Experiment findings.

I haden't noticed it when flying the first two planes but the Nomad test mule showed it. The wings were level and didn't flip when I did a hard corner. It's called "hinging" in the hobby. I set up more planes like the others and flew them finding the same wings level with no tendency to wiggle in hard corners. It makes the maneuvers look cleaner and should score higher. I've tested several types of planes from different designers, some with balsa rib wings and sheeted foam core. Some profile fuselage some full fuselage and one with no fuselage. My Swizzle Plane. And one electric powered plane. All with the leadouts adjusted so that the plane hangs a little nose up with an empty tank. All gave me the same level and steady wing. I even set one up with a 2 ounce weight on the nose. Then at the field I flew it with the weight on and then took the weight off and flew it again with no change to the leadout position and no change in flight charastics that I could see. According to Voo Doo logic the plane shouldn't have flown at all. I'm saying that everything we have been told about setting the leadouts is that it works but not very well. On top of that I found that I'm the only person in the world today that knows where his leadouts are. Every one else only knows that his plane flys well the way he wants it too but he don't know why.

Experiment time.

My Swizzle plane was not keeping the lines tight in flight. That has to do with many factors but one is the location of the leadout line along the wing tip. I have been setting them so the plane hangs a bit nose down when hung from the leadouts and measured using a line level. Empty fuel tank. While off the ground speed and centrifugal force will keep it out on the lines. I figured that using a half tank of fuel and setting the leadouts so the plane was level would maybe help because the fuselage would be more in tangent to the circle producing less drag. I set up the plane this way. At the field the plane took off normally and flew normal until I starte to do maneuvers. Then the changes took over and I had a lot more line tension than before. That gives me more direct control which is a good thing. I did the same thing to the sister plane that was still in one piece. Overall line tension was better on this plane also. So I took the test mule Nomad and did the same change to it. Maybe fly it in the morning.

A bit closer.

I have the Falcon and Peacemaker just about at the same point in the finishing process. Everything is installed and fillets are laid in. I had to buy another quart of clear dope to apply the fiberglass and/or silk span. The humidity is high and I have to wait until it lowers to do much more painting. I had to leave South Park the other day as a dog was running through the circle and wanting to play. The grass was getting too high again there anyway. I took the Swizzle plane out and got in some flights. I went to 54 foot lines from 58 footers and installed aluminum landing gear from the wrecked Nomad. I flew it this morning and everything is working nicely. I managed to get in the first full pattern with it also. The winds were calm making some of the maneuvers tricky.

Getting there.

I have three coats of clear dope on the Falcon wing and it's ready to install into the fuselage. The Peacemaker is close to being ready for final assembly but it needs filling and sanding as will the Falcon.

More planes

I didn't have a plane for the clasic event and I didn't want to build one that was too complicated or big. I found one that should fit the bill called "Peacemaker". I started building it and then the El Dorado contest came up and at the raffle I got a kit of the J.D. Falcon. Not too complicated but on the large size, the same size as my others. Again legal to use in the classic event. I started building it even though it didn't have the instruction booklet. My plan is to get both planes up to the same build sequence spot so I can work on both at the same time. I need to fill and sand the Peacemaker and put a couple more coats of clear dope on the Falcon wing then install it into the fuselage. That will bring both planes to the same build place. I've been having run issues with my engines and after much trouble shooting it seems that the fuel needed some Armor-All to stop fuel foaming. Now if the rains will slack off so the grass can be mowed I will be happy.

A fire drill of unknown parentage.

Getting ready for the El Dorado contest was a chore. I have always had time to select a plane(s) and practiced with it. This year there was rain and then wind and then more rain. I grabbed the planes I was most familiar with at the time and went. The Navion flew good enough for a second place finish in Warbird. The Nomad 6 blew/shook the vent plug off two flights in a row. Real unusual for that to happen. On Sunday I flew the Nomad 6 again and the plug stayed on but the wing tip weight box cover fell off causing the weights to fall out which caused the plane to do strange things during the flight. Just as I was about to start the engine for the second flight I saw the engine was loose. One bolt was missing and the other three were loose. I called it a day and put the plane away. I did get a kit in the raffle and we got home before dark. I got the Nomad fixed on Monday and ready for test flights but it started raining again.

Too much power.

I've had a few flights on the new plane. The Brodak 40 proved to be way too much for the plane. The vibration shook a glow plug to failure but the stick fuselage held up. i removed the 40 and installed an OS .25LA. That is a much better choice for the plane. I'm going through flap tweak sessions now and have huyng it up as I need to prepare for the El Dorado contest in a few weeks. The park has mowed enough grass so I can fly wqithout getting the plane overturned on take off. I learned how to patch a leaking tire today. The local tire shop, Mavis, won't toucj a tire that has been plugged and won't plug a tire either. They patch the leak from the inside. I had to buy a new tire and took the other one home to experiment on. The parts store has "radial tire patch kits". They install just like an inner tube patch. I now have a good tire waiting to be used.