Finally got a flight on my Hallmark, had an opps.

[James Mills]

I finally got a first flight on my Hallmark.  The motor ran nice (a little rich but okay).  I was flying at a school up the road, only flown there a couple of times so wasn't real familiar with the terrain and bounced it in the outsides.  I got enough time on it to find out that I think it's going to be a good one when repaired (I have some other areas of the finish I wanted to address anyway and I have all winter).  (Byron Barker)Magnum 36 ran very strong on 11 5/8 X 4 2 blade Bolly.

James

Should have included some details.  Scratch built from PAMPA plans as published in Stunt News.  Dope finish, automotive clear, Magnum 36 (reworked by Byron Barker), bolly prop, and SIG fuel.

James

[Clint Ormosen]

Looks like it'll live to fly another day.

[James Mills]

Looks like it'll live to fly another day.

It's a good thing I was flying over grass.

James

[Bradley Walker]

What a beautiful plane.

The Hallmark is a fav.  Yours is particularly nice.  The prettiest one I have ever seen.

[frank carlisle]

That's a nice looking plane------the scrapes will be easy enough to fix. Looks to me like you were working it pretty hard for the first time out with it.

[john e. holliday]

Looks really nice and next time wait til you get home to modify the rudder(just kidding).  Hope it flies as well as it looks.  Have fun,  DOC Holliday

[Bill Little]

That's a nice looking plane------the scrapes will be easy enough to fix. Looks to me like you were working it pretty hard for the first time out with it.

He does have a great looking plane there, Frank!  As to the *first time out*, I seem to be in Jame's class!  I am going to put a pattern on a plane as soon as I can.  As long as the plane is flying pretty good on the fist time out, it gets *flown*.   If it is going to be able to *do it* I want to find out pretty quick.

With my Vulcan, I short tanked the first two flights.  First one to make sure the needle was pretty close, and to see what it did in some round insides.  next one to see how it did in inverted and some round outsides and some squares.  Two basic trim flights, making sure it has enough tension in all places and that the wing is close to being level upright and inverted, plus the tank is close.  Third flight fill 'er up and fly the pattern!  If it is going to do it, it will.  Most all the planes I have ever built get either a whole pattern or at least part of one on the first flight.  No sense wasting time! LOL!!

[Bradley Walker]

With my Vulcan, I short tanked the first two flights. 

I think this is the best advice.  This is to make sure the engine and tank work correctly.

I usually then do a pattern with no wingover, or at least as far as I can get.  THEN do a pattern.

[Bill Little]

I think this is the best advice.  This is to make sure the engine and tank work correctly.

I usually then do a pattern with no wingover, or at least as far as I can get.  THEN do a pattern.

That's what I am saying Brad.  I like to start trimming as soon as possible and it takes just three or four level laps on that first flight to begin to have an idea!  If things are going wrong that early, I know I have a problem.  if things feel pretty good, then a loop, maybe inverted (with some altitude to make sure I can whip it under if it flamed out) and get to checking wings level, etc.

A couple short tank flights and on with the show!  Hopefully, only a few tweaks will begin to get her in the ball park.  Or you take her home and fix what needs fixing.  I really get bored flying around level! LOL!!

[James Mills]

Thanks for all the compliments and advice.  I don't think I was necessairly working it all that hard for a first flight, just made a mental mistake.  I usually go ahead and fill the tank from the biginning and try and make sure I don't have it set to lean.  This gives me plenty of time for flying level before deciding what to try.  I didn't try any vertical stuff, just a wing over pulling out level instead of inverted, inside loops, inverted flight (wings looked good), and them messed up on the outside loops.  The ground wasn't level and I should have had it higher in the air.  I'll have the basic repair finished pretty fast and worry about the cosmetic work for winter.

Thanks,

James

[Bradley Walker]

I really get bored flying around level! LOL!!

Word.

(that is jive for "I agree")

[James Mills]

He does have a great looking plane there, Frank!  As to the *first time out*, I seem to be in Jame's class!  I am going to put a pattern on a plane as soon as I can.  As long as the plane is flying pretty good on the fist time out, it gets *flown*.   If it is going to be able to *do it* I want to find out pretty quick.

With my Vulcan, I short tanked the first two flights.  First one to make sure the needle was pretty close, and to see what it did in some round insides.  next one to see how it did in inverted and some round outsides and some squares.  Two basic trim flights, making sure it has enough tension in all places and that the wing is close to being level upright and inverted, plus the tank is close.  Third flight fill 'er up and fly the pattern!  If it is going to do it, it will.  Most all the planes I have ever built get either a whole pattern or at least part of one on the first flight.  No sense wasting time! LOL!!

I have a Shark 45 that I put the first flight the mourning of a contest in St. Louis (managed 2 before my first official which was the 3rd flight total on the plane).  Worked out okay, I think I took 2nd to some ornery kid with the last name of McEntee ).

James

[Bill Little]

My oldest, Aaron, built a '59 Ares several years ago.  His first reall "big and complicated" plane.  We got it ready for the East Coast Oldie Goldies in Huntersville.  On Saturday morning, the plane had not yet been flown!  We hook everything up, he tests up/down, and signals release.  I had not paid attention to the *test* since we color code the lines.  Well, he had hooked up the *handle* backwards!  Exciting to say the least, and somehow he kept it in the air long enough to dump it in the bushes outside the circle on the bottom side.  "PaPa" Dave Hemstraught came over and looked over the damage with me.  He told Aaron to "get lost" and we CA'd and clear taped the damage.  He DID get in exactly one flight before the Officials started and won his class.  That plane still lives and he ended up winning Intermediate Classic at Brodak's a few years back with it.  We all to often get a plane finished at the last minute!  Several of mine have had their first flight as an "Official"...... LOL!!