Jump to content

Never mind the weather - who has been flying, then?


Recommended Posts

Advert


2 fokker 111 today a Baron and my Dago Red, first Fokker OS 52fs started and ran well, silly throttle installation made it's running at idle impossible, and undercarriage not properly fixed made it impossible to taxi let alone take off, second Fokker ( same model) impossible for the owner to get it to run right, Baron with it's Saito wouldn't start, no play in the exhaust rocker, spanner and Allen key were put on the nut, and before it could be loosened i the rocker broke across the thread, so only lucky me had 3 flights.

today.jpg

today 2.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Strange one today, as I was all set to make a couple of maiden flights, given the forecast nice conditions. Unfortunately on Monday, getting ready to go and fly, my DX9 suffered a broken aileron gimbal spring/fitment, which I was unable to fix. That meant falling back on some older and less often flown models that are still in my DX7  transmitter.

 

As it happened it was a serendipitous blessing, as I had a belting day with some twenty odd year old models. I'd struggled with my BVR Models Tucano a while back, as it had always been a good flyer, but having struggled with longer grass and only just getting off I'd repropped with a less pitchy prop for more acceleration. That caused very dissapointing performance once the Tuc was in the air. This morning I replaced the prop with the 10x7" that has always served me well and the Tucano was back to her best again, with some really enjoyable flights, The cold (-3 degrees) intervened on my last flight, with the u/c wire retaining clip shattering and liberating one of the main wheel struts from it's hard point mounting. No bother, plenty of other models to fly.

 

Old favourites like the Beeline Models Easy Bee, the first pure electric model that I built nearly three decades ago and still going strong and my Balsacraft Bearcat, first flown in 2001 which always did well once the supplied Lightspeed sp600 was replaced with a modified Mag Mayhem and an 8 cell 2200RC Sub-C pack, but has long since been equipped with AXI 2820/10, 3s1p 3300mah lipo and  10x6" bendy orange nylon prop. Love those Balsacraft models and they continue to give lots of fun. Add in a nice single channel on the button flight with an ROG, gentle circuits and button only landing just a foot short of the field, not a single touch on the elevator, plus flights with PZ Spitfire and a couple of wee fellas and it was a busy day.

 

 

Lots of other flying too - shared some great formation and tail chases with Derek's Twin Jet and the various EDFs on the day were showing how much quicker they are in the dense cold air - really sparkling performance from Jim's Venom and Derek's Panther eating up the sky.  Really impressed with Murat's big Grumman Albatross foamie, which was taxiing around on the icy grass very nicely. 

 

1253972863_11thDecember2024-3.thumb.jpg.cf3f2cce67374959729a46af92a8b538.jpg109525032_11thDecember2024-11.thumb.jpg.a9efd155941d6d5f81c8c0d7a2fd408e.jpg

 

It was a challenging drive back home against a blinding setting sun, but it put on the usual spectacular show on the clouds with it's last rays. The temperature never climbed above zero at either the field, or at home, (-7c when I left, -4 when I got back) but there was a serious temperature inversion from -4C at the foot of the hills to +4C just a few miles north at the summit, ca 800ft higher.

 

1951179949_landscapeclouds.thumb.jpg.7463cea937689678ee472dadfbc79735.jpg

 

 

  • Like 8
Link to comment
Share on other sites

In this particular case Dave had to turn that EV around through 180 degrees, to put the wee charge point access hatch in the sun, so that it could thaw out and be opened. I was amazed to learn that there is a normal 3-pin 13 amp outlet in there and he wanted to use his hot glue gun to stick the tailplane back on a depron twin boom job that had suffered a mishap. I'd no idea that they had electrical outlets in those things. I believe it did thaw out eventually.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My closest strip is again suffering from the recent rain and it doesn't drain very well so won't be usable for a while.

 

Joined another local club who's strip is higher up on ground that I hoped would drain a lot better. Had my first session there today and it was perfect, despite the recent weather hard ground, no surface water and the runways as smooth as a golf course.

 

Had the place to myself.

 

IMG_6690.thumb.jpeg.e0f9de99d7cf38e390bb29d1c966f5e9.jpeg
 

 

IMG_6693.thumb.jpeg.d872d0b9284fdd5faf86387ccbfb051f.jpeg

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Got a couple of hours in at the field today - freezing cold and the wind was double that forecast, but had some good flights with the wee fellas and mass formation flying. Had a great flight with my Tucano, but pecked the ground on landing, then, for some reason, opened the throttle and the severe inbalance of the broken prop took the nose clean off the model. Should be a relatively easy repair.

  • Like 1
  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

An eventful afternoon at our field, the wind sock was no more, I bought some pink spinnaker cloth and insisted that we brought the mast down and put a triangular strip on it,, groans and moans at that was done.

 

Pierre and Alain were back with 'fixed' Eindekkers, Alains c of g was too far back gave him a hairy flight and crash landing, at least now his motor was running properly, Pierre the opposite, what ran well was no more, engine cowling off, so a no go for him.

Dominique's Dalotel 'ev' lost a wheel on take off, fixed and he flew all afternoon.

