Flight Log: 10/31/10

3x with Giles 202.  No issues with plane today.  Very nice flying after fog burned off near 10AM.

Flight Log: 10/29/10

Unexpected nice weather today so I flew!!  It was foggy at home, but much less so at the field, so I got in 5 flights on the Giles 202.  The plane needed just light down pressure to hold inverted...NICE!  Landings were slower and easier...NICE!  And the engine ran well with the new, standard ID tubing, after just opening the needle a few clicks...NICE!  I had to open it because on the first flight, I had a deadstick in a vertical climb.  Made the runway nicely.  ALL is well now, and maybe I will move the battery a little more back, haha, because it was still stable in pitch.  Flew usual stuff, getting easier to do rolling circles.  And single and double snaps at the top of a loop are getting easier to stop at the right time.  Been also doing snaps on 45 degree climbs and dives...more FUN!  And finally, it was a little easier to do slow and point rolls to the left.  Just gotta get more and more reps!

Flight Log: 10/27/10

Weather is taking a dive as Fall sets in good...notice last flying was 7 days ago.  Looks wet for the weekend again.  Went today...around 45-50F, very light breeze, sunbreaks here and there.  PERFECT for flying, not cold at all.  Nobody else there.  Mowed after flying.

Flew the Giles 202 four flights.  The idle trim needed to be set higher, probably due to the repairs since last flying the plane.  Recall the muffler fell off the plane as I brought it back to the pits last time.  Besides putting it back on, I plugged a hole in the muffler with a bolt, and I installed larger ID fuel tubing between the carb and remote needle.  The engine seemed more powerful than ever, probably due to more pressure from the muffler, and more consistent fuel feed.  Anyway, it was AWESOME.  I richened it a click just cuz it was so zingy!  Flew the usual: rolling circles, stall turns, 4 pt and slow rolls, spins, snaps, avalanches.  Just all around FUN today.  Landings were ok, not greasy enough though.  Noticed that I need actual stick deflection (down) while inverted.  Will move my battery to next former back for more rearward CG and this should help decrease landing speed even better!  Anxious to try it again.

Update:  When I took the plane apart at the field, I noticed excess fuel in the fuel compartment.  Brought the plane home and checked it out.  I used large ID tubing for the lines from the tank to the engine.  Two of the three lines apparently relaxed over the years, and came loose today at the connections to the fuel tank.  I replaced them with standard tubing which fits real snug.  Hope the engine runs the same.  Cleaned up the fuel compartment as best I could, and zip tied the tank back in.

Flight Log: 10/20/10

Went to fly again because the forecast is rain all weekend, starting Friday.  Got in 5 flights with the Yak 54...sweetness.  Lots of rolling circles in both directions, and some low alpha harrier rolling circles cclockwise.  Landings all good, most from the west due to light wind from NE.  Noticed slight noise from engine...wondering if bearings are beginning to wear out, or if it is due to using Cool Power instead of the Omega.  Former has synthetic lube, latter has castor oil.

Flight Log: 10/19/10

Went to mow and do other repair work at the field, so I got to fly too.  Took the Yak 54 up three times, for absolutely glorious flights in light wind, sunshine, and maybe 50-60F temps.  This is the first time with an APC 17-6 prop on it instead of the MAS 16-8.  The plane flies kinda slow, but basically the same speed horizontal and vertical now.  It would just barely keep climbing with the MAS and constant rudder monitoring, but it climbs faster with the APC and also now hovers much easier, albeit at higher throttle.  Very fun to fly.  Rolling circles are easier, perhaps due to the large throws on all surfaces, but I can do 4 rolls in a circle much easier than with any other plane.  Rolling harrier is cool, but so far my alpha is not that high.  At least I can do it now with this plane.  I have to get lower to see the amount of alpha on future flights.  Landings are so light and fun.  Just a great day!

Flight Log: 10/17/10

Flew the Extra 330L today and Tad flew his Extra 300.  These big birds are real fun and real attractions at the field.  Got in 3 flights today...12, 13, and 14.  First start is always the longest, but not hard.  Takes about 20 flips of full throttle, ignition on, choke ON to get a cough.  Then about 5-10 flips on idle, ign on, and choke OFF to get her running.  Never has died yet in the air.  In fact, idle seems to be getting better and lower, such that I need to throttle up a notch to avoid waffling around on final.  Landings were not great, but soft enough that the LG repair was not damaged.  It seems nice and firm. 

