Still too lazy to post flight logs, lol!

Its been a month and a half since doing by flight log blog, terrible!  I have been flying albeit not as frequently due to wind, rain, cold. 

Today I flew my SNAFU.  Mainly I wanted to get it out to tune the engine better since I know it was not running well last time.  Before heading out, I fattened up the low speed idle screw on the OS52FS in the plane.  That helped but the engine faltered a little on the first flight, and also died after landing runout.  I fiddled with it out more, back in , and then finally found a sweet spot which I am sure is richer than what I started with.  Also had to richen the high speed needle.  The engine seems to be singing nicely now....stronger with more smoke trail.  Got in four flights today with many touch and gos to practice landings.  We'll see if it still runs as well next time out.  BTW it was light fog with a low ceiling at first, then burning off enough for regular flying.

Two days ago, I flew my Osiris in slightly less fog.  Got in four flights.  Nobody else there on both days....too cold or dreary looking for them.  It was above 40F both times, with very light winds.

Since last posting in mid October, I got the wheel pants installed on the Val with new mounting hardware that Alex designed and printed for me with his 3D machine.  They look awesome!

I have been flying the Giles 202 several times since putting the new OS160FX engine into it.  Runs well, still breaking in each flight with a slightly leaner setting each time.  It's good not to be running so rich that the power is questionable.  Now there is power to avoid trouble.

The RV-4 has been back up as well.  I installed the wheel pants and have not destroyed them yet, as almost any grass landings just wear FG wheel pants out.  The plane is a joy to fly, and so impressive in the air.  My fave view of the plane is a steady landing approach with flaps down...so pretty.

I have actually made a little progress on the Stinson Reliant!  The elevator is perfectly (so I say) squared up to the fuselage and wing, and now firmly glued in place.  I have also epoxied all hinges for the flight surfaces.  Note I replaced the stock CA hinges for the elevators with hardy Robart point hinges.  Phoenix used big point hinges everywhere else on the plane and it baffles me that they didnt do so on the elevators too.  it was tedious work to clear the hinge locations, test the hinges as located, put vaseline on the hinge lines to prevent epoxy intrusion, then epoxy one side, let dry, then epoxy the other side of each pair of mated surfaces.  I am going to move on to servo installation for the ailerons and flaps next.

Last news.  I ordered the Old School Model Works Robinhood 80 laser cut kit!  $200 plus $5 SH.  Crazy me....heres hoping I actually build it someday!

Last last news.  Tad has long promised me the DLE-35 he never used.  So I decided I want the Hangar 9 Ultrastick 30cc for that engine.  The boys are giving it to me for Christmas!

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.

Flying Fun

Great time flying this week.  I flew on Wednesday with the old Giles 202.  That is a rocket with the OS 160FX two stroker screamin on the front end!  It flew well.  One landing was great, the first one.  Second one was too slow so the plane wallowed but landed ok.  I finally have figured out priming the beast for starting.  It needs a good dose of fuel in the carb to startup....it needs that wet squishy sound to be present before flipping with the glow plug hooked up.  I used to turn the prop over slowly with my finger covering the carb opening, over and over and over....many times over, lol.  This time I put the corks in the twin exhausts, plus put my finger over the carb as i turned the prop over.  Just a couple turns brought fuel to the carb and wet my finger nicely, and created that wet squishy sound.  Then i hooked up the glow, gave the prop a back flip or two, and the OS 160 came to life right away.  SWEET!  And the funny thing is just this same morning I ordered the Align Super Starter from AMain for this and other hard turning engines, lol!  Oh well, it will crank any engine easier than my heavy old tethered starters.

Yesterday was Thursday, and I flew the old Yak-54 three times at Dallas.  It flew well too, but my landings were again average.  Hit the first one perfect, then got to wallowing the other landings.  Just getting too slow due to the desire to stay on the new runway.  The dirt, grave, rock shoulders are brutal so avoidance is advised.  Hope the rain today helps to firm the shoulders up.

