Don't be an idiot! (like me)

[Andrew Bird]

Got to hold my hands up that this evening I got a bit carried away with my 3m comp arf extra 260, as the sun was going down, enjoying flying too much and ran out of fuel in a low rolling harrier!

Moral of the story I guess is to pay attention to that thing that keeps beeping at me on my transmitter.

On the plus side the damge isn't too bad - I need new UC legs and some time with my airbrush!
The biggest concern os the right wing panel has taken a bit of a hit. It's repaiarble but as it gets pretty stressed I thought I'd put the feelers out there if anybody had an old one they'd be open to selling. Doesn't matter about scheme - I just want to get back in the air!

[pcastine]

Was the main spar damaged at all? If not, almost any repairs should be ok. A buddy replaced a section of wing almost 24" long, (forward of the main spar) with no problems. If the main spar is damaged, you may want to search for another panel. What paint scheme was it?

Pete

[crash-n-burn]

Hey if you do a repair could you post pics of it. I am interested in comp arfs but have no idea how to fix CF stuff, I would like to see it. Sorry bout ur crash.

[rdgood]

Andrew,

Remember the wings were made using molding techniques. There is mold release compound everywhere. You have to get it off before you glue stuff. Also use high quality epoxy glue like HySol or West Systems.

Ronster

[Andrew Bird]

It's the blue Kiwi scheme. It looks like the spar is fine but there is a very light crease in the top skin of the wing. To repair isn't that big of a deal - but it will require removing a section from the underside of the wing to go in and make reinforcements and allow a thorough inspection of the spar. I'll post some photos when I have a bit of time - the crease is so light it may not show up in a photo.

[FENWAYFLYER]

I would not hesitate to repair composite airframes. The repair will be stronger than factory. I repaired mine with the West Systems and I am very pleased with it so far. The plane looked like it had been run over and this past weekend at an Imac event I had a couple comments about the plane looking like it was brand new.

Good luck

[Andrew Bird]

A few photos of the carnage! The Extra isn't too badly hit but on further inspection the right wing had taken damage to the spar. I used a razor saw to enter and reinforce the area. Where the spar was cracked, is now enclosed in unidirectional carbon cloth. Also photos of the fus which needs light cosmetic work outside - the inside has also had cloth added.

[Andrew Bird]

You can't really see in the photo but the top of the spar is enclosed in carbon.
I've used polyply - it's a BVM product, composite sheeting - to give a platform to enclose the base of the spar in carbon and I've also covered the cross braces now. I used hysol with the polyply to make a supportive surface for the skin to go back on and again hysold it back in place.
Then left it to cook.......

[Andrew Bird]

When fully dry it can be cleaned up. Either I'll change my name to Harold to expaling the H on the wing, or I'll respray.......

That said - it's sitting flush and is ready to fly tomorrow.........

This hasn't taken long and has been pretty simple to repair - I suspect a wooden airframe wouldn't have faired so well........