How many Flights is TOO many?

[fun2fly3d]

If a person were to fly an airframe in the Advance division(and practice the advance sequence), how many flights would you say it would take to "Generally" wear out an airframe?

Yes, I know that it depends on the Airframe, extra, yak, cap, ARF, Kit, who built it, etc. Carden, Dalton, Comp Arf, SD, Aeroworks, etc etc etc - sorry if I didnt name yours, there are many many good airframes out there.

At some point any plane must begin to significantly degrade in its structural integrity.

So lets say that 10,000 flights of and advance sequence would significantly wear out an airframe, then would 5000? 2000? 500?

I would guess that several people flying Advance and Unlimited change planes every year or two because they think their airframes are not as "Crisp" (we are talking about airframe only)

What do you think?

[Al Lewis]

They last all of the way up to the one where you have to take it home in a bag.

[invert0914]

Everything has a breaking point. If you inspect your airframe on a regular basis and don't overstress the airframe then it should never break. I would hope.

[flynz4me]

My Aviation Models 30% Yak has over 650 flights on it. I 3D the snot out of it though and as I'm putting in a pipe tunnel for some prototype tuned pipe testing I'm "tightening" some things back up.

I know your SD 35% has some mad number of flights on it but I never see you huck it around at any IMACs. I need to get out and do some more flying with you and Bill this year. Maybe you can teach me some of that awesome crosswind corrected flying you do!

[TheTank]

I fly advanced, and fly hundreds of flights each year. Have yet to wear out an airframe (arf or kit) with minimal maintanence.

[Dan_nO]

Dern Al, your avitar looks so relaxing LOL

[rcgood]

Are you saying that you're practicing Adv sequence now?

I would say that with regular maintenance...checking glue joints and cracked wood every few hundred flights or so, it could last for thousands of flights. But I don't have first hand experince since I never had a plane last me that long . That's a good and interesting question though. A subject that I haven't seen discussed before.

[fun2fly3d]

	Quote: Originally Posted by flynz4me
	My Aviation Models 30% Yak has over 650 flights on it. I 3D the snot out of it though and as I'm putting in a pipe tunnel for some prototype tuned pipe testing I'm "tightening" some things back up. I know your SD 35% has some mad number of flights on it but I never see you huck it around at any IMACs. I need to get out and do some more flying with you and Bill this year. Maybe you can teach me some of that awesome crosswind corrected flying you do!

Your welcome to fly with us anytime!! I'll let you know when I plan to spend the day. Got two quickies in today!

When you fly in the mouth of the Columbia Gorge you have to learn correction or you cant fly!

V

[fun2fly3d]

	Quote: Originally Posted by rcgood
	Are you saying that you're practicing Adv sequence now? I would say that with regular maintenance...checking glue joints and cracked wood every few hundred flights or so, it could last for thousands of flights. But I don't have first hand experince since I never had a plane last me that long . That's a good and interesting question though. A subject that I haven't seen discussed before.

Funny Ben!

[smokin]

keep an eye on your plane at all times. i am pretty particular about checking and rechecking the airframe over before each 1st flight of the day. i go thru them quite a bit and look for cracking, glue joints weakening, compressing balsa, screws backing out, fuel soakage, etc.... when these things are caught early, they are fixable and the plane will fly for a LOOOOONNNGGGGG time.

the person that said they last until they come home in a bag did reperesent a certain logic!!!!

[sweetpea]

Planes almost always meet mother Earth way before they are wearing out.

Others may have a glue joint break in flight due to repeated stresses and this causes a crash, but I wouldn't say the airframe was worn out, I would say the pilot didn't do routine maintanence.

[flynz4me]

Someone should do a tutorial on plane maintenance much like Finless Bob does on HeliFreak. That would be useful!

[zoomer260]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Al Lewis
	They last all of the way up to the one where you have to take it home in a bag.

This is the gauge I've used in the past. But I usually lose interest in an airframe before that happens anymore.

[smokin]

routine maintenance is pretty simple...

if it is glued there... check it
if it is covered there... check it
if it could get fuel/smoke oil on it... check it
if it bolts... tighten it
if it is a flat piece in a stressful area... check it for stress cracks
remove engine every now and then and inspect rigidity of the firewall/motor box
if it's a blind nut... check it
if it screws together... go ahead and re apply lock tite every now and then
if the wing bolts to the frame there... check for wear/cracks

so on and so on...

MOST IMPORTANTLY.............

after flying it.....CLEAN IT!

[harv]

	Quote: Originally Posted by zoomer260
	This is the gauge I've used in the past. But I usually lose interest in an airframe before that happens anymore.

thats what ith ink most people think. THey sell the planes before the reach there day.

as long as the plane flys the way you like it will never wear out.