Super "Rocky Balboa" Cub

[parrothead]

We had another great afternoon at sunset today for a flight. Cloudless, bright orange sky with 0-5mph variable winds. The last round or two before landing and I was going to do one more touch and go when my lousy depth perception got the best of me. Way too fast and descending much too quickly to recover. By the time I pulled back on the stick, I hear a loud "thump".
The plane did not even fluttered once it hit the ground. Nose first, buried the prop up to the cowl.
Within a second after the crash, I was counting the costs. Prop, cowl, motor/gear box, etc. Nothing. I looked it over as usually, shook the dirt out of the cowl, no damage.
I have crashed (plane rolls wildly) this plane more times than I could ever remember. My list of replacements since Jan:

(1) cowl
(1) set of Dubro 2.5" Superlights

I am STILL flying with the original prop. Very small dings, but still in good condition. Since my first (very scary, wife had to take to the car for safety) flights I knew this bird was durable but I never expected how much of a beating this bird can take. Yep, I had some dings and scratches in the fuse. Filled now. Battery box reconstructed, now better than stock.
I have read/seen a few postings of their SC during the first to third flights with devastating (sorry Major) crashes. Pavement I assume. This I do avoid.

Excellent advice from SCC members and luck I guess.

Anyone else ??

[N4768Z]

My SC should be on that cable television series called "I shouldn't be alive". ;D

[skivit48]

I haven't crashed very bad......yet. A few nose over landings and a few hard landings where my prop gets dinged a little haven't had any major damage. Once again...... yet.

I try to fly carefully and have fun and don't do but to much really fast and low flying.

Now for my uncle the crashes are a little bit different story. We both bought our planes at the same time, and have been learning to fly together. I have taken to flying kinda naturally compared to my him.

I have always been fond of planes and played flight simulators and video games for years. I attribute my abilities so far to this. (and the fact that I have a darn it I will learn to fly attitude.)

I don't think I am a skilled rc pilot by any means. I'm just saying that it is easier for me to fly than him.

And his has taken a beating and is still in good shape. We are both modding our planes and upgrading to LiPo's. Of course when work and life allows for my hobbies.

Compare our videos.

Me:

[skivit48]

And this one is his.




He has gotten a little better.

He is having to try and grasp the concept of nice and easy stick inputs.

[parrothead]

LOL (n4768z).

Hey Ski, your uncle's flight looks like my first months' learning curve!
I love the "touch and go" towards the end of the vid. Was that a puff of dust? Too funny. Very acrobatic.

How did his battery box fair after that flight?

[skivit48]

LOL It was a puff of very dry dirt his little touch and go created. Believe it or not he hasn't had any problems with the battery box as of yet. It is going to be reinforced anyway though.

[parrothead]

Apr 17, 2010 4:15:08 GMT 1 skivit48 said:

LOL It was a puff of very dry dirt his little touch and go created. Believe it or not he hasn't had any problems with the battery box as of yet. It is going to be reinforced anyway though.

Funny. I was "heavy-thumbed" in the beginning as well. I don't think I will ever go to any type of static landing gear on the Cub. Just too weak an area in the fuse for the stress. Those occasional bunker buster style landings I have would snap the fuse in half.
My SC has rec'ed the honorable and prestigious award of becoming my crash test dummy for my flying. Kinda of my "x-craft". ;D
The PZ F4U Corsair is whispering my name each evening. Still honing my hand-eye skills for this beauty.

[skivit48]

Yeah I have had my eye on the Corsair. One of my favorite planes. Might end up being my 2nd plane. Which once I have the money saved up I will getting the DX6i and a plane with alierons. woohoo

[higgsbosonman]

my super cub was bought just over a year ago, and i've ony had a couple of crashes. NOTE TO EVERYONE LEARNING TO FLY! do NOT land with ACT on. i ripped the plane in half. a little epoxy and an hour later it was fixed, but that destroyed my spirit for months. the only other times i've damaged my plane was breaking a wing strut and bending the landing gear countless times. this plane is WAY more durable than my helicopter. i've gone through 30 sets of blades...