Flying an unfinished plane

[Ken Culbertson]

Since I converted to electric I have been test flying my ships as soon as they are complete but before applying the finish.  Nothing dramatic.  A couple of 1-2 minute test hops to let me know what I have.  Couple of turns inside and outside and maybe something overhead.  That way I can correct serious flaws before applying the finish and I can get a feel for how much weight I can add.  No attempt at trimming since the weight and balance will be much different finished.  Am I the only one doing this and if not what do you look for when you do it.

Ken

[Perry Rose]

No, it's the good thing about electric.

[Dan McEntee]

   Jack Sheeks mentioned in one of his articles that he just did the basic build ups, then test flew the airplane before putting the final finish on, and always did the pattern from the first flight. He must have been real good at cleaning and degreasing his models before painting!
  Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee

[Dick Pacini]

Yes, Jack used to fly his new planes "in the clear" and he mentioned that in one of his articles in Flying Models magazine.  The editor once inserted a comment that most people fly their planes in the air.

I saw him fly the Ryan SC, the Scotsman, The Fly Baby and one other unfinished.  He cleaned the goop off prior to finishing using K2R Spot Lifter.

[Robertc]

I do test fly my electrics now before finishing.  Here's my last plane before paint right before test flight.

[FLOYD CARTER]

Experienced modelers are able to "shop trim" their models.  This gives nearly 100% assurance they will have satisfactory first flights.  Shop trim means the plane is balanced, warp-free, and adequately powered.  Only minor adjustments would be required after test flights.

E-models could be flown without final paint application, and without damage to the structure from oil soaking.  It is unlikely that model surfaces can be completely cleaned if a glo engine is used..

[Ken Culbertson]

After 60 years flying stunt, I consider myself experienced and I have yet to build a plane that didn't need some trimming.  However, trimming is not why I fly them.  It is those "As Sh**"'s that call for the #11 that you just don't know about till you fly it.  On my last plane my bellcrank over-centered on takeoff.  Since that can't happen I never "bench check"ed for it.  I was able to repair it before the finish.

Glad to hear I am not alone.

ken

[GERALD WIMMER]

Hello As a youngster I would be so  keen to test fly my new models they would get 'oiled' before final finishing but they did not last too long so durability and finish quality was not so important. On my Fairy Firefly scale model it was test flown with a brushed motor and nicads and 'finished' 20 years latter when I updated it with a brushless and Lipo cell set up, then had its final touch ups and markings applied . It went from marginal level flight performance to a nice Sportman pattern (NZ) 20 years latter!
Regards Gerald

[Mike Alimov]

On my last plane my bellcrank over-centered on takeoff. 

What does that mean?

[Ken Culbertson]

What does that mean?

It means that the bellcrank rotated past center and locked on full up.

Ken