David Davis Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 I've had an interesting day of it. It's been a glorious day here and I went to the flying field with the Penn Models Super 60 and my Telemaster 40, a well-flown electric-powered model dating from the time when I imported Telemasters into Europe. My Telemaster 40, hereinafter T40, is a six-foot trainer with flaps and the flight battery is a socking great 5000 4S Lipo to allow for 20 minute training flights. T40s are so-called because they were originally powered by a 40 two-stroke, and being more of an i/c man I've always half jokingly said I'd fit an engine to it! They are very easy to fly and I was planning to sell it to a club mate who we will call "X." After two flights with the Super 60 and a flight with X's electric powered vintage model, the wings of which were warped to so it wasn't easy to control, we got the T40 out. The first thing which went wrong was that the battery on my DX6i transmitter was low so we couldn't use it, but nil desperandum, we bound my new DX9 to the model. We couldn't get the buddy box system to work either so X suggested that I fly the model and he'd watch. I hadn't allocated a flap switch but when I operated one of the switches the flaps moved to three positions, up, down and halfway. I was keen to try out the flaps as the DX6i has only two flap positions but that never happened either. We attached the wings with four new elastic bands, connected the motor to the ESC, put the model on the runway and I took off. I flew gentle circuits and horizontal figures of eight at first. X was standing next to me drinking coffee, when I said, "It will do basic aerobatics." I put the nose down to demonstrate a loop and I don't think it was going that fast when the wings ripped off! I was now of course, flying a dart. The fuselage plummeted to the ground and the wings took a further 15-20 seconds to flutter down to the next field. I have only ever once seen a model so comprehensively destroyed and that was when a similar thing happened to an eight-foot Senior Telemaster. So what caused the crash? Either I had an inadequate number of bands on the model or there was some stress fatigue in the fuselage which I hadn't noticed. Apparently, the motor is still sound and the wing seems to have survived. My fault anyway. Some pictures of the wreckage and of the T40 in its prime attached. I only wanted £10 for it, less receiver of course. That's one I won't be taking to France! Happy Landings (?) David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernie Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Hi David, I'm sure a wee drop of cyano would soon have it up and going again; ernie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WolstonFlyer Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 It's obvious, it didn't want a new owner so took the only way out! I thought that 6 wing bands was usual? Perhaps that was the problem? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Bennett Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 ooops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Davis Posted May 21, 2014 Author Share Posted May 21, 2014 Posted by WolstonFlyer on 21/05/2014 19:34:41: It's obvious, it didn't want a new owner so took the only way out! I thought that 6 wing bands was usual? Perhaps that was the problem? Maybe... too late now, and you're right WF, X is the worst pilot in the club! Mind you that tailplane doesn't look too bad and the wing's undamaged...build a new fuzz,...strip off all of the covering...recover it in tex....fit an OS 48 Surpass to a Quiet Mount and I've got a nice hack aircraft again. Just the job to wile away those long French winter evenings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martyn K Posted May 22, 2014 Share Posted May 22, 2014 You had a terrorist on board who perished at the time of the incident. You just need to check the evidence.. Martyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggestgerbil Posted May 22, 2014 Share Posted May 22, 2014 David We have had this discussion before. The planet is 25,000 miles around and bright blue and green. How can you not see it?? Is it that hard to miss?? Ioan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Davis Posted May 22, 2014 Author Share Posted May 22, 2014 Ah but I don't usually hit it so hard when the wings are attached! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris basson Posted May 22, 2014 Share Posted May 22, 2014 It'll fix David! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken anderson. Posted May 22, 2014 Share Posted May 22, 2014 it didn't want to go to France......and who can blame it(Pete b) territory etc.....thank god for the channel...I say... ken Anderson ne.....1..international dept. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted May 22, 2014 Share Posted May 22, 2014 Only four bands!!!???? Why am I not suprised? Six very tight ones is minumum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete B Posted May 22, 2014 Share Posted May 22, 2014 Posted by ken anderson. on 22/05/2014 17:14:25: it didn't want to go to France......and who can blame it(Pete b) territory etc.....thank god for the channel...I say... Looking forward to seeing you at Greenacres next month, Ken....... Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken anderson. Posted May 22, 2014 Share Posted May 22, 2014 Posted by Pete B - Moderator on 22/05/2014 21:26:55: Posted by ken anderson. on 22/05/2014 17:14:25: it didn't want to go to France......and who can blame it(Pete b) territory etc.....thank god for the channel...I say... Looking forward to seeing you at Greenacres next month, Ken....... Pete ............................................................... sorry Pete-I wont be there..... ken Anderson...ne..1......greenacre's do dept. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Geezer Posted May 23, 2014 Share Posted May 23, 2014 6 bands for me too, 2 on each side , then 2 crossing diagonally - the big X ensures that no bands can slip off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted May 23, 2014 Share Posted May 23, 2014 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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