Flight log: 10/16/2017

Forgot to post that I flew Monday.  Cold at the Dallas field but the guys got out five chairs in a circle and put a propane heater in the middle so we could stay warm as we waited for the fog to lift or blow away.  A couple hours later after solving all the worlds problems, we flew in very nice skies with little wind.  I flew my Giles 202 for 2.33 flights.  Well, the one third flight was about 2 or 3 minutes long before the fog set in, and I had to land early due to the quickly decreasing visibility!  The OS 160FX ran like a buzz saw and zipped that plane around effortlessly.  The hard part was starting the dang thing.  I had to use a high torque starter from Doug to get the engine to run twice.  On the third flight, due to only a brief period between flights, the engine started right up with the reverse finger twirl.  I sure hate to get that $150 starter just for this one stubborn plane.  My old starter works fine for all my other glow squadron.  Then again the Align starter is cordless and light, therefore safer to use.

Bravo Bravata and Bad Brain

Well, I had three great flights on the Bravata yesterday.  Needed to fly it because the XB wont be available to haul it for three or four weeks.  Jer will be using it while the CX-5 is undergoing repair.  I think maybe the Bravata is my fave plane.  It is just so pretty standing still on the ground and in flight, and it flies so gracefully and effortlessly.

Today I flew the Ministar four times.  Needs less down thrust because the plane pitches down with sudden application of full throttle.  Other than that it is flying great, like a little rocket.  I also had the Giles 202 with me but I brought the wrong wing tube...I had the Yak tube with me!  That was disappointing!

4 cubed

4 flights of the X5 followed by 4 of the G500, then 4 by the Giles 202.  All went very pleasingly well.  I made good strides with the helis today!  Finally got the cajones to do more than a straight line inverted.  I would half loop up to inverted, stabilize in hover, go straight into a very slight stall turn, pyro 180, and come back for another inverted straight line into another pyro 180, etc.  Big step for me!  Did it on 7 flights after the warm up first flight.  It is helping me maintain flat and level inverted, using aileron to correct tilt, pitch to control speed, rudder to control path and pyro turns.  It's helping to figure out which way rudder goes in response to stick input.  Great fun after the first few times to work the jitters out.

Giles started up and ran fine, with just a little bit of priming squirts of glow into the carb.  It always was a challenge to prime the OS 160FX enough so that it pops on hand flipping.  Fun to fly the big guy again, 4 flights of 8 minutes each.

I flew yesterday too!  It was club picnic day so I flew planes only.  I did have the G500 with me but did not take it out of the car.  Got in 3 flights on the Toledo Special and 2 on the Yak 54.  Both were dialed in and on rails.  I just love flying big circles and loops with both of those, and of course low passes.

AND big news...Tad maidened his brand new Stinger 90 EDF and it is pretty awesome.  Not that fast, but it has terrific coolness factor with its size, sound, stability, and retracts!  Flew steady as a rock and really entertained everyone at the picnic  who were eating lunch at the time.

Dum Dum

Went to fly on Saturday with the Giles and Apache.  When I went to assemble the Giles at the field, I had the wrong wing tube...the Yak tube instead.  Dum dum!  So I flew the Apache about 30 minutes and it was too early to have thermals.

Today/Sunday I made sure I had the right tube.  Got in two nice flights with the Giles.  Such a good flying plane and powerhouse engine!  Too bad the pitts style muffler came loose again so I had to stop flying after two full flights.  I again flew the Apache perhaps 15 minutes, and again it was too early to have thermals.  Got my exercise though, lol.

Update on 08/25/2014:  I removed the muffler bolts, cleaned them and the holes with alcohol, then retightened with red threadlocker.  Hopefully that stops all three bolts from ever moving again..

Springlike Flying Weather!

I guess it should be Springlike weather since it is early March, but here in the PNW our Winters sometimes last till June, so I was very happy today to have this weather to fly in!  Arrived to see the field almost encircled by mud as JB continues the sod harvest.  We have mud on the east end, south side, and half of the west end of the runway.  The JB mower was running on the west end, seemingly to prepare for harvesting more sod today.  One thing good about flying helis at this time is that I don't fly over the sod farm and don't care about the mud out there now.  I will however be flying planes and will be at risk over the sodless sod farm in the event of deadsticks, short landings, long landings.

