3-cell packs are the same mAh capacity......

There was a very skilled WW1 pilot by the name of Armstrong who met his end whilst trying to roll a Sopwith Camel through a hangar

Dylan Very interesting. I also have a box full of engines ! I'd say the AM10 is really an AM15. The 10 had a green-anodised head, the 15 was blue. It's very hard to know how much to ask. I was once after a Frog 50 diesel and saw one at a swop-meet. The asking price made my eyes water ! Best of luck. David ps I did build a KK Snipe and it flew really well. Edited By David Hardaker on 08/06/2015 20:17:45 Edited By David Hardaker on 08/06/2015 20:25:54

Sounds challenging !

"Absolute trust in the instruments needed" I'd have said a healthy distrust would make for a longer life. All my eggs in one basket - I don't go with that .

I'd have thought it was hard enough having to fight the enemy without doing "aircraft development " at the same time !!

The landing looks a bit rapid ! Not to mention the terrifyingly large lumps of cumulo-granitus. I hope the approach radar controller doesn't have a stammer !

Never fly the Mk1 version of anything !

An interesting type to model, quite unique. The real thing wasn't thought out too well in terms of pilot protection in the event of an overturn. An old saying - "never fly the Mk 1 version of anything ! "

51 Have you looked at Outerzone ?? **LINK** D

PE2 Mike Woodhouse Supplies may be of interest to you. **LINK** Latterly I used to attach tissue with dope, but prior to that it was good old tissue paste ! I still have some. (Joy-plane I think) David

The Merlin Flying Club / Group have moved to a new home at Tatenhill airfield. I wish them well at their new home, but it will be a poor second best. Hucknall was a very pleasant (and historic)  airfield and the lads were always pleased to see visiting aircraft. Dropping in there was a pleasure. It's a unforgiveable to have lost the airfield, only to become "little boxes". David H   Edited By David Hardaker on 14/05/2015 19:46:52

A pair of Hitec HS82's would do nicely. Good resolution and small enough to hide in the wing. That's my 10 penn'orth ! Keep going....

CS Looks good so far. The Extra wing planform is the way to go. I note you suggest using a centrally mounted aileron servo... For me, I'd go for a servo in each wing, especially if the ailerons are on the large side. No worries about installing torque rods which can be a faff. Also the linkages will be more rigid. Keep going ! D

Lindsay As the original designer of the Lightning in the mid 1970's I would say the alleged "mystery model" is a Flair Super Lightning. Flair did a few alterations to my basic design, one being to house a tuned pipe in the fuselage, hence the upright engine. The Flair version of Lightning also used a rolled ply fus instead of balsa sheet and block for the decking and canopy (too expensive). The tailplane originally had anhedral, unlike the Flair model. Wing and tailplane tips are slightly different. As to the inspiration for Lightning, this came from the 1971 R/C World Championships in Doylestown where, before the competition started, we watched Tony Bonetti do a blistering demo flight with his Troublemaker, complete with unsilenced 60 up front. Brilliant ! I had to have something similar. When I took the first Lightning to a competition its distinctive looks raised a few eyebrows. When I flew it, it also raised some eyebrows !! David H         Edited By David Hardaker on 11/05/2015 13:53:29

The post incident paperwork might take a few goes to make it look convincing.... Edited By David Hardaker on 07/05/2015 20:11:48