abborgogna · May 08, 2006 12:26 PM
#0 sourceAndy Borgogna
Had a very serious scare this past Saturday, on the third flight of my new Brodak Smoothie the engine was running well so I decided to do a reverse Wing Over. First stunt on the plane it came over the top very nicely and when I gave it down to go inverted the bell crank locked up in full down. It did several outside loops and at the top of one of them it came free and of course I was pulling hard on the up. So it did a tight inside loop that bottomed out making contact with the ground. The only apparent damage was the cheek block under the motor which I intentionally used minimum glue in case I needed to get to the engine bolts. I hung the plane by its lead outs and worked the controls several times finally after ten or fifteen full deflection tests the controls hung up again. It feels like the bell crank or lead outs are hanging up on a rib or part of the internal structure. When it hangs it hangs solid I had a heck of a time getting to come free. Needless to say I have to perform some major surgery to get at whatever his hanging up. But to try and fly it without fixing the problem would be crazy.
Had a very serious scare this past Saturday, on the third flight of my new Brodak Smoothie the engine was running well so I decided to do a reverse Wing Over. First stunt on the plane it came over the top very nicely and when I gave it down to go inverted the bell crank locked up in full down. It did several outside loops and at the top of one of them it came free and of course I was pulling hard on the up. So it did a tight inside loop that bottomed out making contact with the ground. The only apparent damage was the cheek block under the motor which I intentionally used minimum glue in case I needed to get to the engine bolts. I hung the plane by its lead outs and worked the controls several times finally after ten or fifteen full deflection tests the controls hung up again. It feels like the bell crank or lead outs are hanging up on a rib or part of the internal structure. When it hangs it hangs solid I had a heck of a time getting to come free. Needless to say I have to perform some major surgery to get at whatever his hanging up. But to try and fly it without fixing the problem would be crazy.
On the up side I got some good flights in with my Brodak Cardinal, the Brodak .40 runs like a top. It is without a doubt the best controline motor I have ever owned. I am now one stunt away from the whole pattern. I just need to get past the jitters and do the clover.
Finally on Sunday I started covering the Humongous with Polyspan. I found Polyspan to be no more difficult that dry silk. It shrinks up very well with a heat gun.
All in all not a bad weekend.
Andy