Peter Garsden Posted August 13, 2015 Author Share Posted August 13, 2015 Was flying the Tonka at the Lleyn last weekend. First flight was fine, but second one not good on the Sunday I suspect because the tailplane was set at the wrong angle. I had to land out. It was a heavy landing. It tore the wing bolts slightly. I had a problem in that the wing bolts have compressed the foam on top of the wings and squashed it down. This has meant I can't tighten the wing on properly. So to get round this problem, I have found some fibreglass tubing from an old wing joiner and pushed it in the bottom of the wing to give the bolts something to bit onto. See photo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Cooke Posted August 13, 2015 Share Posted August 13, 2015 Nice one Pete - but those tubes might pull through again when the wing is loaded - better to add a couple of light ply load spreaders running along the fus which the bolt heads then torque up against?? - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Garsden Posted August 13, 2015 Author Share Posted August 13, 2015 Thanks Phil. You have shown that photo before and I took your advice. Unfortunately the whole ply plate was pulled through the foam. Maybe it was not big enough. I am trying stop the bolts pulling through the foam. I was using an idea used on my Top Model Ideal where they use thin brass tubing. Let's see how it works, but the ply wasn't strong enough because it was resting on a foam bed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Garsden Posted August 26, 2015 Author Share Posted August 26, 2015 Am at the van in Anglesey so went up the Orme today - only an hour away, as it was forecast to be 20mph and South West. At the edge it was 30mph gusting to 35 but loads of lift. So flew the Tornado, which went like it was on rails, so smooth and fast, superb. Up into a 300 foot climb, stall turn then down and up again. Fantastic. You all should have been there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Garsden Posted August 26, 2015 Author Share Posted August 26, 2015 Oh yes - forgot to say - I was flying my Voltij happily when two Lockheed Martin F35 Lightnings flew on a knife edge round the edge of the Orme one after another. They were so close I thought they were going to hit my model - cant have been more than 300 metres away. Most amazing experience. They then flew off round Llandudno bay and over the horizon. 2 of these Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Jones Posted August 26, 2015 Share Posted August 26, 2015 Peter, are you absolutely sure about that? I don't think there are any outside the US at the moment. Could they have been F15's? Edited By Matt Jones on 26/08/2015 22:47:44 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Meade Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 Don't you dare second guess the Right Honourable Garsden! You know his aircraft recognition is second to none! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Houghton 1 Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 The RAF only have two of these, both of which are based at Edwards AFB. However, I guess it is totally feasible that they could have been brought over to the UK for further testing in our cold, wet climate. Peter may be one of the lucky few to have seen them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Meade Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 He called my MiG29 a Mosquito once though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Garsden Posted August 27, 2015 Author Share Posted August 27, 2015 Quite right Andy. I had absolutely no idea what they were, other than the fact that they had two fins at the back and a vaguely triangular wing, so I went onto Wikipedia and looked for aircraft the RAF were flying. These were the only ones that looked anything like. Thought - heh, that will impress the anoraks - just goes to show what a numpty you can become in just one short post. Could be an F15, 16,17,18 or 31 - no idea at all. It was just a mightily impressive and awe inspiring experience. Just been on Google, and I have to admit that you are right Matt, and I am wrong - surprisingly knowing my encyclopaedic knowledge, which Andy rightly recognised. So this is the correct picture. So the question is, why does it not appear on the list of RAF aircraft here - or am I better not saying anything to avoid embarassing myself even more? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Meade Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 I'm sorry Pete, it's only leg pulling I'll probably be corrected, but I guess they could be visitors from the US of A, maybe based at Lankenheath? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Jones Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 It's because it's USAF, they have a large detatchment at RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk. That photo was taken at the Mach Loop in Wales, a regular haunt of messrs Jones, Cooke and Manzoori Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Jones Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 Here's one I made earlier: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Meade Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 Very nice! Is the tail reg LN specific to Lakenheath? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Jones Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 Yes See, we told you it was good...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Meade Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 Just not into photography like you guys though I'm afraid. When up in the hills, I'd rather be chucking something off 'em! Poor under-modelled F15 though Edited By Andy Meade on 27/08/2015 11:11:53 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Garsden Posted August 27, 2015 Author Share Posted August 27, 2015 Well thank you chaps. I knew it was worth joining PSS for the education alone! It reminded me of seeing a Vulcan similarly close one day flying up at Moel Famau back in 1979! That's what inspired me to build one.. So if I have now to build and F15, what plan, converted kit etc. do you recommend, or do they not lend themselves to PSS? Edited By Peter Garsden on 27/08/2015 17:15:40 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Meade Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 That was quick editing, but my email doesn't lie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Meade Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 Anyway, I have drawn one, about the same size as my MiG29. Should be built the same way as my Mig too - formers slid onto a 6mm dowel to use as a datum, then planked with an AFT for elevator. Foam wing with a carbon spar and removable fins. Have never done anything with it, but there you go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Mccullagh Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 more like f 22,s nobody seemed to mention them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Garsden Posted August 30, 2015 Author Share Posted August 30, 2015 Sounds like my next project then Andy how much for the plan? Does it need a canopy? Can pm you my address? Or is it for you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Cooke Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 I think we need to get you on an aircraft recce course Peter - I'll bring you a spotters guide next time we meet! Must have been a thrill to see the F-15s pulling around the Orme's contours... I would have definitely lost my model (again) with all the excitement had that happened whilst I was flying... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Cooke Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 never mind the spotters books, check out the T-shirt! Shame its at such a stupid price, I'd have one myself! **LINK** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Meade Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 Hi Pete - please pm me your address and I'll get a copy sent over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Gilder Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 Love that t-shirt but cant work out what number 452 is supposed to be!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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