The flying monkeys got me...

Helis and fixed wing

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Pirate Kid Skeleton by RadDezigns.

Sunday, September 26, 2021

Great heli flying right up to the crash!

Great day of flying the HK Trex 500 Pro, my go to for the first heli flying of the season, albeit late, and I took out the Spitty prepared to maiden it. Luis, and Greg were there flying their glorious 700 sized helis on the gasser side, and Dan was enjoying his electric Twisted Hobbies Crack Edge on the electric side. Perfect conditions.



Preflighted the HK Trex 500 FBL Pro, flying her 5S. No adjustments necessary in the driveway hover tests.



Took her up for 4 full 5 min flights with total control, Awesome! Plan to bring a heli everytime I fly now.



End of the 4th pack I seemed to lose focus and she flew over me in a hurry. As I turned to follow, I must have input some rudder twisting her and lost orientation. She hit the ground and bounced up against the shed. Did not ruin my awesome heli day! I have already rebuilt her, but need a new main shaft, just a hair bent but set up a vibration that made it clear it needs to be replaced. I am out of them, so no flying until I get some in. Twisted a washout arm just a smidge, so replaced that too, and lost the swash-to-head control arms and had to replace those. Replaced the main gear as I failed to hit HOLD and stripped it in a spot. Tail boom replaced, and will replace the main blades. The tail feathers were fine, but I am replacing them with a pair of Align blades. Right now I am just waiting for the main shaft. Oh, the skids were toast. I don't have any, will need to order some, but I had been toying with putting the wheel mod back on with a different idea for the tail wheel. Its done, pics will follow. The canopy was crushed as well, so back to the original blue one. Easy fixes, but man, when a heli goes down its a mess.



The Spitty and its RCGF-USA 10cc engine with its crappy new Zhejiang carb (the new ones shop with Walbros), didn't fail to disappoint. It started but would not run reliably. High idle, inconsistenly stall on acceleration, and when at WOT after running fine there for half a minute it would just quit. I just could never get the needles right. After a few tweaks on the bench trying to recover it, I grounded it. I will need to replace the carb with a Walbro I will order from Joe at RCGF-USA before I fly it.  I won't likely be buying another 10cc engine, they are just too touchy. The Evo on the Ultra Stick used to be but this year it has run perfectly. 

Well, the heli crash resets the aircraft mishap clock...

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