Scale Byron Glasair Build

[49dimes]

Big congrats on SUCCESS!! She's a beauty to boot . Impeccable workmanship!

 

[TonyHallo]

Today decided to lean out the top end using the telemetry temperature as a guide. First flight base temperatures were on the order of 240f. It was pretty fat on the top end so it picked up about 800 rpm on the ground. After a minute or so in the air, the right wing separated from the fuselage resulting in the photo below. Not much left . It did make a rather loud pop when the spar let loose, in hind site bolts in front of the spar would have prevented the failure. The failure occurred straight and level flight at full throttle. I do have a spare fuselage but lack windows, hope I can find a set someday.

 

[pawnshopmike]

Ugh.

 

[AKNick]

oh no... sorry man, what a drag.

 

[Pistolera]

Damn...hate to see that!

 

[Snoopy1]

Sorry to see that, way to soon.

 

[49dimes]

I don't think "Easy come...Easy go" quite describes what has happened here. Maybe the "Easy go" part.

Darn shame .

 

[Jetpainter]

Ouch!

Since I am now the proud owner of a Byron p-51 with plug in wings, is there anything I need to know just to be on the safe side?

 

[TonyHallo]

The wings were redesigned to reduce weight, the wings were foam ribbed using 1/8" plywood joiners that lapped a bulkhead inside the fuselage. Four #8 cap screws joined the wings. Each complete wing weighted 1# 10 ounce completed, of course it didn't work! I would image if I made the joiners out of 45 degree plywood it would have worked out, that was my first thought when I looked at the failed joint, there was really only 1/16" of wood doing the work. I would also add a dowel bolts to the front of the wings . The plane flew very well, actually after the first few flights I learned it would slow down rather nicely.

I would not worry about the Byron design, I have seen many different Byron models over the years and never seen or heard of a failure other than stripping the treads on the aluminum extrusions. My friend had a G62 in his Glasair and put through the paces without failure.

 

[Jetpainter]

View attachment 111048 The wings were redesigned to reduce weight, the wings were foam ribbed using 1/8" plywood joiners that lapped a bulkhead inside the fuselage. Four #8 cap screws joined the wings. Each complete wing weighted 1# 10 ounce completed, of course it didn't work! I would image if I made the joiners out of 45 degree plywood it would have worked out, that was my first thought when I looked at the failed joint, there was really only 1/16" of wood doing the work. I would also add a dowel bolts to the front of the wings . The plane flew very well, actually after the first few flights I learned it would slow down rather nicely.

I would not worry about the Byron design, I have seen many different Byron models over the years and never seen or heard of a failure other than stripping the treads on the aluminum extrusions. My friend had a G62 in his Glasair and put through the paces without failure.

Thanks! I bought this P-51 at a club auction and have yet to even look at it. I brought it home sat it down and so far that's been it.
It's never been flown, but it's decades old.