Did some rolling circles with more ease...cclockwise, also nearly harrier rolling circles.  Hovering is getting much easier, so I will drop lower in the future.  Vertical on this plane and engine is a thing of unlimited beauty, haha, including rolling on the way up.  Tucking the nose over at the top, into an inverted spin is pretty amazing.  What a great plane and engine combo!

Flight Log: 10/16/10

Flew the Giles again, and the Toledo Special.  Had to stop flying the Giles after its 4th flight due to the Pitts style muffler falling out of the cowl after the plane rolled to a stop after landing, lol.  One bolt was completely missing, the other was still there on the muffler.  The muffler was just dragging under the plane, connected by only the fuel line between the muffler and tank.  Lucky it did not fall off in the air, never to be found.  Also noted that the screw covering the extra hole in the muffler was missing.  This would explain why today the engine would not prime by covering both exhaust stacks like usual.  The TS flew great, no probs at all.  Took about 5 flights with it.

Flight Log: 10/15/10

Cool temps under 50F when I went this morning to fly the Giles 202 again.  I could see my breath, but the fog was all gone and it was dead calm and sunshiny blue skies.  Put in 5 flights on the Giles but had to finally quit.  The right wheel pants was tearing away...the FG was ripping in front and behind of the axle.  Been repaired numerous times before, but wheel pants just take a constant beating on grass runways.  Monitored the pants each flight and finally quit after the 5th because I did not want to lose it over the dirt sod farm.

So I went home, and when I pulled onto my street, Jeremy was pulling out of my driveway to go flying too.  I caught him, put my truck in the garage, pulled out the Imagine 50 and put it in Jer's truck, took my flight box and fuel, and off we went to fly again.  Wifey made me a PBJ to not starve.  Flew three flights with the Imagine.

With both planes, I did lots of rolling circles.  I tried to slow roll and point roll only left with the Giles for one whole flight.  Still not feeling real natural rolling left, but I just need a gazillion reps to get it.  After all these years, I'm still trying to continuously improve one facet or another of my flying. 

Oh, the Imagine 50 is becoming one of my favorite planes!

Flight Log: 10/15/10

Just 2 flights today with the wheel pants repaired.  Stood up well and there are no tears in it today.  Practiced cc rolling circles, also some slow and higher alpha rolling circles, but not quite harrier.  Under 50F at first, but sunny and warming while I was there.  Tried more left rolls, still not relaxed.  Good day anyhow. 

Welcome to Myles Pham who was born yesterday, son to Tim and Christina...Becky's big sis.  What a blessing!

Flight Log: 10/10/10

Today is 10/10/10...COOL!!!

Did not expect to fly since forecast and weather agreed...it was cool, windy, and raining pretty hard in the morning.  But around 2PM, after NFL on TV, I noticed it was darn calm, and clouds were thinning.  Put the SNAFU on quick charge, and went to the field soon after.  Nobody was there, and it was dead calm, but very overcast.  I flew and flew and flew.  Too bad I did not think to take a new gallon of glow, so I ran out of fuel and had to quit after 5 flights! 

Practiced lots of rolling circles, mostly rolling right and circling counter-clockwise, but I threw in a number of em rolling left and turning clockwise.  Getting more comfortable as I practice this with each plane.  Also did lots of left slow rolls and left 4 point rolls since my habit is to roll right.  And, I did a few fast counter-clockwise rolling circles (full right aileron) like Jer does. 

The SNAFU is doing well...only one deadstick after which I turned the high needle in just a click, and increased throttle trim by 2 clicks.  Still has a low idle, and I did not have another dead stick.  :)  Landings are super soft.

2010 Was an ARFully BUSY YEAR!

Before I forget what I assembled this year between January and Sept 2010, here's the list:
Great Planes Shoestring with OS 70 Surpass II
Great Planes Extra 300SP with OS 70 Surpass II
Hangar Nine Toledo Special with Saito 82a
Thunder Tiger Imagine 50 with OS 70 Surpass II
Phoenix Funstar with OS 52 Surpass
Richmond Models Extra 330L with DL-50  (this had been "in assembly" for about 2 years and I finally completed it and maidened in late Aug 2010.)

