The I'm going out flying thread 2016

[thurmma]

We had our fun fly yesterday and it was fun until the Edge expired The prop hub snapped off the crank of the GP-176EVO after 3 flights! No warning at all. I had kept it high for the first 2 flights because I hadn't flown the plane in about 6 months and had to re-trim it after the new radio system had been installed. On the 3rd flight I was feeling comfortable and was doing a knife edge pass on the outside edge of the runway and the prop and hub went one direction, the plane another. I made a quick decision to get a little altitude and try to turn the plane around to hit the runway because I didn't have enough room to set it down the direction it was heading. I got a little altitude and started turning it around but didn't make it. about 3/4's of the way around it stalled and let me tell you 20' is not enough altitude to get a 42% plane back from a stall. She was a great plane for many hundreds of flights. RIP Edge.

The prop, wheels, electronics and exhaust all survived perfectly so there will be another plane in the hanger shortly. Probably another 330LX as a backup plane for IMAC.

 

[kwj48]

That sucks man. Sorry for your loss.

 

[yakken]

The Valach is a sweet sounding engine. And quiet. Unbelievably quite. Tom had some guru custom build a 2 into 1 canister that sits right behind and below the engine. You would swear it's a Honda Civic idling. Performance speaking, the 3dub has way more than the Valach. But then two stroke verses four stroke. Bottom end grunt is far better than the 3w. He is swinging a 36x14 Menz at just under the rpm of the 3w 210 with a 34x12. The Decathlon weighs in around 70 or so pounds. It flies it really great. It's quite challenged in vertical uplines however. But with smoke on and when it runs out of steam after a couple hundred feet...it looks pretty cool falling back down through the smoke trail it just left. Nice engine. Just not for 3d. Would be superb for precision or IMAC though.

We all had a great time at the field today. Weather was simply gorgeous. Around 70'ish, cloudless sunny skies and very light breeze. (When there was a breeze) Some of the older gents showed up with their nitro burners. One really great guy and friend brought his Stearman powered with a Saito 125. What a gorgeous plane. I almost miss my Saito's. ALMOST! lol.

The big Yak flew so gracefully today. Slow and true rollers were just plane (inserted pun) pretty to watch. I swear, this monster flies so much more accurate and smooth now. Maybe I need to rebuild all my planes huh? NOT! Lol.

Oh how I wish I could fly 24/7/365!

i dont believe the yak flew without video[emoji2]

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

 

[Snoopy1]

@stangflyer
Thanks for the reply. And I have to agree with you I try to fly 3 times a week and really enjoy it. Now with the weather changing getting anxious about how much flying I will get in before the season is over. As you I would like to fly all year round.
Hopefully I will be able to test my new Test plane built today. Just an plane built from a bunch of old parts and a glow engine upfront. Will be able to install any radio equipment that is suspect and fly it around and check that it is functional and works properly.

 

[Snoopy1]

@thurmma sorry to see that it always hard to look at nice big plane banged up like that.

 

[Snoopy1]

@thurmma it is a pity that I am retired now but take the end of the crankshaft that is snapped off try not touch it and keep it clean there are experts that can with a microscope look at the fractured surface and tell you why it failed. If you do not know anybody let me know NOT promising anything but will see if I can get the shaft inspected.

 

[stangflyer]

@thurmma I am so sorry Mark.... Man, that absolutely sucks. To see you loose a big Pilot due to this "INFERIOR" engine, really saddens me. I am just glad I dumped my GP 176 Evo while I still had the chance and before it cost me the Sukhoi.

 

[HRRC Flyer]

@thurmma Mark, I too am very sorry for your engine failure. . . . . . I am glad your electronics and other items survived even though the plane was lost.

 

[Jetpainter]

Man that sucks. All I can say is Pilot free wood! It would certainly be a project, but doable. After seeing @stangflyer 's Yak go together I have faith.

 

[Bartman]

We had our fun fly yesterday and it was fun until the Edge expired .............

Sorry to hear it Mark! That sucks!