Daren Cogdon Posted December 10, 2024 Share Posted December 10, 2024 Decided to test out my new camera with the Volantex Spitfire as a subject today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul De Tourtoulon Posted December 10, 2024 Share Posted December 10, 2024 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leccyflyer Posted December 11, 2024 Share Posted December 11, 2024 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. 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. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leccyflyer Posted December 12, 2024 Share Posted December 12, 2024 Few piccies from Derek of my venerable Tucano and Bearcat in action on a day of perfect conditions yesterday. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul De Tourtoulon Posted December 13, 2024 Share Posted December 13, 2024 I have to ask Leccy, do all EV drivers park the 'other' way around and fix the fuselage to the wing that way around ?🤣 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leccyflyer Posted December 13, 2024 Share Posted December 13, 2024 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murat Kece 1 Posted December 13, 2024 Share Posted December 13, 2024 1 hour ago, Paul De Tourtoulon said: I have to ask Leccy, do all EV drivers park the 'other' way around and fix the fuselage to the wing that way around ?🤣 Eagle eyes Paul. It did thaw out in the end. He uses it also to charge his batteries on the field, which is quite handy. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martin collins 1 Posted December 13, 2024 Share Posted December 13, 2024 Nice to see some frost and a blue sky Leccy winter as it used to be, all we seem to get here is dull damp weather, never mind going for a fly later in between the mizzle.......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leccyflyer Posted December 13, 2024 Share Posted December 13, 2024 Aye - it's been a grand few days. I didn't get to the field for the best of the snow, but the clear, cold frosty days were great, https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1043230684275134&set=a.1043263564271846 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PDB Posted December 14, 2024 Share Posted December 14, 2024 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. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Gray Posted December 14, 2024 Share Posted December 14, 2024 (edited) You did well to land on that narrow runway! 🤪 Edited December 14, 2024 by Ron Gray 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PDB Posted December 14, 2024 Share Posted December 14, 2024 (edited) 3 minutes ago, Ron Gray said: You did well to land on that narrow runway! 🤪 That's the path from the pits to the runway, I had enough trouble with the proper runway and that's massive 😄 Edited December 14, 2024 by PDB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Robson Posted December 14, 2024 Share Posted December 14, 2024 The path to the runway is longer than our club runway 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyGnome Posted December 14, 2024 Share Posted December 14, 2024 Jeez, that's mahoosive! I had a couple on my W4 and Double Trouble before the cold and solitude drove me home... funny how the cold is worse when you are billy no mates! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leccyflyer Posted December 14, 2024 Share Posted December 14, 2024 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. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul De Tourtoulon Posted December 15, 2024 Share Posted December 15, 2024 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jolly Roger Posted December 15, 2024 Share Posted December 15, 2024 Definitely a hat and gloves day on the North York Moors yesterday, but worth it for the fine 50 mile views across to the Pennines. Bumpy sinking air early on turned into bountiful lift by midday, allowing a fun cross country along the ridge and back to the cars with Merry Mark. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martin collins 1 Posted December 15, 2024 Share Posted December 15, 2024 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. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daren Cogdon Posted December 15, 2024 Share Posted December 15, 2024 I really need to build an SE.5a at some point. My favourite WW1 scout. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leccyflyer Posted December 15, 2024 Share Posted December 15, 2024 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.. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cymaz Posted December 15, 2024 Share Posted December 15, 2024 Saturday was too blustery to fly so we did club noise tests instead. Andrew had his Major Mannock and I brought my Giant Mannock…. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merry Mark Posted December 15, 2024 Share Posted December 15, 2024 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! 👍 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Smith 1 Posted December 16, 2024 Share Posted December 16, 2024 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). I am hopeful of managing one day's flying this week if the weather forecast proves correct. 😒 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Jenkins Posted December 16, 2024 Share Posted December 16, 2024 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! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Smith 1 Posted December 16, 2024 Share Posted December 16, 2024 Sometimes we require to be challenged, Peter. Well done! I chickened out today as I didn't want to risk a few grand's worth of aviation equipment just before Christmas. I may have better luck tomorrow. 🤔 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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