SNAFU and Star

I took the Star out to see if it would do the hop and stop task that will be in the VC this Saturday.  Definitely works better than the SNAFU, but a little wind down the runway sure helps.  I will use the Star for that one task only, and the SNAFU for all others.  Practiced flying around and landing with the SNAFU and it seems to be running/flying fine.

SNAFU

Lost count on how many flights I had, perhaps 6 or 7 with the SNAFU.  I practiced takeoff with immediate landing to be able to hop over the balloons that will be across the runway for the VC in 7 days.  Sounds simple, but it is not, at least not with the SNAFU.  Perhaps I have to use the Star for this task only.  The OS 52 ran fine till the 2nd to last flight when it had a flameout.  Perhaps the increasing heat detuned it.  I richened it slightly and it ran ok, but not as strong.  Very nice day of flying with N wind of under 5MPH.

Flight Log: 07/25/2013

Another fine day that is going to be HOT later so I went early again for my flying fix.  Got there by 8:30, outta there by 10:20.  Flew my Sbach thrice and the Star twice.   Wind was light but approaching 5mph and of course from the North for nice krosswind landings.  My landings sucked with the Sbach.  I am just not getting that one down pat every time like my other planes.  It floats with low idle and automatically pitches up at real low speeds.  I feather in some throttle and some down elevator but still need lots of work to land this plane properly.  I fear for the LG in the meantime.  The Star was flawless fun again.  Oh, the Sbach was awesome at all other times besides the landings, lol. No troubles whatsoever with the DLE-30.

Early Bird

Went to the field just past 8 with the CG Ultimate and electric Star.  I got in 3 flights with the Ultimate and two with the Star in very nice sunny conditions with very light NE breezes.  Not a soul was there and I was done by 10AM!  Both planes flew nicely.  No issues whatever.

Intruder

Finally got to fly again after Skylar's birth!  Just got in two flights with the Intruder which is flying like a champ again, whistle and all as she sails by low and fast.  It's a confidence inspiring blast to fly.  Off to see Skylar again in an hour or so!

Build Log: AW Bravata

I completed the Bravata finally after about 6 long months.  It could have taken 6 days or 6 weeks, but I took my sweet time as usual!  I made a bunch of vinyl graphics for the plane with my Cricut and applied them: Coca Cola, Hawaiian Airlines gal, and KRCA Krosswinds.  I also made Pennzoil and SHELL graphics for the Bravata but decided against applying them because it introduced too much yellow and made the plane a little busy, but I could change my mind and add them later!  A few pics follow.  Better ones will be added when I get the plane out on maiden day.

My original selection for graphics.

Good Switch!

I fixed the Intruder last night by switching the entire cylinder head, with the valve springs, etc, from a spare engine to the OS 91 Surpass II on this plane.  While at it, I gapped the valves, and put in a new OS Type F glow plug.  The repaired engine ran MOST EXCELLENTLY today, and the Intruder even had its familiar whistle back, from whence it was brand new!  YES!!!  I had one short test hop, then a full flight, and it is back on fast rails again.  I decided to not fly it anymore and save it for this Saturday's event.

Instead I flew the Star for my 3 packs, and also flew the MCPX Blade for 3 flights.  I tried my first full circle with the MCPX and crashed...too much bank, not enough rudder, full throttle into the grass, but there was NO damage.  Gotta love it.  Took off again immediately and I executed a full turn, but it was 50' away so too hard to even tell.  I did another with smaller diameter and just 25' away, most pleasing to do so!

Early on, Ashton and I hammered in at least a hundred 6" staples to hold edges and overlaps of the new mat down and to prevent tripping hazards.  Looks good and I am surprised we were able to do it in about an hour.  It was just the two of us till Dean arrived and helped for perhaps 10 minutes.

BTW Ashton totaled his Uproar out on the sod farm grass today.  Something happened to aileron control and he went in full bore.  He thinks maybe it was mechanical failure of the control rod keepers on the servo arm...in other words the allen screw might not have been tight enough.  Rudy had a couple flights then tore up his LG on landing the big Osiris...came in too slow.  He says it should be an easy repair.  Dean  flew his Corby Starlet with great success today, finally.  Mike brought his Pawnee to practice for Sat.

It was a great day at the field, having fun and accomplishing needed maintenance.