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Post by ezza on Apr 16, 2007 23:07:48 GMT 10
Hey Ezza, I lost a Halfpipe flying at the top (cliff) of Lennox Head, it was about 30kts and got caught in turbulence during a landing attempt. It ended up in the thick bushes behind the cliff, it's still there I presume I didn't see exactly where it went in and the bushes are impenetrable. It was an awesome flight before that happened though, but I don't think I'd brave it again after losing a nice model there... (the Halfpipe was really quite sweet). I like the look of Skennar's Head, nice grassy landing area. The sites on Coolamon scenic drive sound awesome, any hints as to where they are? Also, are the land owners OK with out of towners such as myself flying there? OH NO Sorry to hear. Somebody has cleared alot of the Bitou bush from up there. I wonder if they found it? I will ask the local slopers (about 2 of them) if they ever found anything. I will keep an eye out, next time I crash back in there. What color was/is it? That turbulent air creates a powerful DS zone. ;D I actually mis-landed my Reaper back in there once. Luckily I had a lost model alarm. It took me 45 minutes to retrieve my plane, and it was only 50 meters in. I put lost model alarms in all my models now. They have saved me so many times. They also start beeping when your battery is about to die. Sometimes this gives you the vital seconds to land. I don't think you will have any problems flying at those spots. The paragliders can sometimes get a little funny, but they only fly at Possums Shoot Rd (Possums), off of Coolamon Scenic rd. If it is busy there I fly at one of the other spots. Powerlines is about 3k's down Coolamon Scenic rd on the right, traveling West from the highway. You can't miss the big powerline that runs across the hill. Basically, park at the top and walk down to the gate. There are new owners, but they are OK with it. At the lookout, on the corner of Coolamon Scenic and the Highway, you can just hop the fence and fly. I guess just always lock the gate, leave no rubbish and make sure your battery is charged. Eric
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Post by windsock on Apr 17, 2007 16:22:23 GMT 10
Hey Eric,
I'm heading down to Byron on the 5th of May. I have a few things to do but would like to catch up. I would like to try these areas that you outlined. I have only flown at the lookout on the Byron Bay bypass.
Gerard
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Post by ezza on Apr 17, 2007 19:39:22 GMT 10
Hey Eric, I'm heading down to Byron on the 5th of May. I have a few things to do but would like to catch up. I would like to try these areas that you outlined. I have only flown at the lookout on the Byron Bay bypass. Gerard Sounds good Gerard. Hopefully it is blowing from the North, as most of the best sites need that direction. Keep us posted. Eric
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Post by windsock on Apr 18, 2007 6:34:26 GMT 10
Eric,
Is there any good flying locations from the E/SE?
Gerard
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Post by ezza on Apr 18, 2007 8:24:25 GMT 10
Gerard, If the wind is E there is a few places to fly. Monty's has some of the best lift down here, but it is pretty popular with paragliders. There is a bit of choice with an E wind.
If SE there are fewer choices, The lighthouse and Skennars head would be best. Skennars is a sea cliff, I am guessing similar to Shornecliff, but with no trees and heaps of grassy landing area. There are quite a few slopes that look good, but I have not yet tried.
If it is strong SE there is a site I like to ds at out past Casino, about 1.5hr drive for me.
North winds give the most options.
Eric
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Post by sean on Apr 18, 2007 13:22:55 GMT 10
Hey Eric, My old Halfpipe was covered in white solartex with a red and gold stripe on one wing. There's a photo of it in the gallery on this site: www.frogmedia.com.au/windsock/images/sean/sean_bonnyhills_1.jpgUnfortunately I didn't have a good look at the bitou bush at Lennox before I flew, I had a quick look from a distance and assumed it would be an easy job retrieving from there if something went wrong. That it ain't! I spent about two hours looking but had no clear idea of where it was. I reckon it could have been a metre away and I wouldn't have seen it as it went straight in, nose first. I eventually walked away covered in cuts, realising it was a dead loss. I've got alarms in my planes now which I hope would help but they're not terrifically loud, the noise from a strong wind drowns them out from about 10+ metres. They're the ones from Sky King and they're supposed to be the loudest ones around. I'm glad you were able to get your Reaper back, I'm sure it was a tough job. It'd be worth taking a machete when flying at Lennox Thanks for the site locations, next time I have a chance I'll try some of them out! I don't get down there very often but my girlfriend and I love getting down that way whenever we can, it's one of our favourite places. I'd definitely be very respectful of the owners, it really is a gift when people allow strangers to use their land like that.
