40% Laser – Just finished and test flown.

[tonyc9075]

This is the Jack Strickland 40% Laser built from his plans. Scott Morgan has a nice thread here on FG on building this fine airplane. Scott inspired me to build this airplane and has helped a lot. Scott cut the wings for me and has shared his secrets to building light. His Laser came out to 28lbs with a 3W 100 on the front.

Bottom line is that this is a fun airplane to fly. It reminds me of a very responsive sports car that is easy to drive. Roll rate is right now, very responsive, for a wing span this size, 116 inches, it rolled fast. Elevator and Rudder also required just a touch to make the Laser respond.

I am just a weekend fun flyer so I can’t compare this to anything else out there that is used for 3D or IMAC. All I can say this is a gentle giant with immediate response. As a matter of fact the shake out first flight was a dead stick landing; I had to kill the engine in order to land the airplane. My throttle servo connection messed up and all I had was ¾ throttle and no way to bring it down to idle. I lined up the Laser on the runway and shut her down. The Laser just touched down gently and this on a no wind day. It was funny to hear my flying buddies yelling to keep the nose down and the speed up, stalling was never an issue.

I like this airplane a lot. Easy my favorite.

[MikeC3D]

Very cool.....another bit by the " lighter flies better bug "..lol

[Fixed Wing]

Congrats Tony on your new bird! Sounds like it a great flier. Looks great too.

[The Dirt Doctor]

	Quote: Originally Posted by tonyc9075
	This is the Jack Strickland 40% Laser built from his plans. Scott Morgan has a nice thread here on FG on building this fine airplane. Scott inspired me to build this airplane and has helped a lot. Scott cut the wings for me and has shared his secrets to building light. His Laser came out to 28lbs with a 3W 100 on the front. Bottom line is that this is a fun airplane to fly. It reminds me of a very responsive sports car that is easy to drive. Roll rate is right now, very responsive, for a wing span this size, 116 inches, it rolled fast. Elevator and Rudder also required just a touch to make the Laser respond. I am just a weekend fun flyer so I can’t compare this to anything else out there that is used for 3D or IMAC. All I can say this is a gentle giant with immediate response. As a matter of fact the shake out first flight was a dead stick landing; I had to kill the engine in order to land the airplane. My throttle servo connection messed up and all I had was ¾ throttle and no way to bring it down to idle. I lined up the Laser on the runway and shut her down. The Laser just touched down gently and this on a no wind day. It was funny to hear my flying buddies yelling to keep the nose down and the speed up, stalling was never an issue. I like this airplane a lot. Easy my favorite.

Yes, Jack's Laser flys great! Last year at the SC regionals Jack loaned me his Laser to fly after I cracked a landing gear on my plane. That Lazer flew light as a feather and was very responsive - it's unreal how easily it flew!

Bobby aka TDD

[tonyc9075]

	Quote: Originally Posted by MikeC3D
	Very cool.....another bit by the " lighter flies better bug "..lol

I know a dead stick landing with a heavy airplane is no fun. Mine was a dead stick landing and the Laser just kept floating, now that was fun.

[tonyc9075]

Dirt Doctor;
Bob,
You may have meet some of my family. My son is a Paramedic for Vicksburg and my daughter in law is an ER nurse at the hospital there. I remember reading last year when you took a fall and ended up at the Vicksburg hospital. If my kids were involved in helping you, I hope they treated you well.

