David Davis 2

Good day gentlemen. For the past three years I have been trying to teach my Belgian friend Frans how to fly. We have been using three aircraft: two vintage models, a Junior 60 and a Radio Queen both electric powered and the club's Seagull Boomerang powered by an OS46AX. Three weeks ago I thought I had succeeded when Frans soloed the Radio Queen for the first time. Since then he has flown the Radio Queen three times and crashed it twice on take-off. I think that the first crash was caused by him trying to haul the model off the ground with inadequate speed. It stalled and was extensively damaged. Yesterday we had three flights with the model. I test-flew it to check that all was well after the repairs and apart from a few adjustments of trim the model flew splendidly. We then rebound the receiver to Frans's transmitter because he is Mode 1 and I am Mode 2. He managed to take off but when in the air he seemed to use inputs which were too coarse as the model was zooming about the sky in an uncontrolled manner. I talked him into reducing power and then he managed to fly the thing normally once things had calmed down and he affected a good landing. On the next take-off the model veered off to the left and ended up in a tree. We were able to retrieve it with a bamboo pole in the undercarriage but at the last minute it slipped free of the pole and crashed to the ground causing more extensive damage. Learning to fly is not a linear process but it appears that Frans is going backwards and losing confidence. When I was learning I cannot recall having a problem with taking off. You pushed the stick forward watched the model accelerate, waited for the tail to start flying, a little more speed, then a dab of up elevator if necessary and it's airborne but I had a free flight and control-line background so had some understanding of basic aerodynamics something which modern beginners do not have. We plan to meet up on Saturday and fly the Boomerang. The weather forecast is good but the club is holding an EGM In the morning so we may expect a fair turnout. Non-flying pilots sit out in nice weather about thirty metres from the runway. If one of Frans's take-offs goes pear shaped I fear that someone could be injured. So what's the solution? Back to the buddy box? Another instructor? I have been a club-level instructor for over twenty-five years but I am at my wit's end in this situation.

I may well try running my OS 52FS Surpass on the new low oil Laser fuel. If it goes off bang, I have a spares engine damaged in a crash which I could use for internal parts. It might give me an edge in La Coupe Des Barons! They're planning on having all of the four strokes compete in the same group this year, the sound of up to ten four strokes in the air at the same time could be very pleasant. However, I'll continue to run my old Lasers on 15% oil mix. The new low oil fuel certainly generates less oil residue. I use it with a Laser 70 in an Acrowot and a Laser 80 in a large Kadet Senior ARTF clone.

There are now no beginners at my club but the last two, who must have had their first flights four years ago both said, "It's not as easy as it looks is it!" And that was when there was no wind with a very stable model. It's just like riding a bike. Once you've learned you never forget.

Keep going Neddy, one day everything will fall into place. It's only a matter of experience and the wind didn't help.

...then there was a clubmate who built a large Druine Turbulent powered by the biggest MDS obtainable. It threw a rod on it's maiden flight! Ok it might not have been the maiden flight but you get my drift...

I think that you may go through a couple of phases before you pass your A Certificate. 1. Flying with the instructor on the buddy box gradually working up to all of the manoeuvres that are involved in the A Certificate. 2. Flying the model by yourself but with your instructor, or some other qualified person who flies the same mode, standing by your side ready to grab the transmitter. Many clubs adopt this practice.

Thank you.

Can somebody please explain what Open TX and Edge TX mean and what the difference is between the two?

I'm with Stuart. I dislike installing the radio but I also dislike hinging the control surfaces. I have a DB Sport & Scale Auster which was given to me at least ten years ago, it only needs the canopy glazing to be fitted and the radio installing and it's ready for its maiden flight. I also have a Galaxy Models Mystic in the same condition which I bought as a quick build project four years ago! A club colleague has made an excellent job of spraying the Auster's cowling and Carbon Copy are sending me a white fibre glass undercarriage for the Mysic. When it arrives I'll have no excuses!

I asked the same question on "Glow Nation," on a well-known social media site. My post has been moved "lower in the feed" because it appears to incite violence! I promise you that I am not making this up! Big Brother is indeed watching you. "We moved one of your posts lower in Feed. David John DavisGlow Nation odnSeorspt7i6uhh10113ufh2gguig4m00c1a2iu671m5c646fgtg9t21c52 · Most of my four-stroke engines audibly lose a few revs when I remove the glow igniter from the glow plug on start up, otherwise they run perfectly. Does this mean that I have the low speed needle set too rich? After having used glow engines for over fifty years I really should know the answer to this question! What happened Our technology showed that this post looks like others that go against our Community Standards for Violence and incitement. We don't allow people on Facebook to share content that leads to a genuine risk of physical harm, or a direct threat to public safety"

Murray Grey cross Friesien?

Most of my four-stroke engines audibly lose a few revs when I remove the glow igniter from the glow plug on start up, otherwise they run perfectly. Does this mean that I have the low speed needle set too rich?

Good Morning EGB! Just Engines offer a range of silencers, either standard or "quiet," which will suit your engine. In order to be sure, just measure the distance between centres of the mounting holes, dimesion "c" on the drawing. They claim that their silencers with 35mm between the bolt holes will fit an OS engine which has 35.5 mm spacing. https://www.justengines.co.uk/product-category/exhaust-systems/two-stroke-exhausts/standard-mufflers/?v=11aedd0e4327 A range of special exhausts is available to order from Weston UK. I had one made for an SC 32 and it is very impressive though they are more expensive than a standard silencer. https://www.westonuk.co.uk/Genesis-Pipes/

A friend had one of the RCV CDs in a Puppeteer. It was quite reliable and flew the Puppeteer well enough but I've heard that these engines are not very powerful compared with poppet valve four-strokes and I can't remember what size it was. A Puppeteer would fly very well on an OS 48. I own three HP VT four-strokes which I really ought to sell. These use a disc valve for the intake and exhaust function. They certainly lack power compared with a poppet valve four-stroke.

I concur with all of the advice proffered so far. Nearly all of my models are fitted with four stroke engines and you won't go wrong with an OS or Saito engine but I've also had good service from engines produced by Thunder Tiger ASP, SC and Magnum. These manufacturers no longer make engines though I've had no problem finding spares for them. Then there's Laser of course...