Stearman Build Day #1

This afternoon after getting home from work, I decided to start the E-flite PT-17 Stearman build. It has been a very easy and smooth build. This is a very nice kit!

Initial step, installing the Futaba MN48 Mini servos for rudder and elevator.

Sweet!

Installing the elevator hinges. The horizontal stabilizer with a center portion of the Ultracote peeled off as per the instructions.

I remain baffled as to why this was required.

Using a fine tip applying CA to the hinges. I did so to both sides.

Horizontal stab and elevator installed, preparing the rudder. 

My AMA license number as per regs.

Installed the linkages after connecting the receiver and ESC to center the servos.

ESC velcroed with Dupont Double Strength "Velcro" under the motor mount.

Tail wheel installed, linkages before shortening. These were quite long and I had to cut them. When I was trying to screw the rudder clevis into place before I decided to cut the rod, I accidentally popped a hole in the Ultracote. I came up with a rather nice fix, as seen below.

Using a cutting blade, covering the fuse, cutting the linkage to fit with a Dremel cutting blade. I decided to do them in situ as it was easy.

After cutting. Note the angle of the rudder control rod as per the instructions.

Using a Dremel grinding stone to smooth the jagged edges.

Lining up the rudder linkage with the rudder hinge. The white tape is to cover a hole I poked in the Ultracote... I later re-did this tape and it looks much cleaner.

Preparing to drill and install the rudder control horn.

I found locking the tail with a black metal clip very useful.

Rudder and elevator control horns and clevi installed. See the cleaner white tape repair.

Attached the cabanes and the middle upper wing section. This was a little harder to do as the pan head screws are US standard units and not metric. I don't have any US standard ball drivers or Allen's so I had to screw them in by hand and then tighten them with needle nose pliers.

I decided to stop here tonight, after about 6-7 hours of work. Went by fast! In the next day or so I should finish most of the build. Installing the wings and ailerons, their servos, and the cowl. I was waiting for an Exceed MonsterPower 15 or the Hobby King G15 motors to come back in stock, but they just weren't coming in over the past month. So I ordered a very nice motor from HeadsUpRC.com and it should be here early next week (today is Saturday). I used the counterfeit AR6100 from my SimStick to drive the servos; I need to order a AR500 from Horizon Hobby. Installing the motor, the receiver and the pilot figure, and that will just about do it! Then its getting up the nerve to fly it!

Cubby's ESC burns up...

Almost forgot to mention... Yesterday I finished repairs on the Cubby. I had run the motor a couple of times during this repair, about 5 minutes before this last spin up. This time I smelled an electrical fire. I turned everything off and inspection revealed a capacitor on the generic ESC had burned up. I removed it from the a/c and have asked Nitroplanes to replace it. Damn, otherwise Cubby is ready to fly!

UPDATE: Wow, now that's service! I asked Nitroplanes to replace the ESC, and Eric is sending me a new one, within 30 minutes of my posting the service request on RCDisuss.com, their forum for service etc. I have always had excellent service with them, and will continue to be a customer of NP, Hobbypartz and Xheli!

Eflite Alpha Sport 450 High Wing Trainer

I did some research looking for a good high wing trainer, since the Cubby really isn't a trainer. I decided on the beautiful and well respected E-flite Alpha Sport 450, here seen after completing the build It wouldn't fit over the shelf!  I purchased it from Horizon Hobby.  I love this plane and can't wait to fly it. Its a balsa/ply Ultracote aircraft, not a foamie, so I am a little nervous about the prospect of crashing it...

I was surprised at what I suspect is a less than optimal quality of the application of the Ultracote. In comparison with the E-flite PT17 Stearman kit (also from Horizon) I am about to embark on, this was very wrinkled. The Stearman is flawless. I am going to have to learn how to smooth it out...

I put the Alpha together in one evening. A very easy build being a plug-n-play (PNP). I added a Spektrum AR 6100e receiver, but everything else was stock. The E-flite servos were all centered, and I only had to adjust the linkages at the servo arms. Programmed easily into the Dx6i, even set up dual rates. Expo at 30%. I noted that the servos give a good and complete range of motion, except the rudder. The servo is centered, and moves through its full range, but it moves the rudder fully right, only partially left... Its not binding. I don't know if that's the way its supposed to be. As I said, the servo and linkages are moving fine... Not sure what's up with that.

So, here are the pics of the wrinkles, and the fully assembled, still beautiful aircraft!

Under the landing gear on the fuse

Underside of the elevator

Starboard side

Inboard right wing

Outboard right wing

Inboard left wing

Mid left wing

Outboard left wing

Underside right aileron. Similar wrinkles on the topside of both ailerons (no pics).

Underside mid right aileron

Inboard underside left aileron

Underside outboard left aileron

Continues all the way outboard left aileron

Left wing fillet. The right is fine.

