Flight log: 05/27,28/2018

Flew Sunday at Keizer.  Took two flights each with the X5, 7HV, then G630.  Very good comfort level coming back with helis.  Not normal yet but getting there.  Also flew the SNAFU for four flights.  Then on Monday, I flew with the Dallas gang.  Only took two flights with the SNAFU just due to talking lots with the guys, and enjoying the banter and other planes.

SNAFU

Action down the flight line.  Gary's Kaos in front.

TEN!

Yes, i got in ten flights spread over four aircraft this morning at the keizer field and was home by about 9:30AM!  Here’s how it went! First up was the X5 with two flights...that is always my warm up heli, being most dispensable, lol.  Next up was the G500 for two flights.  Felt sensitive but i know it is just my lack of feel for it due to lack of flying.  Then i flew the green watermelon 7HV for two flights.  Felt like a beast, in a good way.  And then i flew the Starstreak plane, another aerostar variation from Dick Smith, just for pure relaxation.  Planes are too easy, lol.  I tried to take pics of the aircraft flown today but my iphone memory was full.  When done, i was very satisfied, and relieved that i did not crash any helicopters!

Been flying!

Just been too lazy to blog!  Flew today at Dallas field.  Got the Giles 202 up twice for fine flights.  I even got applause after the second flight, lol.  The plane flew great, and the OS 160 ran strong.  It started by hand for the first flight, but would not do so for the second one, so i borrowed Mike’s strong Align starter and got her going easily.

On Sunday, I flew at the Keizer field, doing four flights on the Aerostar 40F, and two on the Aerostar 76.  Great day for flying after the JB workers completed their harvest for the morning.  Three guys crashed their planes today, totaling all three aircraft.  Ted went first and spun his mini Stick all the way to the ground.  Ryan was next with a nice new MXR, or whatever it is called.  Overpowered and with higher wing loading than his previous planes, he did not fly it well.  It ended in a million little pieces also from a spin, but i believe this one was caused by a stall in a high banked turn...it spun all the way to the ground too.  And finally Mike maidened his new Phoenix Sbach all the way into a full rekit after a nice takeoff with his aileron controls reversed!  Shouldn’t happen to an experienced guy like him.  Oh well, after seeing these three crashes, Don, Dave, and I said we quit for the day, lol.  Oh, i got a lot of exercise walking out to help the pilots retrieve all three planes.

On Saturday it was my birthday!  I flew the Aerostar 40F for five packs and the Starstream low winger for four.

Last two days

Flew yesterday with my pattern planes, the Kaos and Osiris.  I put in one flight on the Kaos, with a nice successful landing on the retracts, without the axle spinning to trip up the plane.  Finally!  I didnt however, taxi back.  I just went and picked the plane up at the end of the runway without trying to taxi on the grass, lol.  Then i put up three flights on the Osiris.  Both planes flew well and i was pleased.

Bravata is back

Well it was never really that far gone.  I damaged the left wheel pant on landing last time out.  I had crosswinds at the time, and anyway the plane got too far along the south edge of the field whereupon it hit some of those damn thick and hard clumps of tall grass that have sod foundations that stick up above the grass like a brick wall!  Anyway that ripped some cracks into the pant but upon inspection at home I found damage to the fuselage right around the left LG mounting plate.  Just this week I finally got around to taking the Bravata upstairs and cutting off the covering to see what repair was needed.  Turns out it was just cosmetic due to soft pulpy 1/16" balsa used.  I took pics that need to be added to this post later on.  Removed balsa, added backing plates, installed new basswood sheet replacement, sanded, covered with matching covering that came with the AeroWorks ARF.

Good as new, I flew it twice today and wowed myself and the guys.  We all enjoy the big bird that flies better than a big slow high winger should.  The DLE 30 does a great job pulling it around, even enough power to hover vertically and stand still!  My landings were better, with a little speed to avoid crappy almost stalled landings!  WHAT A GREAT PLANE!  Makes me look good everytime.