First flight...the good, the bad the ugly!

[finchkid24]

First off, hello everyone. I have been lurking these forums for a week or so trying to pick up tips and tricks for my very own SC.

Today was the day. I FINALLY got some free time with the sun still up enough to take off. I headed out to the school field and took off for a sunset flight. As soon as the plane got in the air, my knees started shaking. I was really nervous. I flew okay though. My first flight was pretty good and so were the few that followed. However, the SC did take one or two decent hits.

I broke the tips of the wings off...not too bad, and was able to find the main peice of one and tape it back on...its on good. The other chunks aren't too bad, and it didn't seem to affect it too much. however, it seems the battery box is comming undone. It may have been on one of the clips against the wings on the ground, or one bumpy landing on the black top...i'm not sure. It isn't too bad, and just looks like it came unglued. Can I two part epoxy it back togather?

Overall, flying the cub was really fun. I am just so nervous that I am really going to hit it hard and loose the plan. I hope I can over come my nerves and have more fun flying this plan.

-Finch

[spar]

finch, My SC got banged up pretty bad in the beginning. Fortunately, it glues together very well and spare parts are easy to get. I used to be nervous too. The cure for that is fly often. You'll be a pro in no time!

[higbe33]

Congrats Finch. Feels good don't it!? I've only had 5 flights and the nerves do get better. Still there, but not as bad as the first few times. Having a large open space and no wind will sure help.

The 5-minute epoxy is a must and check out this site for parts of the Super Cub to reinforce www.ampaviators.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=17&Itemid=28

Also some fiberglass cloth. I've used the epoxy and cloth to reinforce a few areas like Joe says, but couldn't do the wing tips well. His looks great, but I messed mine up. Ended up using box tape, but his looks more bullet proof.

Going for my 6th flight tomorrow morning and hope this will be my first time to come home with a drained battery an no repairs to do. It should have been last week, but my wheel mod didn't work and lost the left wheel on take off which broke my first prop. Good luck to ya.

Hig

[finchkid24]

Thanks for the feedback.

I have flown the SC 3 times since, and each time have gotten better and better. I now have no fear in the air or landing...sometimes taking off is a little shaky but that may be because I have tweaked landing gears. I'll have to try to make them true again.

I epoxied the front of the batt. box back togather...and it came undone again. I didn't it another time...it did it AGAIN!!! I am not THAT rough on the plane. Should I keep gluing it? Also, the rear has started to do the same...But not as bad becaseu it doesn't curve has hard as the front does...i'll epoxy that and it should be good.

One more question...how do I get the back wheel off? I have a 1.2inch wheel waiting to go on.

-Finch

[higbe33]

It has a little plastic nut like the front wheels do. Might try some of that fiberglass cloth with your epoxy. Check out that thread and Joe shows how.

Hig