Ran 4 packs through the Goblin 500 with much delight, doing some flips here and there, and just feeling comfortable.  Flew just one pack through the 450 FBL as it continues to have a wobble in the cyclics.  Reducing the gain on the cyclics did not help.  And lastly, I flew one pack through the X5 with more delight.  I had more batteries to fly in the X5 and 450 DFC but elected to pack up and go home as the JB mower worked near the west end of the runway, at least to me.  I envisioned the sod cutting machine and forklifts working there soon.  Mike and Dick stayed.

Aw rats!

Jer and I took the Extra 300 Soucy and my Giles 202 out today for practice in prep for the Wings Over Keizer event in two weeks.  We are supposed to fly duet in the noon demo flights.  Alas, Jer could not find a sweet needle valve setting for the Extra,  and ended up doing a very lean run that overheated the engine.  From then on he could get decent power out of the engine after a cool off period, but once it warmed up again in the air, it would lose power.  He is ready to give up on this plane and sell it at Tammies.  I think it's time to let it go too since it has run well at times but not consistently all the time.  Knock on wood, my Giles has the same engine and seems to still be healthy.  Anyway it is disappointing he won't be able to fly the duet with me.  It now looks like I will team with Tad by switching to the RV-8 that will match up decently with his Kaos Two.  We might just fly lots of low passes rather than a set pattern sequence that Jer and I intended to fly.  I am going to run it by the club prez first.  If he is not amenable to the change, I don't mind not flying the demo at all.  Anyhoo, I got in 3 decent flights with the Giles today, but wow the North wind was creating lots of turbulence South of the big trees that are on final approach.  Sure had to stay on the sticks really closely to  make the runway.  Hope it's better tomorrow!

10MPH+ N Wind

Nobody at the field when I got there, due to wind. I mowed the field first, then flew.  Had 3 flights when Tad arrived, much to my surprise.  I didn't expect him to show up, on a day like today for die hards, and since I thought he would not get his Kaos nose gear repaired.  BUT HE DID!  I got in another two flights (?) I think, for a total of either 4 or 5, not sure.  His Kaos flew great, and Tad nailed all the landings even though we had much turbulence in the shadow of the walnut trees on base and final legs.  That made landings exciting for me with the Giles, but Tad's Kaos seemed to penetrate the air easily.  Tad flew the Kaos like he's been flying regularly with it!  I like how sweet the OS 46AX in the Kaos is running.  The Giles flew well with a few clicks leaning out for the warmer weather we now are into.  We had one flight together and made some low passes together.  When we were about done, Mike showed up with a new used 150 Twist.  Didn't get to see him fly it.

Giles 202 in the Gusts

Another breezy day of up to 10mph at times...we need a wind meter at the field!  Of course it was crosswind, this time from the North.  I got 3 fun flights in with the Giles.  First flight and the engine was slightly rich, second bordering on leaning out at times, and third just right.  Sounds like Goldilocks!  The Giles was its groovy self on rails and unlimited verticals...what fun to fly this thing.  Al, Mike, and Ken were there too.

Giles Smiles

Nobody at the field today...calm and 50F!  Took 3 flights with the Giles 202.  Still loving it as it flies really big and smooth, then lands like a feather.  Gonna have to fix the wheel pants again even though landings were good.  They just take a beating!

The Giles Files

Flew the Giles 202 today again since it was so much fun last time.  Had 4 flights.  3rd one was a deadstick.  Could not make it back to the runway, so just kept her flat over the sod farm, and landed luckily without doing any damage at all.  Had to tighten one wheel pants, but it was not cracked so maybe it was just loosening anyhow...I repaired it after the last outing.  Dead calm pretty much, lots of overcast, no fog, no rain, but chilly 43F or so.  Dick Smith was there enjoying the good day too, but we both had to get in our vehicles and turn on the engines and heaters now and then!  Loverly couple of hours of flying.

