No 21
November 4, 2000
Hi
friends,
Two
'firsts' on this issue. I am really pleased to bring you news of a
brand-new gas turbine engine that has just been released in Australia
and which NORM KIRTON has told me about. Read all about it on the
air space page. It's a scoop!
On the club
scene page there is our first-ever competition report - a delightful piece
of writing from TORE LOODIN on an oldtimer meeting; it makes you want to
have a go!
Two
highlights for me since ModelFlight
#20.
The first
was to see my new ATS Kite Mk 3 go through its test flights.
It was a
miserable-looking grey and rather cold day on Saturday 21st October but it was
surprisingly dry and calm, despite the weather forecast having indicated very
wet and windy weather. I decided to load up the new ATS Kite and go to the field
just in case - and there was Gordon, sitting in his car waiting to see if anyone
else might turn up! The possibility of testing a new model was enough for him to make up
his mind to stay, despite the cold, and after a false start and me having to
tear 6 miles back home to fetch the main jet needle (!), proceedings got under way.
I really was fortunate, because no one else came up to fly, so Gordon was able
to give his undivided attention to testing the Kite, with which he was
pleasingly impressed. The first flight was excellent, with a few trim
adjustments being made in flight, and Gordon put her through her paces,
including some standard aerobatics. During the second flight, however, we were
puzzled to find that the plane became very sluggish and unwilling to respond
when turning or rolling to one side, although not quite so bad in the other
direction. On landing, we found that one of the keepers on the aileron servo had
come adrift and the control rod had come out of the servo arm as a result, so
the plane had been flying with only one aileron actually operating! The keeper
itself seemed to be very weak, and once that was replaced, all was well once
more.
Third time
up, and Gordon gave me control. It was lovely! With the throws set up as
recommended for novices, I found that she behaves very positively but nice and
steady. The fairly large dimensions of the plane and my colour scheme both make
for improved visibility and I'm sure I'm going to very much enjoy flying this
model in the coming weeks and months. Gordon's landings and low, very slow,
passes were a delight to watch and I look forward to when I'm doing the same.
Thanks, Gordon.
I had been
surprised to find that I had to put quite a bit of weight at the tail to balance
the plane, although the instructions seemed to assume that any weight adjustment
was likely to be needed at the nose. Unfortunately, I had covered the model
before carrying out the C o G check, so initially I had no option but to stick
the extra weight externally under the tailplane. I had completely forgotten to
check the lateral balance (and, strangely perhaps for a model intended for
beginners, there was no reminder to do so in the instructions) and that, too, had
needed adjustment at the field. Since those first flights, I have carefully
removed some of the covering and re-sited the balance weights inside the
fuselage and wing tip. There has been no chance to fly in the last two
weeks, so I now eagerly await the next opportunity.
The second
highlight was the simple pleasure of having had my 10,000th hit on ModelFlight
which was recorded on October 26th whilst #20 was on the web! Thank you for your
support and contributions - I get a lot of fun out of running this site and I
have been delighted to get to know fellow-enthusiasts from all over the world.
It has become a very enjoyable extension of the hobby, of course, and is
particularly so at times when there is no flying or building going on. As I've
said before, this site is really as much yours as mine, and I hope you will continue to
enjoy it and contribute to it. If you feel like doing a regular item on a
particular topic, general hobby gossip or anything else that takes your fancy of
a model flight nature, you are most welcome! How about a 'model widows' page
from the wives and girl-friends? - now that would be different!
Regards to
all,
 |
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ModelFlight
Reg Heath
·
60 South View
Gardens ·
Andover ·
Hants ·
SP10 2AQ ·
UK
|