Tony

[forgues research]

	Quote: Originally Posted by tonyc9075
	This is the Jack Strickland 40% Laser built from his plans. Scott Morgan has a nice thread here on FG on building this fine airplane. Scott inspired me to build this airplane and has helped a lot. Scott cut the wings for me and has shared his secrets to building light. His Laser came out to 28lbs with a 3W 100 on the front. Bottom line is that this is a fun airplane to fly. It reminds me of a very responsive sports car that is easy to drive. Roll rate is right now, very responsive, for a wing span this size, 116 inches, it rolled fast. Elevator and Rudder also required just a touch to make the Laser respond. I am just a weekend fun flyer so I can’t compare this to anything else out there that is used for 3D or IMAC. All I can say this is a gentle giant with immediate response. As a matter of fact the shake out first flight was a dead stick landing; I had to kill the engine in order to land the airplane. My throttle servo connection messed up and all I had was ¾ throttle and no way to bring it down to idle. I lined up the Laser on the runway and shut her down. The Laser just touched down gently and this on a no wind day. It was funny to hear my flying buddies yelling to keep the nose down and the speed up, stalling was never an issue. I like this airplane a lot. Easy my favorite.

Hey Tony.,

Congratulations, now I have to work harder to get mine done.

By the way , you have done a great job in the finish also, beautifull airplane...

Roger

[forgues research]

..

[tonyc9075]

Thanks Roger, if you look you will see Boost tabs on the rudder and the aileron. That was your doing. They work great. This airplane is so responsive I feal like I am connected to it. Love the way it flies. I am looking forward to your first turbo flight. That should be wild.

Tony

[forgues research]

	Quote: Originally Posted by tonyc9075
	Thanks Roger, if you look you will see Boost tabs on the rudder and the aileron. That was your doing. They work great. This airplane is so responsive I feal like I am connected to it. Love the way it flies. I am looking forward to your first turbo flight. That should be wild. Tony

Very nice Tony, the boost tabs on the ailerons are a bit small , do you find them adequate??

just a thought

Roger

[The Dirt Doctor]

	Quote: Originally Posted by tonyc9075
	Dirt Doctor; Bob, You may have meet some of my family. My son is a Paramedic for Vicksburg and my daughter in law is an ER nurse at the hospital there. I remember reading last year when you took a fall and ended up at the Vicksburg hospital. If my kids were involved in helping you, I hope they treated you well. Tony

Everyone treated me really well. I think the EMT at the airport was from Winnsboro and both my wife and I knew the ER folks (my wife is a BSRN and worked there when it was Mercy Hospital then Parkview.

What are your kids names? Have I met you somewhere, maybe at a Monroe fly-in or over in Shereveport at the SHARKS field?

Bobby aka TDD

[RC_Pattern_Flyer]

Tony, looks like you are running one servo and boost tab?

Is anyone running just boost tabs controlled by a mini servo like Jack does on his rudder?

Tony.. can you give an overall run down of your setup (radio etc) for the plane with pictures?

Thanks

Chuck Hochhalter

[forgues research]

	Quote: Originally Posted by RC_Pattern_Flyer
	Tony, looks like you are running one servo and boost tab? Is anyone running just boost tabs controlled by a mini servo like Jack does on his rudder? Tony.. can you give an overall run down of your setup (radio etc) for the plane with pictures? Thanks Chuck Hochhalter

Chuck,
If I may, Jack isn't running a mini on boost tab only,

I have done it on my yak and had plenty of autority with it, but something you have to do also if you do this, is add dampers on the rudder itself something like mini shock absorbers, or else the whole thing will oscilate.

Roger

[tonyc9075]

	Quote: Originally Posted by forgues research
	Very nice Tony, the boost tabs on the ailerons are a bit small , do you find them adequate?? just a thought Roger

Roger, I am following Scott's lead on the size of the tabs. Same size as his. I have a strong servo and don't need the tabs to boost the servo. My thinking is the tabs will improve the function of the control serface. The ailerons will act as if they are a larger size and move the wing faster. Is this right?

[forgues research]

	Quote: Originally Posted by tonyc9075
	Roger, I am following Scott's lead on the size of the tabs. Same size as his. I have a strong servo and don't need the tabs to boost the servo. My thinking is the tabs will improve the function of the control serface. The ailerons will act as if they are a larger size and move the wing faster. Is this right?

I'm affraid not Tony, the boost tabs will only act to help the servo, nothing else.

Roger