Beat the RAIN

Rain forecasted but it looked good at my house, so I headed out to fly early.  Got to the field and it was overcast and a bit breezy but good enough for a try!  Got in three flights of the Gaui X5 first, then three on the Aerostar 40F.  Then it began to rain too much and I had to forego the other two battery packs for the Aerostar, shucks.  Flying the plane was easy but the grey overcast sky made it hard to see the heli easily.  Here comes the Fall and Winter where these conditions will exist more often than not.

BOTH FLEW WELL TODAY

Aloha T-28, boo hoo

Flew on Sept 26.  Had two flights almost.  First flight of the T-28 was nice and uneventful, just the same old reliable plane.  On the second flight, I was on the downwind leg for landing and lost all controls.  At the time, I had flaps deployed and was just puttering back with throttle for landing.  The plane just stopped responding, rolled slightly left and dove into the field.  Totaled in my book.  It lasted 8 years, a good life!  So at the crash site, I found the switch off on the plane because the crash took out the fuselage side and popped my switch to the off position.  This plane had the wire extension to the switch with pull off and push on.  Fuse side forced outwards took the switch to off.  I turned it back on and all controls responded.  I suspected battery but the servos were instantaneous and lively.  At home I ran the controls for a full seven minute flight with not a single weak or incorrect or lack of response.  No idea what happened.  My only guess is that usually crashes are pilot error and just maybe I did not realize the plane was going so slow at 200 yards out.  In the two seconds perhaps, before impact, I tried elevator, aileron, and throttle up.  I did not hear the engine sound increase nor see any responses to my inputs.   Well these planes all have an expiration date that is unknown when we build them.  I now know it for the T-28.  I don't feel so bad because it was old and fuel soaked.  I need a new warbird anyway!

Today is Sept 28.  I flew the Stinger II three times and the Intruder twice.  All good flights.  FAST!  Both planes like to whistle due to their speed, and maybe they just are dirty airframes, lol.  Had to fly today with rain forecasted for the next five days at least!  CRAP!

THE NEED FOR SPEED!

Flight log for week passed

Geez, getting so bad about posting the flight reports!  I know i flew on Sept 16 because that was the picnic fly in day at the krca field. i recall flyignonce with the Goblin 500 because some folks never saw a heli fly before.  I also flew the Yak 54 a few times .  It flew well and pleased the fams of the newb member pilots Dave and Jon.

After that i dont recall exact days because i have been under the weather.  I know i flew the Sbach a few times one day.  The engine ran well with the reattached clunk filter in the fuel tank.  And another day i flew the Bravata three times because we had a big bird day...might have been Saturday Sept 23. That flew fine too.  Both mufflers on those gassers seem to be staying attached well with the red liquid gasket and red thread lock.

I will report in advance that i am taking the T-28 and Stinger II to Dallas today!  Gotta fly if feeling well during the last good days of Summer.  Rain is already breaking up good weather several days in a row at times now.  Fall and Old Man Winter are on the horizon.

Bravo Bravata!

Oh yeah, great day of sun and light winds for flying the Bravata three times at Dallas.  The engine started and ran well, and the plane flew fine.  The guys loved it, and made my head bigger, lol.  For the first time I tried to do the rolling circle with this plane.  The plane just wouldnt get through the second roll both time I attempted it.  Could just be me and I will try again someday.  FUN!

Awesome Thursday Flying

Gorgeous morning for flying!  Flew my Toledo Special twice, as well as my Stinger II twice.  Both engines ran flawlessly and the planes were a joy to fly all over the sky, especially low and fast strafing passes over the runway and field.  I was surprised the YS 63 in the Stinger ran so well and steady because it ran pretty good at home the other day, but it never keeps a good tune from day to day.  Hope it retains this for the next time!

Flight log: 09/12&13/2017

Flew yesterday...one flight on the Sbach 342 but i did not fly it again due to fuel feed issue at end of the flight!  Came home and pulled the tank out of the plane.  As suspected, the clunk with fuel line inside the tank had slipped off the tubing that runs through the tank stopper.  No barbs on the tubing but there was a zip tie cinching the tygon line to the stopper tubing.  With time the tygon compresses and stiffens, just slipping off.   I just replaced rhe tygon with a more flexible one and added a new zip tie.  It just needs to be checked annually.

I had my Aerostar 40F and knocked out five flights on it, playing with flaps all the time.  Just a relaxing aircraft!

TODAY,  i flew my P-47 twice.  The guys there absolutley loved the appearance, sound, and flight handling.  Landings were tail up main gear touchdowns, things of beauty.  Takeoffs were crap.  Too much torque causes the plane to veer left on takeoff.  I need to add tons of right rudder to counteract the veer.  Simply need to fly it more to get the blend of throttle and right rudder.  Not much of an issue at KRCA where the left veer is typically out over the sod farm.  At Dallas RC, the veer heads the plane into the pit area fencing!  It was a great morning of flying.

Ten flights today!  Five on the Compass 7HV followed by five on the Aerostar 40F.  Havent been flying helis much so it was a lil nervous time at first, but it felt better with each flight.  And then the flights with the plane were all just easy relaxation!

Ultimate day

Flew the good old Carl Goldberg Ultimate 10-300 today for the first time in likely a year.  Only took one flight as the OS 120FS sounded like a tractor.  The bearings must be worn out and need to be replaced.  Prolly could have flown again but I did not want to risk the engine seizing up or dying, then having to deadstick back with my oldest plane that is also my last kit built plane, 1992.  It flew nice though and tracked as great as ever.  I will get the bearings out and seek replacements soon.

Flight Log: 09/02/2017

The last few days have been very rough with a bad stomach virus caught from dear grandkids.  Both Sandy and I caught it and were rudely awakened in the dark hours of Thursday morning...her with vomiting and me with diahrea.  We were weak and exhausted and slept just about all of Thursday.  Then Friday we were still weak and took a couple naps each.  Finally woke up this morning with a bit of energy so I went to fly and almost regretted that, but I made it through.  I was not up to heli flying.   Got in five flights on the Aerostar 40F plus mowed.  Went home and laid myself down, lol.  Feeling better today as the time rolls along.