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Post by thevon on Apr 30, 2007 8:31:59 GMT 10
I put a bigger tail on the Drongo. Haven't tried it out yet, but had some frustration making it: 1) the tail surface has a twist which is really hard to get out! I used 2 bits of 1.6mm balsa with the grains at right angles to each other, CA'ed and pressed flat. But it's bent badly and I probably needed to use 3 bits of 1mm?? Stripped my first Profilm coat back off, steamed and bent it, tried again but still not right! It's probably OK to fly, but (sigh) I'll probably make another one sometime .... 2) Also it probably added 10g extra weight to the tail, but that translates to needing about 30g extra on the nose! I can't help wondering if it would be good to construct an EPP fuse/ nose for it just like Gerard's one for the Ozprey? Cut the battery and (huge) nose weights out of the wing, fill and retape the middle of it, and put the nose on with a square battery pack and lead weights at the front. I feel sure it would add stability to it, reduce the overall weight, and make it useable in a wider range of conditions. The downside is the work, and the likelihood of ripping the nose off. Also I replaced the fancy pushrod linkages with plain ones. As Sean thought, they had too much "wiggle". Great idea using ball joints, but the little nuts kept working loose - I loctited them. Tightening them caused binding but didn't eliminate the wiggle. I use S/S bike spokes for pushrods and fit very tightly into the holes. They're definitely more positive. Also moved them out further on the horn to allow more sensitive up/down throw. Too much fiddling. I should be reading stories to my kids, not cursing at balsa on the bench in the shed! Here are some pics: Andrew
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Post by sean on Apr 30, 2007 10:26:28 GMT 10
Hey Andrew, Looking good, should help it's manners in the air. I haven't had much luck gluing balsa together in the way you describe, for me it tends to create a heavy warped part. I don't know why it would add weight as CA is almost weightless but my experience is you can't beat a good piece of 3mm balsa for this purpose. You need to choose the right piece of balsa, depending on where the balsa has been cut from the log will determine how stiff and warp resistant it is. The best pieces for tails have a sort of mottled almost glossy look and don't bend easily, I don't know the technical name here (quarter-sawn maybe?), just how they should look These pieces don't have the densely packed parallel grain you normally see on balsa. Cheers, Sean.
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Post by st on Apr 30, 2007 11:04:27 GMT 10
I've found a single piece of balsa will readily split along grain (though I am SAL'ing with 2.5mm thick stuff). It can be greatly helped though by gluing caps along the edges, or using several pieces at different angles, so the grain doesn't all line up (ignore the poor woodwork . Quater sawn wood is better for a beam in bending (and generally considered good quality and less likely to bow), but I would think it would be worse in terms of splitting (from impact etc) in this application. edit: and if your covering it with a sticky film, splitting mightn't be an issue at all. Covering/balsa/covering makes a three ply laminate.
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zipper
> 50
Off The Edge Sailplanes
Posts: 88
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Post by zipper on Apr 30, 2007 16:52:59 GMT 10
I would like to know what the problems are to why you would want to add a nose to the Drongo? With the tail that big you will have to be careful on landings. Mine will fly well in 15 knots fully ballasted with an all up weight of 2kg, Ricks is 1.5kg and will fly in 10 knots extremely well. We don't seem to have much of a problem with the tail exept when there is a strong, gusty cross wind or the plane is flying slow. You should try some corflute for the tail till you are happy with it and then make a balsa one. When I glue the two sheets of balsa together I have two 1" thick be 1' square slabs of steel that I sandwich the balsa between while it is drying.
Glenn
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Post by thevon on Apr 30, 2007 21:42:33 GMT 10
See my other post under Mt Tamborine. It flew really well today, and landed OK on the flat paddock over the back. I took some of the weight (that I had stuck on) off the nose and it was even better, plus adding some ballast made it fly better too. I think it goes better with some ballast. I've just got to get used to its speed: my brain doesn't work that fast.
It's incredibly stable in rough air. The westerly late this arvo got rough, but it goes thru it like a limo. Wish I owned a radar gun.
My thoughts re: a nose are that by putting the weight (battery and any balance wt) in front further it would reduce the overall weight, and might make it more stable?
I must have buggered up my plug/switch - it doesn't come on when I pull the dummy plug out. It's due to me putting it upside down with the plug in, which wiggles it around.
Glenn what glue do you use for the sandwiching? I used CA.
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zipper
> 50
Off The Edge Sailplanes
Posts: 88
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Post by zipper on May 1, 2007 19:55:14 GMT 10
I use thick CA which drys a little slower, but the two flat slabs of steel that weigh about 50kg's each help to keep it flat.
Glenn
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Post by thevon on May 5, 2007 18:51:26 GMT 10
Glenn I used your idea - poured boiling water over the fin, then pressed it between some slabs of wood with F clamps, then when it had dried, sat it on the bench with 20kg weight on top. Seems to have straightened it!
Also I replaced the switch, as shown on the separate new thread about plug/switch sim Blackjack
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Post by balistic on May 7, 2007 7:09:46 GMT 10
Andrew, have you manage to DS yet? That field where you left me seemed to be a great spot. You will have to hook up with that old guy we met there to give you some tips as his little foamy was going off DSing there. I expect you to be a DS expert by my next Oz trip so you can teach me
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Post by thevon on May 7, 2007 8:46:24 GMT 10
No, but I'm hoping to any minute now! That's the next step. Gerard went down to Nth NSW on the weekend and spent some time with Eric and got some tips.
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