Author Topic: Crash at Wichita Mystery Solved (Read 2713 times)

Robert Redmon · « **on:** August 14, 2011, 07:22:53 PM »

Thought Marvin, Dee, Bob, Jim, Jim, Elwyn, Dale, et al. at the Wichita contest might find some humor in this. I know it lighted my mood a bit...sort of. I was flying the bottom inverted leg of the horizontal square 8, and everything was going great when it seemed something just flew my airplane into the ground. Everyone had a pet theory about what happened. I imagine a few thought I had just flown it into the ground.

Anyway, after the 5 hour drive home to the other Wichita (Wichita Falls, TX), I decided to see what it was going to take to put the plane back together. It was then that I noticed something pushing out both the top and bottom of the the covering on the first unsheeted bay in the outside wing. Thinking something had broken in the wing, I flipped it with my finger, and it dislodged and began rattling around inside the wing. When I finally got it into the flap push rod opening, I discovered what you see in the photo.

I think I told the story several times at the contest how I had started this plane prior to a move in 2001, and how I just (this summer) finished it (as a test mule for my electric power experiment). I am curious how many folks will recognize the alien bit that was obviously deposited within the center sheeting of the wing during its prolonged storage in the attic of my shop. I wanted to preserve a record before removing it (in tiny pieces).

Although I had flown the plane 70+ flights without incident, I suspect that this alien body managed to free itself from its perch within the center sheeting during the drive to Wichita and find its way into the control linkage during the last (near fatal) flight, jamming the controls just enough and for just long enough to make me swear never to store wings in the attic of my shop ever again.

Bob Redmon

Tim Wescott · « **Reply #1 on:** August 14, 2011, 07:32:27 PM »

We get those here in the wet Willamette valley in Oregon, although I've never had one in a wing before.

Paul Taylor · « **Reply #2 on:** August 14, 2011, 07:54:12 PM »

It is hard for me to tell what it is.... so what is it?

minnesotamodeler · « **Reply #3 on:** August 14, 2011, 07:55:17 PM »

Mud dauber's nest...it would happen for sure in OK.

Tim Wescott · « **Reply #4 on:** August 14, 2011, 07:58:50 PM »

You let the cat out of the bag!

Yup -- terrorist wasps are interfering with American aviation. "It's a just-a dirt, Claude".

Hoss Cain · « **Reply #5 on:** August 14, 2011, 10:32:14 PM »

Mud Dauber's NESTS. I do hate those BUGs. They are into everything here in SE Texas. I have a barn where airplanes and equipment are kept. I use a bay of my garage for most work on existing airplanes. If I leave a fuselage open, wing removed, you can bet within a couple weeks there will be a nest back in the tail section. I try to keep things closed but I also spray the inside with wasp killer which seems to help some.

Sometimes I miss as I forget to check things out, Back in June, I launched an RC into the air. It went wild. I knew instantly what the trouble was. Luckely I nursed it around and onto the ground. Took off the wing, looked into the back, removed almost 6 oz. of hard mud in tail section, and all was well again.

Bob's was near the CG so it was not an instant call to arms. They do like to hide in small places and can crawl through a hole of super small circumference. I have to keep my boat motor well wrapped and all doors closed on my boat.

I HATE DIRT DAUBERS !

Robert Redmon · « **Reply #6 on:** August 15, 2011, 05:10:33 AM »

Didn't take long for you guys to figure it out. I had to break it up somewhat to get it out of the wing without uncovering a bay. Then I spent 30 minutes vacuuming and shaking to get all of the mud out. Now, I can start repairing the plane. The weight gain from the repair should be less than the weight of the mud dauber's nest, though.

Bob Redmon

dale gleason · « **Reply #7 on:** August 15, 2011, 05:55:45 AM »

You will have it back to "Concours" shape in no time, just a little a little "rudder rash" and some nose repair, right?
dale g

Jim Kraft · « **Reply #8 on:** August 15, 2011, 07:01:40 AM »

It is always good to know what happened. Many times we just never know. Glad you found the problem and the repair should go fairly well as it really did not have much damage. We have those pesky little guys in our garage all the time. I store all my planes in the basement so far as I have heard this story before from others. I've never had one build a nest on my Harley though. I think they know better.

We sure had a good time at Wichita, even though I really screwed up a few patterns. I am getting to the place that I cannot fly Old TIme and PA in a contest on the same day. Maybe not the same week.

It was really great to see all my friends again. That is what contests are all about for me.

Oh! And the food saturday night was fabulous. Thanks Wichita.

john e. holliday · « **Reply #9 on:** August 15, 2011, 07:59:25 AM »

Well I missed that one. Was late getting there and just stopped and signed in for carrier. Then headed straight down there and flew. By the time we were done you guys were no where to be found. Best day this summer and no body flying. At least some of the good guys stuck around until we were done.

