Post by retiredbri on Oct 1, 2008 19:47:57 GMT 1
After some lessons on grass and a few flights (but no landings under my control) I couldn't get any more instructors time so I moved onto a farmer's stubble field (after he cut the wheat). All these flights were hand launched with "abrupt" landings into the stubble and no roll to a stop. It sounds bad 
but I got to fly in a field large enough for any wind direction. It was good to not be worried about what others might think about my flying. 
I strengthened the wing mounting areas parts of the fuse and wings long before they needed to be done to prevent damage. I used a very light and flexible aluminium mesh, cut with scissors and that easily moulded to the curves. It was stuck with 5 minute epoxy (looks very much like fibre-glass).
The SC did very well under these rough conditions but the engine/firewall completely came off after one bad landing. I used "UHU por" (foam safe contact adhesive) to fix the firewall back onto the fuse and replaced the smashed cowl.
The battery box/undercarriage box was showing signs of stress after 35 flights so this area was strengthened using the same ali mesh and 5 min epoxy. Do this long before you rip the box out because it is easier to fix while the foam is intact.
So, as of Mid Sept 08: Total flying time, over 7 hours giving 101 flights.
Longest 12.5 Mins. Shortest 15 secs (didn't get high enough before noticing rudder trim way off).
Tip for very slow landing into stubble: Half throttle on the down-wind, turn and descend on the base leg so that turn onto final is 200 yds away and 30 feet up (need reasonable speed to avoid stalls on the turns). Then when lined up on final, use the elevator trim control to slow flight (trying to stall) and then when stable and not climbing, reduce throttle to one quarter to allow plane to descend. Adjust throttle up/down to control descent and not the elevator.
"Pull" the plane closer to landing area, never below 10 feet. When over landing area, close throttle and gently pull back on elevator to cause plane to slow right down (but not climb or stall).
It will be drop the last few feet with very little forward motion onto the rough ground. The undercarriage will catch the stubble first and the plane will then tip forward but without damage. When flying slowly, the plane "wallows" so go easy on the rudder else it will go in wing first.
With no large grass areas (without trees around) around, I will be forced to continue on my "rough patch" while the winds are low and the field isn't ploughed.
For all flights, I use a stop watch and record the battery times/flight conditions. The watch is also good to glance at to know when to make it my "last flight" on each set of batteries.
but I got to fly in a field large enough for any wind direction. It was good to not be worried about what others might think about my flying. 
I strengthened the wing mounting areas parts of the fuse and wings long before they needed to be done to prevent damage. I used a very light and flexible aluminium mesh, cut with scissors and that easily moulded to the curves. It was stuck with 5 minute epoxy (looks very much like fibre-glass).
The SC did very well under these rough conditions but the engine/firewall completely came off after one bad landing. I used "UHU por" (foam safe contact adhesive) to fix the firewall back onto the fuse and replaced the smashed cowl.
The battery box/undercarriage box was showing signs of stress after 35 flights so this area was strengthened using the same ali mesh and 5 min epoxy. Do this long before you rip the box out because it is easier to fix while the foam is intact.
So, as of Mid Sept 08: Total flying time, over 7 hours giving 101 flights.
Longest 12.5 Mins. Shortest 15 secs (didn't get high enough before noticing rudder trim way off).
Tip for very slow landing into stubble: Half throttle on the down-wind, turn and descend on the base leg so that turn onto final is 200 yds away and 30 feet up (need reasonable speed to avoid stalls on the turns). Then when lined up on final, use the elevator trim control to slow flight (trying to stall) and then when stable and not climbing, reduce throttle to one quarter to allow plane to descend. Adjust throttle up/down to control descent and not the elevator.
"Pull" the plane closer to landing area, never below 10 feet. When over landing area, close throttle and gently pull back on elevator to cause plane to slow right down (but not climb or stall).
It will be drop the last few feet with very little forward motion onto the rough ground. The undercarriage will catch the stubble first and the plane will then tip forward but without damage. When flying slowly, the plane "wallows" so go easy on the rudder else it will go in wing first.
With no large grass areas (without trees around) around, I will be forced to continue on my "rough patch" while the winds are low and the field isn't ploughed.
For all flights, I use a stop watch and record the battery times/flight conditions. The watch is also good to glance at to know when to make it my "last flight" on each set of batteries.