DB x3

Logged three flights on the Dirty Birdy.  The engine ran well, the plane flew great.

Helped Geno with his Avistar.  We could not get it to run any better that Don had obtained.  But we got her up in the air three times and Geno logged about 15 minutes stick time.  I had him start the engine for all tuning and flights, which amounted to lots, lol, because the engine kept dying when it would load up after some idling.  It in fact died on final approach for all three flights, but the good news is it never died while we were flying about getting Geno valuable stick time....never quit in his hands.  He appreciated the help.

RV-4

3 flights on the big RV today, having hauled it to the Dallas field for the first time in the truck with the tonneau cover off.  At least the tailgate could be closed.  It’s the first time to haul it with the truck after we lost the xB due to a rear ender.  The DLE started quickly and ran reliably once again.  The plane flies nice enough but I ain’t thrilled about it.  Oh well!  I think I will add a little nose weight.  The plane is very neutral inverted, with no down needed to maintain level.  I actually have to apply up to get the nose to pull down at the top of a loop, lol.

Flight log: 07/026/2019

2 flights on the Val today.  Takeoffs good, landings good....no broken pants or bent LG wires, a successful day.  Had fun on both flights but especially the second when Bob flew his PT-19 at the same time.  Two warbirds, both four strokes.  It sounded great and the planes were very even in speed.  We made a bunch of passes in tandem, and some turns together that looked awesome just a few wingtips apart.  Fun day with the crew today....everyone was there....Don, Ken, Cliff, Bill, Doug/Donuts, Bob, Mike, Doug, Gary, Geno, Joe, Pat.  These are the days memories are made of!

Sbach 342

Only one at the field today, except for Geno who came to watch and lend moral support, lol.  I brought the Sbach which has not flown in many months.  As I guessed, it was hard to start.  Probably hand flipped it a hundred times!  Checked ignition and the light was on, so I figured fuel was not getting to the carb.  But I tried switching the ignition to one of Geno’s 4.8v nmh packs although my 6v pack was reading slightly higher voltage than his.  In about another ten flips, the engine started!  Switched back to my 6v pack for the start flips with choke off, and the engine fired up like normal in a few flips.  Might replace my 6v pack with a new one that I have.  Anyway, the engine ran fine for the whole ten minute flight.  Plane flew great.  Still kinda flies real floaty on low throttle for landings.

Flight log: 07/23/2019

I finally changed the LG on the Aerostar 76.  The wire gear was long for the thickness, so it was flexible and twangy when taking off and landing.  I found an old aluminum main gear in my junk, formerly on another plane, and drilled four bolt holes to fit the mounting bolt locations.  That worked out easy.  Didn’t have any axles, so I used what I could find in my spare bolts and bolts cabinet....mainly had to have length for the wheels to fit on.  Found some long 1/8” bolts with two matching nuts.  Bolt heads were smaller than the holes on the gear, so I had to find washers to block the bolt head from slipping through the gear.  Got that done, just quite a bit of play between wheel and bolt/axle but it was sufficient today....good in fact.  The stance is narrower but the plane did not tip over easily on turns, so all is well.  Landings were solid, plane flew good too.  Got in three flights on two sets of batteries.

Also flew the RV-8 twice.  It was good too. Nimble lil plane!

Flight log: 07/21/2019

07/20/2019:  Skylars 6th bday!  7HV 2x, Starstreak 5x
07/21/2019:  Goblin 630 4x, Aerostar 76 2x

Controlled Kaos

Flew the Kaos twice today.  Only Geno and I were there.  The plane flew fine, the engine ran fine.  It was funny when I was done that I noticed I was using 5% fuel....forgot to switch back to 15% after flying the Giles 202 the other day.  When done flying, I discovered copious amounts of raw fuel on the bottom of the fuse, as well as stains inside the servo area above the wing saddle.  Suspected a leaking fuel tank.  Got her home and removed the fuel hatch, found an inch of fuel in the tank compartment, lol.  Poured the fuel out, removed the sopping foam pads, and got the tank out.  Turns out the neck of the tank cracked at the seam.  Dried her out with paper towels and installed a new tank, unfortunately a lil smaller is all I had in my extras.   Kaos is ready to go again.