Last year (2009) I assembled the following:
Black Hawk Models T-28 with Saito 82a
Nitroplanes Yak 54 with OS 120 Surpass II pumped
Apache DLG

In the prior year (2008) the following were added to the squadron:
China Model Products Giles 202 with OS 160FX
Modeltech P-47 with OS 91 Surpass II pumped

My two still flying old planes that existed before all these recent planes were the following:
Modeltech Thunderbird with OS 25FSR
Carl Goldberg Ultimate with OS 120 Surpass E

That accounts for all 13 flyable planes currently in the squadron!  I like em ALL.  I only have one ARF NIB now, an older 60 size GP Shoestring which is larger than the current 46 size offering by GP.  Will put an OS 91 Surpass II in it.

Flight Log: 10/08/10

The weatherman was wrong and it turned out to be a very decent AM, so I went flying with the Imagine 50.  I think every plane of mine is my fave until I fly the next one, haha.  This plane performed flawlessly today.  Good starting on the OS 70 Surpass II, good power, good idle, no deadsticks.  Took 4 flights. 

Mostly practiced rolling circles.  I need higher throws to get a tighter circle and to be able to roll 4x in one circle.  For today I just rolled 5 or 6 times to make a circle.  I rolled right and made left circles.  That is the norm for me, favoring right rolls.  BUT, I got it up higher and made my first COMPLETE right circle with left rolls on ANY PLANE.  That is an accomplishment, to get over the fear and mindset of doing rolling circles in one way only. 

Did KE a lot.  On right KE, the plane wants to increase the roll, so I programmed in 5% left  aileron during application of left rudder.  Not enough.  Went to 10% and it helps, but could use a smidge more next time.  Left KE seems to be pretty neutral, so no need to program out any coupling. 

This plane is fast and smooth, like a pattern type plane should be.  Slow rolls on a string.  Nice vertical power.  GOOD right SNAPS on 45 up incline!  Didn't try left snaps.  Seems to need too much down elevator to stay inverted.  Might add more tail weight.  I want just slight down pressure, and no real stick movement to hold inverted.  Lands very easy.  While those thin wire LG jitter a lot on the ground, they are not bending, nor damaging the pants, so who cares, haha. 

Flight Log: 10/06/10

3 flights today, which are flights 9, 10, and 11.  Left side of LG wobbled tons on landings 2 and 3 today.  Found covering torn around left side LG, and that the LG could be twisted easily to hear wood creaking under it.  Decided better not fly anymore this day.  Went home and cut the covering away.  Found little or no glue on most joints , and some splitting in the wood around the base plate for the LG.  Used thin CA, medium CA to reinforce joints.  Also used hammer to slide some ply back together.  Thin CA on that.  Used 3/16 ply and 30 minute epoxy to brace over some of the LG box.  Should do it on right side too, but too lazy.  Will do it later, haha.  Recovered area.  Feels firm.  Hope it works! 

Good DL-50 engine.  Starts "easy".  First start of day took over 20 flips of prop to pop/cough with choke on, full throttle, ignition on.  Put choke off, throttle to idle, and took five flips to start and stay running.  Died on first landing.  Upped idle a click or two.  For second flight, engine started on 2nd flip...choke off, idle.  For third flight, engine started on 1st flip...choke off, idle.  Engine did not die on any more landings or flights today.  Engine still spitting a light and fine black mist from muffler onto immediate plane area.  Getting less, I think, as engine breaks in.

Plane flies super light!  Hovering high seems easy enough to keep steady, but I can tell more later when I try it lower.  Tried a harrier rolling circle but did not make it all around the circle.  Used low rates only, so will try high soon.  Just getting the feel still.  Rolling circle was not bad, but did not go all the way round either due to touchy throttle.  Stick needs more tension perhaps, because I found the throttle setting changing to easily on the Airtronics xmitter, unlike when I do it on my Futaba.  Plane is so easy to see and adjust in the air due to the sheer size.  Oh, did two vertical climbs followed by nose over, and into inverted spin.  Too cool.  Using just full down and full rudder for nice flat spin.  No ail. 

Tad had three great flights on his AW Extra 300. 

Had less than 1/4 gallon of fuel left after flying today, so that means 11flights used up just over 3/4 gallon, or perhaps about 9 ounces per flight.  Haven't been timing the flights well.  Have 16 oz tank in plane.  Seems to be using about half a tank when I count cranks to fill or empy.  Tad got me new 2 gal of gas in the xB.  I mixed one gal with Pennzoil from Tad and put most of it in my gallon field jug.  Read to fly again!  LIFE IS GOOD!!!