This is why my wife shouldn't let me have nice things.

Gas Rot

In my last post I mentioned how the 30cc MXS-R was acting fuel starved before it finally died. I emptied the tank at the field and brought her home. Today I removed the canopy to get the cowl off and was surprised by gas in the tank. I proceeded to empty it again and nothing moved. Ahhh... It's the clunk line I bet. The Du-Bro hand pump was leaking gas, so I couldn't empty the half tank of gas in the plane. This morning I went out to Nashua to visit RC Buyers Warehouse and picked up a NJ Modelers tank and pump because the tank doesn't leak like my McGyvered one I have had for 2 years, and it wasn't a Du-Bro pump.

NJ on the left, my McGyver on the right.

The clunk line hsd failed. Turns out the Tygon had rotted right off. It's not supposed to, but there it is. Fixed. I went ahead and overhauled the motor and carband put it back together. Took her outside, filled her with my new tank pump, and after a few cranks to prime and she fired up clean and smooth on the default needle settings. Made some tuning adjustments and now she runs sweet again! Put the cowl back on, and then dropped my DX8 transmitter on the asphalt (fell about a foot) breaking the already marginal flaps switch. Somehow in opening it, which I have done a dozen times before, this time I made it not turn back on. I somehow fixed that, but the switch is still boffo.

Thats just great. Took it apart and found I wasn't going to be able to fix the switch. Found out the usually awesome Horizon Hobby/Spektrum customer service form doesn't exist any more (it creates and email), and phone in support wait was an hour. Ain't nobody got time for that.

Online found out I can solder in a new switch. Ordered one for $5, and will find out if in fact I can. No real time down and cheap. While working that out I went through the emotional wammy of my DX8 files not working on a DX7. I didn't want to rebind and reprogram everything...

While at RC Buyers I picked up some softer rubber Du-Bro wheels, about 1/4" bigger and a bit wider than the stock ones on the Sukhoi, and that became an evolution that took longer than it should. But they should make the landings sweeter.

So, a long day... Tired and cranky. But fruitful.

Gas problem

Took the Breitling 30cc to the field, half expecting her to start and run, but ready that the 3 months she has sat clogged her tweaky engine. I had no Stable in her when I left her.

Curiously she started relatively easy, and she ran with a bit of a high idle. I cast off her mooring lunes and drove her around the field. A couple of times despite her high idle she quit, and finally started acting fuel starved, tuning high, low the high, low then eventually quitting and finally not being able to start. I suspect she is clogged.

Brought her home to take the engine out and clean it again. At least she got to run around the big field.

Sukhoi SU-26 Successful Maiden

The conditions were near perfect. I was feeling it. I took the Alpha 450 up to practice and refine my eyes and fingers, to check my focus.

I preflighted the Sukhoi, convinced she was about to take the place of my Pulse XT as my favorite and GOTO plane. I wasn't nervous, I was ready. So, I committed and pushed the throttle to the firewall.

She rolled, and lifted off smoothly with precision. I fell madly in love.

I had 5 6S packs but realized I had not velcroed the 3 new ones. I didn't want them sliding around on just the strap, so I only flew two packs. I put her through basic flight maneuvers, and the wings stayed on. She made her attitude changes with the grace, power and precision of a ballet dancer. Everything happened when, where and how I wanted it to. I practiced no flap stalls, saw her right wing dip in warning, clean response to power. Sweeter with flaps. The first landing was perfect. For that my heart was in my throat as I learned she had a point where she would tip stall, and I was determined not to on approach and landing. Landed fast, no flaps. Photo op!

I made a few changes to the D/R, but kept the Expos, and took out the differential. To calm my nerves I took the Alpha up for a 4th pack. I returned to the Sukhoi, quick preflight, new pack, check surfaces, pushed the throttle forward to get her rolling through the thick grass and she lifted off perfectly level. This time I took her through some basic aerobatics, and tested her handling with flaps. Made a couple of practice approaches and a couple of full stop landings. Final approach and landinf with full flap, flawless. Love had turned to lust. I am smitten.

So the Sukhoi is my new mistress. I am recharging the Breitling 30cc ignition and receiver packs and will go back out to the field. If its still mine, I may have yet another love...

Burbbly Day

Finally got some time to fly. Seemed nice enough, a little breezy, but calm. Got up to the field, bringing the Eflite PulseXT and the new Sukhoi. I put the Pulse up to test the winds aloft and they were all over the place. And for some reason she was nose heavy with a tendency to roll left. I had to trim her quite a bit, but the burbly winds tossed her around. Made a cooils of landings and couldnt see anything wrong...

The winds on the field started shifting from end, then the other, then cross, all within a few seconds. Made a final landing when I decided I'd had enough, and it took a couple of tries and a rough bounce that broke the prop. Had to take her around with a tip missing and finally got her down.

The Sukhoi never got out of the car...

Skyline 70 Sukhoi SU-26

Introducing my completed build of my Skyline 70 Sukhoi SU-26 from General Hobby! I think she is my new favorite airplane. I have always been fond of the radial engine cowl and her simple Russian design. I have a feeling she will be a good flyer!

I am using the Skyline SBach 70 electronics from my crashed plane, but with a Spektrum AR7100 received. On 6S with a 17x8 APC nylon prop she produces 1180 watts, pulling only about 5 lbs! Hugely over powered, so I will need to be cautious.

Camera away!

Not that I planned it that way...

Dropped the fam off at the airport on their way to Mechacon in New Orleans, thought I would take advantage of the ungodly hour and beautiful wx to capture some gorgeous vid from aloft in my new $10 pinhole camera.

And somewhere over the trees and fields, in the light of the morning sun, some critter was bonked on the head with a gift from the gods, with which it has absolutely no use.

So, no video.