Flight log: 07/16/2019

07/13/2019:  KRCAFunfly.  I flew the Yak-54 twice and the Aerostar 40F five times.  It was just open flying, no contest events.

07/15/2019:  Flew the Giles 202 twice and the Starstream four times at Dallas.

Dirty Birdy

3 flights on the DB.  Nobody else there, so flights were pretty soon after each other.  Turned in low end screw to try to eliminate little burble from low throttle to high when done quickly.  Improved transition....will fly this way for a bit to assess over time.

Dead calm!

Super busy flight line!

Flight log for many days

July 5:  2 flights of Toledo Special with the new aluminum spinner provided by don....good flights.  Definitely the front bearing is loosening up and causing the beginnings of the tractor sound.  Gonna fly it til it cries to be replaced!

July 6:  Warbird Day at the Wingdingers!  3 flights of the P-47 and one with the Val.  Oh so fun!  Best flight was my single flight of the Val in tandem with Bob’s blue nose P-51.  We had so much fun flying formation and zipping fast low passes.  A couple guys told me that was the best entertainment of the day.

July 7:   I arrived first...flew the X5 twice and 7HV thrice, plus the Starstream four times.  It’s a funny lil fun plane that flies kinda touchy yet totally spirited and controllable.   I like it lots but just wish the  3s 2200 packs would provide longer flight times than 3.5 minutes!

 Tad flew his Avanti three times, twice with Quang and his Avanti.  They might awesome closeby, low, and fast passes over the runway.  Actually Quang was too close, lol, but all went well.  Those jets took off in nay 2/3 of the grass runway.  They landed well too, but the grass makes good brakes.  Might be tough to stop on a smooth surfaces runway.

Flight log: 07/04/2019

Happy 4th!  2 flights of the Yak 54.  Ran well, flew well, landed well.  Just wish it had more power.

RV-4 x3

I had three good flights with the RV-4 today...nothing fell off!  Engine ran well, everything went fine for a change.  Starting was a breeze, much quicker than the DLE-30 and DLE-55.  The 35 coughs after about 12 flips with choke on.  Then with choke off, it coughs on the 4th flip and starts on the 5th.  Pretty routine and reliable.  My flights all were around 9 minutes, and that only uses between 1/4 and 1/3 of the tank of gas.

Nobody else flew today.  Geno, Walt, and Doug B visited but did not fly.  Cliff came to get the OS 91 Surpass II started for the first time in what appeared to be a Sopwith Camel.  He was getting it prepped for Warbird Day this Saturday.  After some fuel tube switches, the engine started up and ran nicely.  Later Lonnie came but I did not stay long enough to see him fly.

I am getting used to the RV-4.  It will be a hoot.  I am getting comfier with it....loops, rolls, inverted, and flaps.  It must be driven down with flaps by good management of throttle.  Zero throttle does not work, the plane will stall.   I must be right on the back edge of the CG.  While inverted the plane does not need down elevator at all.  In fact I have to be sure on loops to kill throttle and feed in some up to get the plane to begin the dive for the second half of the loop.  A great day with the RV-4.

Flight log: 07/01/2019

The Aerostar 40F had five packs run through it today on a nice day at Dallas.  Originally I was going to fly the RV-4 but due to seeing winds at home, I changed to an expendable plane.  Flew great, by the last flight the wheels were both breaking!  At home I replaced them with nice aluminum wheels from an old parts box I got from Rudy with the Osiris.  The bearings however, are plastic.  One fit perfect, the other had to be drilled out to fit the axle.  Wheel collars,had slipping set screws, so I switched those out too.

Tad flew his Forza 700....had a great first flight.  On the second flight something gave out towards the end, the heli made a loud noise, then tad killed the motor and he had to keep the heli inverted as it landed pretty softly in the tall rye grass.  He investigated back at the truck and found that a tail rotor bearing was missing, so it must’ve gave out in flight.  Unfortunately the Forza 700 is not sold anymore and it’ll be impossible to find parts.  Looks like it’ll be stripped so the electronics can be reused in another heli, perhaps the new SAB Kraken?