Flight Log: 02/04/2013

It was a perfect day for flying in the middle of our long Winter...just a breath of air from the West, 45F-50F, spotty haze and clouds blocking the sun, no rain, no fog.  Nobody else either, unfortunately.  I made 3 very smooth flights with the Giles 202.  The OS 160FX ran so fine today.  The JB mower came, but I was able to make a 4th and final flight before he hooked up and started mowing.  Gosh, I love the Giles 202 with that engine on it...so powerful for pulling off very large loops, going vertical with point rolls, high stall turns, spins. This plane is one of my most adept at avalanches, both single and double, because it tracks so well and carries speed so well over the top.  Also, it loves the long slow rolls about as well as my Intruder.  Landings are a piece of cake since it slows down but maintains complete control authority so well.  I was pretty ecstatic as I disassembled for the day.  :)

Flight Log: Last Weekend in September

On Saturday, I maidened my new 60 size GP Shoestring.  Flew well, just needing some down trim and aileron trim to fly straight and level.  The Saito 100 ran good, but needs a little more tuning to be great.  Sounds great already though, but I ran it rich.  Seems like it will be fast  and cleaner in aerobatics than the new 46 size version.  By that I mean it has less adverse coupling when in KE, less than even my 50cc AW Ultimate!  The nice thing about the larger Shoestring is that it slows down for landing much more than the smaller Shoestring, and the ground handling is docile.  It did not have any tendency to ground loop like the smaller one.  I think I had 3 flights with the new Shoe.

On Sunday, I flew my Giles 202 and it was awesome, and handled the brisk north crosswind (nearing 10mph) like it was non-existent.  That is still one of my best planes with rock solid and rail like handling.  The OS 160FX ran like clockwork today.  That leads me to Jer's Extra 300 with the same engine.  He put in new bearings and a new O-ring on the needle valve last night, and the engine still ran rich and weak today.  That was sad.  He only took one flight and set the plane aside for the day.

We flew our DLG's with Joe and had a good time.  Since Jer put the Castle Berg receiver in his Colibri on Friday, we can now fly simultaneously without interference to his Colibri.

Last but not least, Alex flew his Alpha 40 trainer today and I awarded him his smiley face on his KRCA membership card.  He soloed each of 3 or 4 flights.  He was doing loops, rolls, and inverted flight with ease.  All take-offs were excellent, and landings were very satisfactory.  I even made him get to altitude then throttle all the way to low idle to simulate deadsticks, and he landed smoothly and safely on the JB sod farm.  Actually after the second such landing, I made him takeoff again, and the engine quit moments later due to running low on fuel, so he got to do a real deadstick.  He did fine and landed without stalling.   The plane decended steeply though, but he saved it with a flare at the very last second that made for a smooth landing on the sod farm.  It was as good as anyone else might do.  Congrats Alex!!!

Best Flying Day

I think today was my happiest flying day ever.  Why?   Because I had all THREE sons at the field, flying for one of the first times.  Alex is the impressive addition to the Young Team.  We brought his Alpha 40 and he got 4 flights with it today, after a forgettable beginning...after assembly  Alex said the rudder servo was not operating!  We thought we had a binding nose gear after the last outing, we fixed it, and the rudder servo seemed fine then.  Nope, not today.  Luckily, Sandy and Rachel were heading out from home soon to shop and would be passing near the field so we phoned them and asked them to bring a servo to the field, which they did.  Al and Jer got it in the plane, it worked fine, and Alex got to fly. He soloed two flights and did WELL again.  He is really good very early in the game.  He did more loops, rolls, and inverted flying, and a bunch of landing approaches.  Really good stuff.

Tad maidened his Kaos Two that he completed in the wee hours of the same morning.  After a 10 minute break-in on the ground, he successfully maidened it and flew another flight or two after that.  The plane is a fast and nostalgic bird!

Jer helped Shane maiden his new GP Extra 300SP, same plane that Jer has.  Shane's though, has an OS 55 AX motor that really halls arse!  Jer put it through the wringer and the plane passed with flying colors, pun intended, lol.  Shane was happy but doesn't think he is ready to fly it himself.  He wants to work up to it with some other planes.

