The SI Aerobatics Chat Thread

[NZ Scythe]

I actually have my eye on the 50cc Hangar-9 Carden Edition Yak 54... don't know what my chances are to get one into the country but I'll wait and see. I could be interested in your yak, we'll see how things go.

[alec taylor]

he couldnt handle it, it would get away on him

[slosshycoho]

Do Composite-ARF make a 1/3rd scale Piper Cub?

That would be my pick for sure!

[alec taylor]

ok guys. seems you have lost your pens. how about this then ? all points count for the imac season. first place getters of each class get first pick at end of year contest. same for second. same for third. there would be no drawing names out of the hat. advantages ? pilot that attends the most contests gets rewarded for attendence.( first pick at the prizes that is) disadvantages? there are none. got to get " chalmers" some how, this might just do it. alex

[NZ Scythe]

That seems pretty good to me, but it sounds like it would be a bit unfair for you Taylor... You're never gonna place in the top three!

[Compy2.6]

Well ill be giving the comp over queens birthday a miss due a slight wing alignment problem which happened over the weekend. Ill put my hand up for judging over the 2 days tho.

[NZ Scythe]

How on earth did you do that?? The rest of the model looks pretty much unharmed so I doubt it was done while in flight? is it a broken wing spar?

[Compy2.6]

Yea. Broke the wing spar in flight. Im very lucky really, wasnt to hard to land, fuel tank didnt fall onto the hot cans etc.

What happened - well was trying to do the snap to hover thing (up high). Did it a couple of times without drama until it broke. flying along straight, cut the thro, put in the controls, then snap!! pulls up violently but doesnt roll. Wing is about 60 deg up from where it should be. Cut the engine, half a circut and landed just off the strip on one wheel.

Damage was one wing (havent checked the other one yet) and the side of the fuse has ripped off. Fuse should be an easy fix but have to get a new wing.

So it will be out of the air for a couple of months ill guess. Still it could have been worse.

[NZ Scythe]

I'm not sure if you are lucky to get it down safely, or unlucky to have a wing spar break in flight! either way it was a close call!

I notice you have canisters installed now... how long have yo had them in there? I am aware a few people are concerned about the heat from the canisters/pipes affecting the carbon wing spars/tubes - I was in Australia a couple of years ago and I saw a wing tube from a 40% model that had cracked right above where the tuned pipes went past.

Did you happen to touch the broken spar soon after you landed? It would be interesting to see how hot it got in flight... Alec Taylor has been on to me about installing shielding around my wing tube to protect against the radiating heat from my canisters, I hate to say it but he may actually be right (again)

To be fair I know your model has done a lot of flying over the past few years and you've had a pretty good run, I don't know if I'd suggest there was a fault with the spar but its hard to tell looking at the photos - is there any sign of lack of resin, air bubbles or any other defects?

[alec taylor]

what can i say, or how can i say it. alex

[Compy2.6]

Yea ive had a good run with about 400-450 flights on it. The Cans have been in there for about 3 weeks. The broken spars were warm after the break that might have had something to do with it. It snapped right at the end point of where the fuel and smoke tank sits. Cant tell if there was any air bubbles etc as it is a hard to see now being mangled and all. I think the heat + weight/gforce (tank pushing on the spar and the spar pushing up) + wing pulling out from the fuse might have been what caused it but im no expert and it could have been something completely different.

Also looked at the other wing last night and that has a small defect in the spar through the carbon fibre which you can put your finger nail through into the foam under it. Looks like that wing is toast for doing any 3D and there is no way i will trust it anymore.

[Imac Kiwi]

Sorry to hear about your plane Richard.

Instead of spending that much on a repair, you might as well update to a 260. Those who have flown them are convinced thay are a step up from the 330L.