Autumnal perfection - Well, almost!

[sham]

Today was as still as a still thing nailed to the floor - not a breath of wind, and cool too so no thermals. Nothing. Everywhere was wet, but that wasn't going to put me off.

Then, it all started to go wrong

First, I was informed we were going shopping. Not asked, you note, but informed. OK. I'll go flying when we get back.

Then, as I start charging the batteries, it becomes apparent that a couple of the older packs are going to take an age to balance... and the clouds are gathering.

Then, with the weather gods smiling on me and the rain holding off, finally at 2pm I load the van and take the planes to the field. It turns out that it worked out well - there were a few people hanging around chatting, but had I been earlier I'd have not been able to fly because of a football match. Still, there would be no parachuting today.

OK, so pre flight checks done and Supercub up. People watch, but not intrusively. I'm having fun. Then the plane starts making an awful noise - a mechanically awful noise, gears grinding or something knocking.  I back off the power as much as I can and land it in one piece but very sick. Nothing loose, but somethings very badly broken and will need the motor area stripped to investigate. Most odd, it hasn't had so much as a knock in months.

But, not to be downhearted, there then followed 5 simply glorious flights with the Sportcub. She's trimmed to perfection now, and the last flight in particular was just awesome. 12 minutes of combined scale and trick flying followed by a perfect pattern approach and greased landing towards me, ending up about 6ft from me. I left the field with a huge grin

But - what suddenly broke on the Supercub? It must be motor or gearbox related. Darn!

[sham]

I found and fixed the problem with the Supercub - Yay!

Its raining, so thought I may as well try to find it - cowl and prop off, and suddenly its blindingly obvious.
Of the 4 screws holding the motor to the firewall, 3 are very loose and the last slightly loose. The motor assembly had finally started to vibrate wildly. Lucky the spinner hadn't destroyed the cowl, or MUCH worse! I'm really relieved I didn't carry on flying when the noise started, the consequences of the motor detaching from the plane in flight with people around don't bear thinking about.

While she was in bits I also balanced the prop (still the original) and checked the cowl and firewall (also the originals), applied some threadlock before reassembling and a thorough double check of everything else and I'm happy she's back to 100% flying condition. Much quieter than previously - probably quieter than she was new!

This afternoon, I think I'll double check everything on the SportCub too.

And I also think I shall start a service and check routine every few flights - frankly, what could have happened is a little scary.

[Knackered Sailor]

I'm glad it all worked out ok in the end particularly as you wrote such an interesting and entertaining report.

[sham]

Nov 17, 2014 10:42:01 GMT 1 @thingy said:

I'm glad it all worked out ok in the end particularly as you wrote such an interesting and entertaining report.

Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, you know

[Knackered Sailor]

Nov 17, 2014 12:30:48 GMT 1 sham said:

Nov 17, 2014 10:42:01 GMT 1 @thingy said:

I'm glad it all worked out ok in the end particularly as you wrote such an interesting and entertaining report.

Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, you know

 rofl   No sarcasm honestly, I really did enjoy reading your saga. 

[pasquale91]

Well, at least someone had good flying weather.
We had cold, windy, wet, and this morning snow.

[renard80]

Nov 15, 2014 18:03:57 GMT 1 sham said:

. . . there were a few people hanging around chatting. . . . . there then followed 5 simply glorious flights with the Sportcub. I left the field with a huge grin.

Astonishing! Usually, the chances of something going wrong are in direct proportion to the number of people watching.

[iandhunt]

I was thinking the same thing. Once a crowd gathers gravity increases exponentially.