I flew my Giles 202 for four flights.  With the cool temps today, I had to keep leaning the engine a click or two each flight.  By the 4th flight it was really sounding great and moving like lightning.  Great flying with it today. I must have been performing good because I got a couple compliments from Dick et al about the nice flights and landings.  :)

Jer and Tad also flew their little red Migs along with Joe's Sabre.  Cool little bullets made for great entertainment and low fly bys over the runway.

Lastly, Jer, Joe, and I flew our DLG's, finding some light air here and there, but not catching any boomers.

In summary, it was a day to remember, really because I had my 3 sons there together with me and enjoying the day together with our common hobby, and making some everlasting memories.  Oh yeah, we ended by going to a new Mac Donalds at Keizer Station, Joe included, and I treated the gang.  Super FUN day!!

Frustration

What a great day for flying, but I got zero flights, haha!  First, I got to the field and had chosen the wrong wing tube for the Giles 202.  I brought one for the Yak, arg.  When I did get the right joiner, very happy that Tad brought it, I promptly started the Giles and went to the pilot box to run up the engine.  I ticked the corner of the left stab with my foot as I lifted my left foot to straddle the tail.  That SNAPPED the control horn and made control non-existent.  Luckily I noticed it did not center the same as the right stab.  I thought maybe the servo gear stripped, but found the broken control horn.  I removed it, and at home installed a regular nylon horn, screwed into the ply support of the  stab.  Used CA to make the holes tight, and just screwed the horn on rather than using a backplate for bolts completely through the stab.  It should work fine with the ply plates and CA hardening.  Got in one partial flight on Alex'es trainer, who continues to show quick skills  on the Alpha 40.  :)  Alex got in 2 flights, one with a takeoff, and one with a landing before we stopped flying the plane due to rudder servo probs.  That later turned out to be a badly binding nose gear strut in the nose gear mounting bracket.  We reamed it out with a drill and it should work great from now on.

Giles 202

I got the Giles 202 out again finally...it's been many months since its last flight, but the engine started easily and ran well with no flameouts.  Very happy about that even though we have the whole sod farm full of grass to land on again, as of a couple days ago when all irrigation pipes were removed.  Wow, I forgot how well the Giles 202 performs, and how fast it is.  Rolls were on a string.  Stall turns are still weird with the plane falling over funny if I hold full rudder for too long.  Had 3 nice flights with it.

Giles 202

Took out the Giles 202 for a day of fun in the sun. It was a very calm wind with nary a breeze, not even crosswind! Had 4 flights with the Giles; the OS 160FX was on the money today, very powerful and smooth with a touch of smoke trail. I flew it a little tighter than usual. Only gaff today was the remote needle nuts loosened so the needle valve was wobbling around in the cowl when about to take off for the 4th flight. I noticed it and killed the engine. I had to take off the spinner, prop and cowl to get to the nuts to tighten them. After that I had one more flight with the plane but am a click or two away from the sweet setting. Jer and Joe both had muffler probs with their big Extra's, and were grounded after Joe's muffler lost both bolts in the air, and Jer's completely fractured off and fell of the plane during flight!

I also flew the Apache, and had some bubbly air a couple times, but nothing to brag about. Launch height seems below normal, and might be due to me relocating one aileron servo, and causing both ailerons to flex down a smidge. I think it dirties the wing, and I need to reset the aileron servo again.

Flight Log: 07/03/2011

Flew my Giles 3x and Intruder 2x today, plus let Jer take the Intruder up for a try. Too bad the screw came out and released the belly pan way out in the sod farm, and ended flying that plane today. Jer retrieved the pan, and I found a screw, lock washer and flat washer at home to secure it better. It flew well, as did the Giles. The muffler on the Giles keeps getting loose, so I had to take the cowl off and tighten the three bolts holding it on after 2 flights. I checked after the 3rd flight, and one bolt was already getting loose. Gonna use red thread lock on them today to end this silliness. I tried the ratchet roll today and it is hard! Not as easy as it sounds, but it will be awesome once I get it down pat. Besides Jer, only Mike came. Actually Harvey tried his electric plane but could not get it off the ground due to the small wheels and the cross wind.