For the latest update,
I took the Martian butterfly Q ship out to Portland this weekend past. She ended up a bit portly as Randy tactfully put it. Friday night, I had Pat Johnston, (the designer) there for support and Randy as well. I can be honest now I guess
She weighed in at an actual 56 or 57 oz. Yeah I know its a tank, keep in mind there was 3.5 oz of nose weight to balance. I mounted up an experienced LA46 and started with a 12x5 REv up W prop. after a close lookover by the support crew and a test run on the motor, I put it in the air. Just as Pat said, it was WAY WAY sensitive. flew out the tank no real drama, did a few loops and high and level flight. was to touchy to get to brave, besides the rate my knees were knockin I didnt trust myself ya know?solid on the lines even overhead. second flight went to an 11.5 x 4 APC and picked up the rpms to launch at about 10,000, narrowed the handle spacing a bunch. flew part of the pattern. She was rock st4eady, I did a few wingovers right at Pat and Randy, during the debrief they allowed as how it was perfect out on the lines, straight off them,no tipping up or down. third flight, narrowed the handel a bit more and did my best at the pattern. Man this plane was rock steady solid, I cant believe how well that wing carries the weight and it was looking good in the air. Pat sat center circle with me and we talked about what it was doing, Hard to beleive even for me, but after three flights I was more comfortable with this plane than my Twisted sister that I had 150 ish flights on. packed her in for the night and went to eat. next morning the weather had changed so I went to put in a needle flight, Randy launched for me,, flying on grass,, (can you see where this is going?) immediatly upon release it turned in on me but I could tell it would fly out so I stood my ground, after a quarter of a lap it was back on the lines and looking fine, slight climb, so I input a touch of down right? yepp, it responded sluggishly but did respond, but then I tried to pull up and it would NOT respond, she went in at full power and about a 25 degree angle, took the nose clean off and the post mortem indicates major structural damage throughout the entire fuselage, She will hang on the wall for now until I decide the best approach to repair. Most likely will use the wing and build the rest up new. Sad, but effective lesson learned, I never knew before this that I should hold my handle up above my head to clear the lines before releasing! I have flown most of my flights since I returned to this hobby last year over grass and only one time did I ever have a problem before but nothing like this. The concensus of those present was that when it turned in on me, the slack lines snagged slightly and the line couplers hooked together or interfered with each other which lead to the demise. What really bites is that I could already tell this plane was far and away beetter than anything I have ever flown. dont even ask how the rest of my weekend went,, lol, I did compete with my weather worn, ok crash worn, Fancerized twister but I wasnt trusting it as I had some unsettling burps at the top of manuevers, eventually I did put it in on my last flight of the competition. just a glancing blow but it was the way of the weekend. I do want to say that all the people there were awesome and supportive it was still a great weekend over all and hey the wings survived intact so it still looks really nice on the wall. Linda , my GF is a touch upset, she didnt get to see it fly though. Final thoughts, I have in my possesion another Brodak ARF P-40 that was donated to me Thanks Scott R and Pat!, it will get the Dihedral and should be flying this weekend. If you are interested I can take pictures to show the steps to add the dihedral. I also have another one behind that on the way. I probably wont paint any more planes for a while until I break through this "phase" that started last fall in Salem,,
Let me knw if you are interested in the in process picts for the dihedral.