J M with his turbine powered Alouette didn't get off of the ground, his recent hard landing had bent two of the three blade shafts ( 10mm).

After driving them mad all week with my Dago Red, I took my Saito .45 ( really old first edition) to the field, rx batters tester on red, changed battery still red, the onboard tester knackered, Exhaust pushrod wouldn't move ( shut up ) glued in place after a year without flying, that sorted, carburetor also flushed through, now it was my  starter box lipo giving up, followed by the engines Enya 3 plug, the members ( around 8 ) whispering load enough for me to hear that it was nice to see me in that situation, ( I can't blame them ), New OS F in a borrowed Lipo and yes I annoyed them by buzzing back and forth touch and goes, and after they said 'won't it fly inverted', I did a circuit inverted, 3 point landing, and taxied to my box, job done.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Overcast day on Friday with mizzle in the morning which luckily cleared enough to enable the Friday gang to get some flying in. Three WW1 type models provided top cover over the field with Simon's foamie SE5, Richard's Flair Attila and my Puppeteer which has now had all the issues sorted which were preventing it from being a nice model. We all had a couple of sorties before switching to the back up models, a Durafly Wildcat for Simon, Flair Heron with a. 10 glow motor up front for Richard and my trusty 6s powered WattsNot, a WhatsWhat knock off. A prospective new member turned up to have a chat and look at the field but got stuck trying to leave, the friendly farmer came to the rescue with his 4x4 to pull him clear. Harldy any frosts this year but plenty of rain, my other site will be unaccessible due to the conditions i guess a number of other clubs have the same problem. 

IMG_20241213_153305.jpg

IMG_20241213_153752.jpg

  • Like 2
  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

15mph+ blustery SW winds this morning and the ground all thawed out. Wasn't going to bother, having decided I'd repair the Tucano instead, but convinced myself not to be so nesh and threw the PZ Martlet in the car to replace the broken Tucano. Just me and the two Bobs at the field, but we all had decent flights and a good blether in the hut. The Martlet was getting chucked about, but handled it quite well and the landings were almost across our narrow strip, directly into wind. Also had three flights with my Volantex Spitfire, which shrugged off the wind, just as usual and hovered beautifully into wind - just a case of not letting her get too far downwind at any time. Glad that we ventured out and the Tucano is all fixed now as well - very quick and simple repair..

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Slope Soaring Safari this weekend! Saturday with @Jolly Roger(posted earlier) and interesting soaring conditions today with Graeme and Jonathan and ‘Wee Man’ Hugo.  A mixed bag of Mammatus, Lenticular, Anvil Heads and Wave Clouds with a low frequency wave bar sat at low level just off the slope and slamming its lift into the upper systems.  Wind much stronger than forecast and Jonathan rightly exercised discretion over valour when looking to maiden the Vulcan! 👍

 

IMG_8899.jpeg

IMG_8897.jpeg

IMG_4138.jpeg

IMG_4131.jpeg

IMG_4134.jpeg

IMG_4166.jpeg

IMG_4168.jpeg

IMG_4144.jpeg

IMG_8905.jpeg

IMG_8908.jpeg

IMG_8909.jpeg

IMG_8918.jpeg

IMG_8912.jpeg

IMG_8922.jpeg

  • Like 14
Link to comment
Share on other sites

No flying today as a bit too windy for me. One bonus was that the grass had dried out enough to be cut although it's still a bit muddy underfoot. The cloud was clearing a little to reveal some "sailor's trousers" (An old fashioned saying I know, but one I like).

IMG_2110.thumb.jpeg.7d6a01886dff6e59d40f68617cb8f8f4.jpeg

 

I am hopeful of managing one day's flying this week if the weather forecast proves correct. 😒

 

 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Having arranged to fly at my wide open site this morning, my partner felt the wind was too great.  So, after agreeing, I took a walk outside and decided that, while I couldn't fly at my wide open space field, I'd try the one with big trees on 3 sides.  As I walked out with the aircraft for the first flight, the wind got up even more!.  Still, a litter voice said, "you'll be OK, just don't panic!".  

 

So, got 3 flights of my schedule flown.  The first time that I had flown in such a strong wind for a very long time!  Inevitably, I tended to be pushed downwind on the schedule as I just wasn't making enough allowance for the wind, which , of course, was much stronger higher up.  So sign of the "constant flight speed" required by the FAI!  I had to overshoot on my 2nd landing as a big gust came through just then, but pleased to say that all the arrivals were gentle - the result of not panicking and letting the aircraft sit down when it wanted to.  The 2nd take off was quite alarming though.  Again, just as I was getting airborne a big gust struck and rolled the aircraft to about 60 deg to the right.  This did catch me by surprise and led to a bit of PIO as I sorted myself out.  

 

Sadly, all 3 Tx batteries, despite being charged as fully as they would take - 6.9 v as opposed to the more usual 7.1 v ( its a 2 cell LIFe pack).  I shall have to investigate as this is the first time they have misbehaved.  It wasn't that cold either - around 11 C.  So, discretion  intervened and I packed up and went home.  Pity as I was beginning to get the shapes right in the strong wind!  Needless to say, I was the only idiot flying!

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...