52% Weeks Solution Test Flight (Hempel)

[toc pilot]

Hi guys,

Just wanted to post a quick note (ok, a long note) about my 52% Weeks Solution Weidner Modlebau biplane. I entered this plane at the 2007 AMA static competition and took second place with it. Many of you have probabbly seen it. I have been waiting a long time to test fly this plane because of a landing gear issue. The fiberglass gear delaminated going to the AMA show so the plane has been sitting for 4 months. I finally contacted Able RC and had a new aluminum gear made. The plane was then ready to fly!

First off, this is a very big plane and Weidner Modelbau designed this plane around a 200 cc engine, specifically the 3W-212 4 cylinder. After looking the plane over I decided that the new 3W-275 engine would be the engine for this plane to have any type of performance. I am now very glad I used the 275 over the 212.

This past Sunday was the big day! It took about an hour to assemble the airplane. I really took my time with it to make sure everything was perfect. I checked the batteries, the powerbox, all the connectors, fuel tank, etc,etc. After priming (choke) the engine it fired right up. It really surprised me with how fast a brand new engine started concidering the fuel lines were all dry starting off. On this plane I installed Pefa canisters and the quiet noise I was hearing was a pleasent surprise. Full throttle run up quickly reminded me that this was a 275cc engine and the noise was evidant of that, especially with the Bolly 36x14 prop.

After the range check with the motor running and not running, I checked the fail safe by turning off the TX, sure enough the engine quit running just like it was programed to do. No more excusses. It was time to fly.

Take off was performed with full throttle, the tail quickly rose and the plane was excellerating really fast. After about 150 feet, I pulled alittle up and she was quickly climbing. 2 clicks of right aileron trip and about 3 click of down trim it was straight and level. The roll rate was fantastic, probabbly Mark Leesburg speed! I ran the plane through several passes and the engine was running great! No tuning was required from this engine. Right out of the box, on to the airplane; it was perfect.

I performed seveal rolls and several vertical lines. Everything was perfect................... until that last snap.

After the last snap, I noticed I no longer had throttle control. The motor was running about 50% power. Knowing something seriously had happend I put the airplane high overhead and killed the motor with the fiberoptic kill switch linked to the TX. I made a safe landeing with several small bounces of less than 6" high. I also noticed I could no longer keep it on the runway. The plane drifted off and came to a stop without any damage.

Upon inspection I discovered that 1-receiver had quit. Only the right side of the plane was working which included the right ailerons and the right side elevator. The rudder servos, throttle servos, and left aileron servos were all pluged into the left receiver. Tapping the receiver a few times and everything on the left side of the plane started working agian! Holly crap! Just 2 days prior, I concidered only using that 1-receiver. The second receiver I installed was just more of an afterthought. Had I not installed that second receiver this plane would have been lost forever. I am really glad I installed that second receiver.

More flights are planned for this long weekend!
Here are a few pictures of the new plane, maybe I will compete with it at the shootout, look out Quique!!

Bill Hempel

[Jaybird]

Glad it worked out, that is a beauty!

[DKjens]

Congrats on the maiden and the happy outcome. I have always been and am a single receiver guy, I'd be curious to find out just what is going on with that intermittently working receiver.
It really is a beautiful airplane. I love the way the canopy is positioned back on the fuse, gives it a bit of a racer look. Oh, and the pilot head looks almost as big as yours he he.

[ericb]

Nice looking plane. Glad to hear nothing was damaged on the deadstick.

[snap a saurus]

Hi Bill, nice airplane, what is the length and wingspan, Powerbox have a new product that will provide redundancy, it will use the receiver that is better working, I already have it in my Edge, here is the link

http://www.powerbox-systems.com/e/po..._rrs/start.php

I had the same setup you have but now I have the redundancy.

[madmax]

Mr. Hemple, thanks for the writeup!! I saw this thing at the AMA Show and was blown away by the prominence, scheme, and quality of your plane. Glad to hear the flight went well!! BTW, you got smoke on that puppy?

As always Bill, for sharing this stuff with us, and for your continued support of FG. I'll speak for everyone when I say we're stoked to have you here.

Nose brown, gotta roll.

MD

[KTS]

What do you think she weighs in at Bill?

Kurt Seiter

[SleepyC]

Bill..

What really pumps me up about your post is that after all these years.. and your professional status and all,
you still really seem toget pumped about a new plane and flying.

That is VERY COOL.

Congrats on the plane, and your safe landing!

[LUCKY]

Hey Bill,
Great looking airplane!!! Cant wait until I see it in action. Good luck!!

[sprice50]

Looks awesome!

[Supermod56]

Hey Bill, nice lookin plane, might have to get one, need another project!!! This is a perfect example of why I always use a fiber optic kill switch, and 2 receivers, saved me more than once when I had a glitch!

Tom

[excelpoint]

Very nice.

[bodywerks]

Billy, I probably just missed you that day, again! Working weekends SUCKS. I did the maiden on my 35% electric that day, too... I heard about your little incident - it's funny how the stories change from one person to the next! My buddy had it sounding like your one-wing-panel landing paled in comparison to this heroic effort, LOL!
Will you be out there Memorial day? I am flying down in Green Valley on Sunday.

[50%plane]

Bill, please make a video so that we can all see this beauty in the air.


50%

[SmoothFlying]

AWESOME!!! Great flying to get it back. This is just a reassurance and a reminder that you should always use 2 recievers in a big bird. I harp about 2 recievers but those folks who are adament about 1 reciever in a big bird always argue. See here folks Bill is a sponsored pilot. Even sponsored pilots can get a faulty reciever. Like he said, if it wasnt for him not putting two recievers in the plane that beauty would have been history. I hope all those folks saying 2 recievers in a big bird is stupid or not needed reads your post. Thanks for sharing it with us and what happened.