Eric Viglione · « **Reply #10 on:** August 15, 2011, 12:03:03 PM »

Yeah, those dobbers like Florida too... left a set of Ford small block heads out in the shed one weekend, came back to finish up the job and found every single header bolt hole filled!
It was like a wasp hotel and they just took right to it like it was made for them. Had to clean and run a tap in each bolt hole to clean out... rotten bugs!

EricV

Douglas Ames · « **Reply #11 on:** August 15, 2011, 02:32:42 PM »

They're all over Oklahoma. Heck, our charter members named our club after them many moons ago- "Tulsa Glue Dobbers"

Robert Redmon · « **Reply #12 on:** August 15, 2011, 04:07:19 PM »

Doc, I am sorry I missed you. I think you were just walking up as I was driving out.

Dale, I think I got the trophy as a consolation. I would have voted for yours, but the plane I most admire (still...even though I know it is at least 10 years old) is Jim Lee's old Sunflyer. I keep forgetting to see if he has plans for that thing.

Jim Kraft et al., I had a great time as well, in spite of the obvious down side. I always do when I come to Kansas. Worst part of the whole deal is that I had a barn burner going until fate intervened. I hate to waste a good flight as they don't come as often as they used to. The Wichita model bunch (RC and CL) have always been among the most gracious and welcoming folks I have ever had the pleasure of being around. Now, the bunch that has the most fun...that has to be Tulsa....or maybe Houston.

Repair will be a bit more extensive than I originally thought. When the tail hit the pavement, it must have it first and with quite a whack, because the fuselage cracked right at the rear of the canopy opening on both sides above the wing. (good argument for one piece top blocks). So, I will strip the covering off the entire front top of the fuselage and re-do that after grafting a bit of balsa to the nose where the concrete ground it off. I think I like the new look of the fin, so I will just clean it up and leave it be. Also took about an eighth inch of balsa off the outboard wingtip top...and that will have to be repaired. Will probably complicate the trim scheme to make the repair simpler. I was rather impressed by what the electric motor did to the prop and spinner! Broke both blades off at the hub, and the blades took the spinner with them. Fortunately, no damage to the power system.

Bob

Elwyn Aud · « **Reply #13 on:** August 15, 2011, 08:08:47 PM »

A picture or 2 of the entire model is needed here.

Robert Redmon · « **Reply #14 on:** August 15, 2011, 09:36:44 PM »

Thanks, Elwyn. It may never look quite like that again, and I didn't have any pictures.

Bob

John Stiles · « **Reply #15 on:** August 16, 2011, 06:42:51 AM »

AHA! Now I know where them devious little creatures sprang from! Texas.....and they brangin all that mud from Lake Arlington I bet!

john e. holliday · « **Reply #16 on:** August 16, 2011, 08:24:34 AM »

Well it was a good looking. I know you will make it look better.

dale gleason · « **Reply #17 on:** August 16, 2011, 08:40:50 AM »

Bob,

You aren't the only admirer of Jim Lee's "Sunflyer"! When I got back into flying stunt "competitively", the "Sunflyer" was brand spankin' new. The transparent covering showed off Jim's impeccable craftsmanship, and the red, blue and gold trim set it off. Pretty fancy leggin's, too. And flew really well. It still does that.

When Jim builds a plane, he stays with it for a while...he's pretty comfortable with it on the handle.

dg

Jim Kraft · « **Reply #18 on:** August 16, 2011, 08:19:38 PM »

Oh Yeah! I remember Jim flying the Sunflyer back in 96 at Wichita. I don't know how long he had been flying it before then. It is one great flying plane.

James Lee · « **Reply #19 on:** August 17, 2011, 07:48:31 PM »

Bob
Glad to hear the 'rest of the story' !! After seeing the plane skid to a halt we all were a bit perplexed... I know it will be back to better than new soon!
Ahhh, the Ol' Sunflyr... Was new the week before the '94 Nats in Lubbock, TX. I made the Top Twenty with it and Todd was Rookie of the year. Twas a really good Nats! That plane is like a very comfortable ol shoe.... But, it does like an old shoe the dog has been chewing on!
Thanks
Jim

Robert Redmon · « **Reply #20 on:** August 17, 2011, 08:32:51 PM »

Jim, Have you ever published the plans for the Sunflyer?

Clancy Arnold · « **Reply #21 on:** August 21, 2011, 11:59:50 AM »

Bob
Your investigation just proves once again that "Nose heavy models fly poorly and Tail heavy models fly once."
Clancy

Robert Redmon · « **Reply #22 on:** August 21, 2011, 02:57:26 PM »

In this case, airplanes with mud dauber nests in the bell crank bay fly fine until they don't.

Bob

Author Topic: Crash at Wichita Mystery Solved (Read 2713 times)

Eric Viglione