Sweet! E-flite Alpha Sport 450!

EXI 450 Electrical Failure

I was flying Radd's in the garage when the heli started getting jumpy. The swash would twitch up and down. I turned it off and inspection revealed the aileron and pitch servo wires had gotten into the main gear and rubbed through. I didn't have my camera to photograph the damage... but I repaired them by soldering in a new section, and here's the post pic.

I have repaired the Cubby, but am waiting for the new motor and the props. At some point my foamy must become a gluey, right? I mean, how much damage can it take before its all glue and no foam?

I also installed the GY192 gyro to try again to stabilize the roll, and adjusted the clevi on the control horns. I found out that the further away from the aileron the less throw. I thought it would be the other way around. Haven't tested it yet.

Repaired Cub, Before Today's Crash

I had just gotten the Cubby repaired this morning, only to crash it again this afternoon. I had tried a cheap gyro, which would had prevented today's debacle, but it wasn't working, so I removed it. I may buy a decent one and try it again.

Below are pics of the damage after today's crash...

I'll have the fuse repaired by morning. I am going to wait for the new motor to arrive. This one was rubbing, and I bent the shaft before the crash. Its straight, but I'd just as soon get the Cubby back with a normal motor.

Brush with danger... Death Cub for Lukey

The video says it all. I need to do a better job being safe...

Flying my just repaired Exceed J3 Cub 4 ch foamie. Winds were light, but gusts were 10-15 mph. The winds here are usually from the south. The aircraft got too close to us as it would not turn upwind on an attempted landing, and blew over our heads. Once it passed I could not get it to stay down, then it lifted with a gust. When the gust passed the aircraft suddenly dived and crashed. Luke did an exceptional job filming.

Icarus

NTSB FINAL REPORT
AIRCRAFT: Exceed Piper J3 Cub 4 Ch EP Foamie
LOCATION: Biloxi, Mississippi
INJURIES: 1 bummed but eerily excited


The day prior to the accident the pilot had ground flipped the aircraft sustaining minor prop damage but bending the prop shaft. It was repaired and a flight waiver granted to allow flight awaiting parts and final repair. The aircraft was in otherwise excellent flight condition.


Weather on the morning of the accident was clear, calm, air temp 57 degrees. Flight was conducted under visual meteorologic conditions. No TFRs or METARs were in effect in the flight area, and there were no children or vehicles to avoid. There were no other aircraft in the area. The flight area is an uncontrolled field. The novice light sport pilot is a member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (# 957918). He has had less than 1 hour of flight time, and all of that in type. He is in good health, but probably should have been drinking...


The pilot reports the plane departed from the lot behind the Pentacostal Church on Popps Ferry in Biloxi, MS, at approximately 0745 hrs, heading west with only the imaginary pilot on board. The aircraft flew well over the entire flight area in excellent control and appeared to fly without any difficulty. The pilot skillfully executed basic flight maneuvers, much to his surprise and pleasure.


At approximately 0749 hrs, the aircraft was seen flying directly over the pilot heading due east, at an altitude of 30 to 40 feet AGL. This newbie mistake caused momentary disorientation, but controlled flight was maintained. However, shortly after reorienting himself the pilot realized he could no longer see the aircraft due sun blindness as the aircraft continued east. Aware that the tree line along the east end of the airfield was fast approaching, he made a slow blind turn to the south. The pilot reports that the aircraft suddenly appeared in the shade in a fast descending right hand turn. The aircraft impacted the ground in uncontrolled flight. Witnesses report the pilot was smiling, saying "Wow... 4 minutes of totally controlled flight!".


The aircraft is substantially damaged but repairable. The pilot sustained no physical injuries, however he is a little mental, and his hands could be seen shaking mildly at the crash site.


CAUSE OF CRASH: Pilot error. Continued flight into terrain after pilot lost orientation of the aircraft due to sun blindness while flying directly into the rising sun. Proper flight planning would have avoided flying the aircraft north and east of the airfield preventing him from needing to navigate the aircraft into a blinding rising sun. Moron.

CRASH PHOTOS:

The crash site is approximately 150 yards behind the church in an open field.

The debris field is limited. 

All of the a/c parts are accounted for.

The tail section of the fuse was still connected to the forward part only by the ESC wires. The motor was still at flight idle.

Starboard

Port

The prop shaft repaired the day before separated forcibly from the motor. The motor was removed from the a/c for inspection. 

It is in excellent condition other than the broken shaft.

The fuse is fully severed at the passenger seat. Top down.

Port

Starboard

Underside

The aircraft is awaiting parts, but most of the original parts will be reused until the pilot learns to control the aircraft properly. It is easily re-buildable (thank goodness for foamies). The pilot is excited about repairing the a/c due to the challenge it presents. He is still smiling and telling anyone, "Did you hear that? 4 minutes of fully controlled flight!"