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Soleair

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Everything posted by Soleair

  1. Soleair
    I expect to adopt an oval pattern in my MiniMax (when it is eventually finished) for the same reason Spitfire & carrier pilots used it: visibility over the low wing. Since the Max's wing is at cockpit level, it does blanket nearly all sight of the airfield when flying with wings level. A gentle bank from downwind to final means the runway can be kept in sight at all times. It's either that or a slipped final. Bruce
  2. Soleair
    I expect to adopt an oval pattern in my MiniMax (when it is eventually finished) for the same reason Spitfire & carrier pilots used it: visibility over the low wing. Since the Max's wing is at cockpit level, it does blanket nearly all sight of the airfield when flying with wings level. A gentle bank from downwind to final means the runway can be kept in sight at all times. It's either that or a slipped final. Bruce
  3. Soleair
    Pylon, I was asking Downunder, who quoted my post in the the one immediately before mine.
  4. Soleair
    Note to self: do not get into an inverted spin.
  5. Soleair
    Purely as an observation on the 2nd pic, I would prefer to see one of the jury struts the other side of the cleat to minimize bending of the bolt. Bruce
  6. Soleair
    Beautiful welding, HIC. Do you have to normalize or otherwise heat treat the material after welding? ISTR if you heat steel above its Upper Critical Temperature the grain reorganizes itself, which may affect ductility, etc? Or is it not necessary? Which model welder do you have? Bruce
  7. Soleair
    Interesting observations. Your point on the escalation of structure weight to accommodate a larger engine could perhaps be addressed by using a 2-stroke engine. I realize there is a deep seated mistrust - even contempt - for these engines from some, but I wonder how much of this is based on first hand experience with a modern 2 stroke, as opposed to 3rd or 4th hand anecdotal assertions. Using a lighter engine means lower structure weight and therefore increased useful load. True this is offset to some extent by the higher fuel burn, but even here modern 2 strokes are considerably improved on say, Rotax 503 levels. Properly looked after & operated, 2 strokes can be as reliable as 4 strokes (perhaps even more reliable than some [pause to don flak jacket]). This is unsurprising considering a single cylinder 2 stroke has just 3 moving parts. And as you point out, they are considerably cheaper. They don't sound as nice, though . . . Bruce
  8. Soleair
    L.ove the bearing jig, and the wrap templates. A bit of CAD time obviously saving hours of fettling there. The portable workbench is a good solution to limited workshop space. Mine was to leave the car outside to take its chances :) Are you happy that the (19mm?) plywood top will stay completely flat as is? From your pix there doesn't appear to be any supports under the outer edges. My concern would be that it may warp in your sunny Qld weather. I welded my workbench from 50 x 100 box, then put a 19mm chipboard top on, followed by a second 19mm melamine board. That gave me a nice white plasticized surface to draw on, glue on, screw to, etc. It is 14'6" long by 4' wide (sorry about the mixed units - I'm building an American plane), and is flat & level to as near as dammit. It's also very solid! Pic of framework here: http://i1303.photobucket.com/albums/ag145/beragooBruce/016Medium_zps1db12389.jpg I am looking forward to seeing your STOL progress - more power to your Tig hand. Bruce
  9. Soleair
    Watching with great interest. Excellent list of objectives. Do try to keep the momentum going! Bruce
  10. Soleair
    Good to know the professionals are using this system too! Which aircraft do you fly?
  11. Soleair
    I've just fitted my elevator trim using a Bowden cable in tension working against a spring on the upper half of the actuating horn on the elevator. I hope I have provided sufficient spring load to guard against flutter. . . I couldn't find a robust enough push-pull cable for my budget: even Bowden tension cable was cheaper to import from UK. And some years ago, PTFE liners were readily available for Bowden outers. you pushed them down the inside and they gave a silky smooth operation of the inner. Couldn't find them anywhere for my trim setup. Bruce
  12. Soleair
    I suspect they want you to answer c), but it is very poorly worded. In my view, 'chord line' is a line joining the leading edge radius to the trailing edge. Chord line does not have a length. Chord does, but is not mentioned in the questions.
  13. Soleair
    Scotty, I'm going to be importing an engine from Canada very soon, so I'm watching this thread with great interest. Bruce
  14. Soleair
    span squared over area Bruce
  15. Soleair
    Nor the dreaded Double Diamond! I was working at Sandown Airfield in the 80's when an instructor with a student pilot suffered a heart attack and passed out. I was listening on the radio in a firetruck by the runway as the CFI talked the student round circuits and low passes, and eventually to a landing. The landing was very good; the instructor was still unconcious, and the pilot very calm. It was his second flight ever! His biggest concern was that his wife would suss what he'd been up to in the resulting publicity, because he'd told her he was playing golf! Ah, them were t'days. . . Bruce
  16. Soleair
    I'm relying on you to do my research for me, Rick. I live the other side of the Blue Mountains, and Mudgee is my nearest airfield (metal & grass strips). But as I'm still building, I haven't done any active scouting yet. I fancy a flight out to Katoomba, but that would be a major cross country for a MiniMax! Good luck in finding a nice airfield. I used to fly out of Sandown on the Isle of Wight. That was a great little grass strip. Bruce
  17. Soleair
    All excellent advice. However, if while you're busy saving , studying, prioritising, and staying home to save money you want the occasional fix to keep you fixated, try gliding. It's cheaper & even a couple of TIF's will make you a better powered pilot. Bruce
  18. Soleair
    Fortunately.
  19. Soleair
    And the resulting change in thrust line will be minimal due to the change in 'angle of dangle' also being minimal. And well within the pitch control ability of the pilot. Bruce
  20. Soleair
    Engine burn, or replacement engine cost, is right up there as one of the highest elements, which all bar IBails have failed to factor in. Bruce
  21. Soleair
    Helicopters are an abomination. If they were meant to fly, they'd have wings. Ugly, nasty, noisy, rattly things. And talk about high maintenance. . . cheaper to run a glider and a mistress. Bruce
  22. Soleair
    I resemble that remark! (http://www.recreationalflying.com/threads/getting-a-round-tuit.48985 ) Bruce
  23. Soleair
    Hi Dom, & welcome. Love the RC models. Ah - Popham. My first cross country was to Popham, from my home airfield of Sandown on the Isle of Wight. It took a couple of hours in my Pterodactyl, & then I got lost en route & landed in a small paddock near a pub, several miles from Popham airfield. I walked into the pub in my flying gear & asked the way, using my quarter million air map. The landlord struggled to believe I'd landed in the little paddock, but gave directions which I followed, but from the air! Wreford Fisher ran the field in those days (1979). Bit of a strange guy, but a great little airfield. As to the fear of heights, don't worry too much. I hate climbing a ladder, but was quite happy jumping off Beachy Head cliffs in my early hang gliding days. It's different when you've got wings attached! Good luck - keep us informed of your progress. Bruce
  24. Soleair
    Didn't the CriCri count as a single? Bruce
  25. Soleair
    Motorcycling is much closer to flying than driving a car. I describe flying to my biking mates as 'three dimensional motorcycling'. And you'll get around in Sydney much quicker on a motorbike. Bruce
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