DIETRICH PERFORMANCE AIRCRAFT

[crackedup]

	Quote: Originally Posted by flyinhi
	I too fly the Dietrich 260. It is my first gasser. (First gasser that took off and landed and took off again! True 1st one crashed due to not charging and then not checking battery levels ) DL50 on the nose. Very happy with the construction, trim scheme (wish I would have waited for the purple one) and flying characteristics of the plane. I receive a lot of complements on the plane about the covering, how well it flies and the power and starting ease of the DL engine. The hardware ain't the best that's for sure but it WILL work. Stay with the name brands, they have a reputation to up hold. And they know they will quickly end up with a bad rap if they sell a bad product. Look at all the bashing & praise on just this web site! No matter what plane, whose plane or what ever you will have issues. You will have covering wrinkles, so what.( Hell, we will all have covering wrinkles if we live long enough.) What counts is do you like the plane? Will the supplier be there for you? Do people report it flies well. And if you can't fix the minor issues ...then you may need a different hobby cause this hobby is FULL of minor issues! Everyone should build a few kits to learn how to build, how to repair and how to appreciate what it takes to get a plane together. Question: Can most (I did not say "all") of the people complaining about the covering, construction, design etc. do any better building from a kit? I'll tell ya right now I don't think so. Because if they could, they would have nothing but kit built planes themselves and there would be more kit planes available. Give me any ARF or kit or scrath built and I will find issues with it. It's so easy to knock someone else's work Ok, I'm done now. Phew.

Sweeeet and well put!!!!!!!

[JPHen]

I want to get ahold of their 50cc Slick when that becomes available.

Joe

[flyinhi]

	Quote: Originally Posted by JPHen
	I want to get ahold of their 50cc Slick when that becomes available. Joe

HHMMM, what have you heard about it?

[pfoil]

Yes, I would defiantly buy a Dietrich.

[JPHen]

It was shown at Toledo. Here's a link. I wasn't there, and I don't have too many details. Someone who had been to Toledo thought the ETA may be late summer, but I don't see any details on Dietrich's home page (or any info on FG or RCG or RCU for that matter). This thread reminded me that I had seen it when someone posted some pics on RCGroups. http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/attac...mentid=2446542 and http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/attac...mentid=2440786

[Altavillan]

Looks like someone forgot to glue the lower hinges on the tail. What did you think would happen?

[flyinhi]

Not a very good job glueing the hinges. Must agree. Barely any material on the rudder side of the hinges. Maybe that came from the factory that way? I had to install the vertical AND glue my rudder on. But mine is a 50cc.

[flyinhi]

Maybe the lower end of the rudder hit "something" and it ripped the vertical out of place? Just sayin maybe.

[BOSSIER_ROB]

I have the 42% 260 and the 42% Slick. The 260 only had one complaint from me and it was the covering. It didn't want to stay stuck down, but wasn't a big deal as it was only a few small areas. The Slick, for me has had a few issues but they have all been minor and easily resolved. I have jack hammered my tail into the ground several times. I can say that the tail is not weak like pfoil wants you to think. Ignore all of his comments as he never has anything usefull to say. He likes to stir s by badmouthing everything he can when he sees a thread about it. Just look at some of his posts from the past and you'll see for yourself. I have had some frustrations with my planes but you have to remember that they are arfs and ALL brands will have some issues. I would buy another Dietrich without hesitation. They aren't the best but they are still good planes and fly excellent.

[crackedup]

	Quote: Originally Posted by pfoil
	Yes, I would defiantly buy a Dietrich.

Being that this is not PFOILS plane to begin with and he does not know the story he should keep his ideas to himself. This plane belongs to a guy in Chicago and after speaking with him it might have been something he caused. Even knowing that Kevin and Bill from Dietrich sent him a new vertical and rudder for FREE!!!! Even though it might have been cause when he removed the plane from the trailer and hitting it on the upper deck!!! Way to go PFOIL run you fingers over the keys once again to put down Dietrich and you know none of the details... You have had nothing nice to say about any of the Dietrich and especially the slicks. WOW and yet you do not own any. HMMMMM our we compensating for something or lack of something???? Yea your cool!!!!!

[zoomer260]

Looked like plain and simple busted wood to me ! Not a bad glue joint.

[dubd]

Anyone know the circumstances that led to the stab failure above. I had the same problem and thought I was the only one who had the issue. Ultimately Kevin took care of the situation. DPA has very good customer service and the Slick flies AWESOME!

[BarryO]

You guy have been a real big help. Thanks.

And for the ones that posted negative about DPA, It's hard to believe your replies when there is this many GOOD remarks. Especially when you post a pic and cannot provide detailed info about what happened. Was I supposed to think the tail just fell off??? When someone post a negative it might spark an interest but looking at more threads here and threads from other sights wash your remarks out the door. Maybe you shoulld make more posts in the humor section and leaqve the REAL replies fro those tryigng to provide true help and honest answers.

Thanks again for all that has provided what I was looking for.

[cwhite]

Yes, those are pics of my broken tail!

I'm from the St. Louis area not Chicago. Man, that hurts being a Cardinal fan.

So here is the scoop on the tail:

1) It broke..............
2) Was not a glue joint failer
3) Were the hinges glues in well? No, but I don't think they caused the break.
4) Do I think I caused it from hitting trailer? No, I don't think I did, but you never know. Never hit it hard. Occasional tap. I've abused my SD Yak and other planes a lot more.
5) It happened right after doing a blender.
6) If you look at the bottom of the fin you will see where the wood stops and the foam starts. Mine had a gap between the wood and the foam and I believe that void could have been the weak point that failed. Just my opinion.
7) Dietrich stepped up and sent me replacement parts.
8) If I was building another one I would drill two 1/4" holes from the top of the fin and through the top of the fuse. Would need like a 12" drill bit. I would gorilla glue 1/4" dowels through the fin and fuse. Again, my opinions.

[BOSSIER_ROB]

	Quote: Originally Posted by cwhite
	Yes, those are pics of my broken tail! I'm from the St. Louis area not Chicago. Man, that hurts being a Cardinal fan. So here is the scoop on the tail: 1) It broke.............. 2) Was not a glue joint failer 3) Were the hinges glues in well? No, but I don't think they caused the break. 4) Do I think I caused it from hitting trailer? No, I don't think I did, but you never know. Never hit it hard. Occasional tap. I've abused my SD Yak and other planes a lot more. 5) It happened right after doing a blender. 6) If you look at the bottom of the fin you will see where the wood stops and the foam starts. Mine had a gap between the wood and the foam and I believe that void could have been the weak point that failed. Just my opinion. 7) Dietrich stepped up and sent me replacement parts. 8) If I was building another one I would drill two 1/4" holes from the top of the fin and through the top of the fuse. Would need like a 12" drill bit. I would gorilla glue 1/4" dowels through the fin and fuse. Again, my opinions.

Always good to know the FACTS and not someone else's "I heard.......". Thanks for the info and tips. Mine is still as rigid as day one after many beatings, but it never hurts to head off a potential problem. I will add some dowels to mine just for piece of mind. I'd like to keep this plane around a lot longer. I really enjoy it and see no need for another plane anytime soon, so I'd hate for something to break and cause a total loss. You know, the plane could have been built better, but for the price, it has been a great plane. Not top notch, but still very good. I've never had bad or slow service from Kevin or Bill. Just the opposite. It's hard to bash a product when the customer service behind it is outstanding. That's the reason I won't hesitate to buy another Dietrich.