Su-27 Flanker nose job

After performing so well in the clean, steady lift on the Cloud, I unfortunately managed to donk the landing a bit.  The rotor on the back of the slope managed to catch us all out at one time or another, and where this wasn't a particularly hard landing, it was straight into a large lump of heather, and the plastic nose caved in.

Flanker in her element - photo courtesy of Phil Cooke

This is what I was left with - oops!

Back in the workshop, it's time to laminate up some medium-hard 1/2" balsa sheet around the original undamaged centre plate, using Tite-Bond wood glue and two large clamps :

As I know she was carrying about 4 ozs of noseweight behind F3, I took the opportunity to hollow out the blocks a little and add 2ozs of lead into the nose.  This should result in an overall lighter aircraft, which is a good thing :

Stuck on with thickened epoxy, the airframe was protected with a few layers of cheapo masking tape, and the initial carving began :

A quick splodge of lightweight filler and a fine sand, and she's ready to be re-glassed :

 Hopefully I can get the glass on this week, then the primer and top coat done at the weekend.

Flying The Cloud, Bosley

We had a great impromptu PSSA meet on The Cloud on Wednesday, with a lovely 37-40mph NE cracking in on the big slope.  The Flanker went very well (donked on landing unfortunately) and the U2, too.

Here are some pics, which I should mention are all courtesy of Phil Cooke.  Please, do not re-use these without his express permission :

The 200th post

Well, here is the 200th post.  What to say?  Probably nothing, other than thanks for reading, and hopefully continuing to do so.  Here are some pictures instead!

SU27 Flanker modifications

With a great NW wind forecast showing for this weekend, it's been decided that there will be a mini PSSA meet at Bosley Cloud, near Congleton.  As it's quite a powerful hill - with flat land in front of it across the Cheshire plain to the sea - I thought it's about time the Su27 got a proper airing.  

After her last fights in mega lift on the Orme, I knew she was still too nose heavy.  A slight dive test caused her to nearly pull up into a stall, so she is way too over-stable.  This airframe was also next on the list for the LiFe battery upgrade, so I killed two birds with one stone.

Here is the forward battery compartment in the underside of the nose.  I removed half the lead, and cut a hole in the front former to reveal a liteply plate that I can'remember installing!  Oops.  Anway, the 2500mah LiFe slips in nicely, along with some bubble wrap to keep things from moving about.

It's pretty hard to make out in this picture, but I've moved the C of G back by 8mm, which is good for a first try I think.  I must remember to take out some of the up-trim before launching!

I charged the battery on the bench last night, and packaged her all up ready for Sunday.  In all, I've saved 4ozs from the AUW, and she has moved to a better battery chemistry. Can't wait!

PSSA at the Great Orme - September 2016

We arrived on the rock late Friday night, and stayed over on the top in the camper van in very blustery conditions, with a fair amount of rain too.  By about 2.30a.m. the wind and rain had stopped, so we slept soundly until day break.

There was a 6mph WSW at 7am when walking the dogs, so I thought we were in for a good days' flying with such a reasonable start.  Unfortunately, the wind dropped further, and moved around to WNW, but by lunch time had come up to 10mph or so.  Easy pickings for my Pike WR, which was specking out in the slope and thermal lift coming off the sea.  This soon got boring though, so some long dog walks ensued.

As usual though, the Orme has the last laugh and by 6pm a decent 16mph SW was coming straight into the main bowl.  Result!  This allowed some fantastic PSS'ing to take place over the sea with the sunset producing a lovely golden light to illuminate our models.  I had a great session then with the Hawk, Horten, and the big Vulcan - photos to follow for that bit!

The next day, the wind was right up early in the morning but around the WSW mark again.  Some people scratched around a bit in the SW bowl, but Pete Garsden and I set off over to the bigger WSW slope and bowl, about an 8 minute hike from the main car park.  We couldn't believe our luck, as the wind here was 22mph gusting 30, with near limitless, smooth lift.  The Hawk needed a fair amount of down trim in to stay in sight, and PEte had a blast with his Vulcan and new A4.

Soon, we were joined by a flock of fliers as they could see the huge vertical pumps we were managing, and the skies filled with all sorts of gliders, but mainly A4's getting their maidens.

I even managed to get the Flanker away quite well, although she needs a bit of the noseweight removing I think, as she didn't really get "in the groove" and a dive test soon resulted in her soaring up for the clouds!  

So what else..ah yes - the A10 :D  Her 4th flight and probably the longest as well, as she was launched from the SW bowl and I walked up to the WSW whilst flying her.  Yes, cross-country with a 38lb A10 - lovely :)

Great fun!  She even survived a mid-air with a little EPP Vulcan, which she brushed aside whilst the poor Avro spun in, in bits, to terra firma.  Oops!  Sorry Tom.  My landing was less then stellar, probably ranking 3rd out of all 4 I have done.  Minor damage but annoying nonetheless as I deployed the brakes a bit too soon on finals.

The SHM Vulcan continues to perform very well, and always gets admirers due to her faithful shape reproduction and sheer size.

4 lovely landings with this one - she just greases in gently.  All in all a great weekend with lots of A4's on the slope, with not too much carnage.  I didn't get around to flying mine properly, though I may just strip the servos from her and hang it form the ceiling in the workshop.

We'll have to see how October goes, I'm not 100% we will be going due to other commitments, but that was great weather and great aircraft flown with a load of great guys!