heavy Sig Akromaster ?

[ron young]

    Goodmorning i have a sig akromaster used for first time flyers that i cant use alone because i fly in grass off masonite and cannot get plane to lift off in the alloted area flys ok if hand launched but would like to be able to take off from ground looking for any thoughts you have.
     I have noway to weight it but has been broken many times and repaired so seems heavy it has os 20 eng.master air screw 9/4 prop am looking for ways to try to get it to lift more quickly again just a anybody can fly type plane
Thanks
Ron

[Paul Taylor]

You could try larger wheels but that is only going to add more weight.
Maybe try cutting the grass shorter?

Remove the OS .20 and put it on a Flite Streak. Just kidding

[kenneth cook]

                    Hello Ron the Akromaster was designed for the Fox.15 which is pretty light. Having the OS on the plane is probably making it a tad nose heavy to begin with. I feel the wing of the Akromaster isn't quite wide enough as well. These are 2 penalties already without additional repairs. If your using a stock muffler, this is going to add substantial weight. If the engine is a FP.20 the tongue would bolt right on. The Max-S would need the case to be drilled. I would search for some lightweight foam wheels. You didn't mention what you had and this can save some weight. Assuming the landing gear is being held by a landing gear strap, you could unbolt the strap and swing the gear back using the rear hole for the front hole of the strap and drill another hole for the rear. This would place the front of the plane at a higher angle of attack, this could also make the plane suffer on landing and cause it to flip over. You could bury a little more tail weight in the rear of the fuse. My Akro had 3/4 oz. that was just to get it to balance with the engine I had. Raising your pushrod wire closer to your elevator would also give you some more elevator travel. This may work but could also cause the plane to stall in the air due to controls moving too quickly. I believe it may be a start to get it off the ground quicker. You might also want to try a wood prop as this will lighten the front compared to a Master Airscrew and also APC props. Also try using a 8 x 6 and see if you can get a little more rpm's out of the plane. I don't know what engine version you have but I do believe a 8x6 would still satisfy both engines I made mention of. You could also raise the nitro another 5% and see if that works as well. Ken

[john e. holliday]

Go to your local Home Depot or Lowes's or even a carpet place.   Ask if they have any strips/scraps.   Mine came from Lowes.  Measures about 3 feet wide and 15 feet long.   Put one end under your peice of masonite.

[John Fitzgerald]

We have an Akromaster that flies well with a .10 FP on 50 foot .012 lines.  Fairly light though.  I suspect the Akro in question is too nose heavy.

[Terrence Durrill]

Hey Doc,

    Where are you flying this season?  Are you getting out to the Northern Knights field or using alternate sites closer to home?  With gas at $3.50 to $3.75 a gallon, traveling any distance to a flying site could get prohibitive price wise.  Just wondering.       

[Phil Hawkins]

More nitro... more pitch on the prop. I had the same problem on a Ringmaster Jr. with an Enya .15 with muffler... I would hold my hand above my head keeping the lines from snagging the grass while giving full up... Not pretty but still had fun burning holes in the sky... if you have room, take a few steps towards the pavement to gain a little more runway, then step back on the grass after a couple laps.

[jim gilmore]

Go to wally world and buy 1 table that folds. I would think a stooge mounted at the back would allow you to take off with little trouble.Keep the table slightly further than you you fly from the center of your circle. so you can land with out hitting it.

[John Rist]

Go to wally world and buy 1 table that folds. I would think a stooge mounted at the back would allow you to take off with little trouble.Keep the table slightly further than you you fly from the center of your circle. so you can land with out hitting it.

I have used a card table for a 1/2A runway  It gets you going stright and level 3' above the ground. Works every time. A 6' table with a stooge would work great!  Just step back after launch or have a helper nove the table.

[dankar]

OS .20 is way to big engine for this. Did you check c/g from plans on this?  Are you using muffer stock?

[ron young]

  Thanks all for the replies this was just a plane sitting in the corner that i thought if it would fly easily i would keep it for anyone that wanted to give flying a try break it again no harm but seems it might not be worth the effort.
I am trying to learn to fly with a banshee verrrry slowly my brain doesnt seem to mesh with the plane or my hand .oh well to windy today so wont be any breakage
Ron

[Randy Cuberly]

    Goodmorning i have a sig akromaster used for first time flyers that i cant use alone because i fly in grass off masonite and cannot get plane to lift off in the alloted area flys ok if hand launched but would like to be able to take off from ground looking for any thoughts you have.
     I have noway to weight it but has been broken many times and repaired so seems heavy it has os 20 eng.master air screw 9/4 prop am looking for ways to try to get it to lift more quickly again just a anybody can fly type plane
Thanks
Ron

I agree that the plane is likely somewhat nose heavy...some tail weight would cure that.  Don't worry about the extra ounce or so to attain a proper CG.  Its more important to have an airplane that balances properly than to have one that is an ounce or two lighter.
Also...my FP 20 will pull a 10X3 APC at 10,800 RPM and that prop will increase the accelleration of the plane significantly.

Randy Cuberly

[jim gilmore]

How much room do you have between your tank and engine ??
could you remount the engine using the rear hole and making 2 new holes ? and stil have the prop clear the body ?

[Russell Shaffer]

I agree with Randy and Jim - put the engine back as far as possible, use whatever weight is necessary to balance, and fly it.  I relearned control line with an Akromaster and a Fox 19 so it can be done.  The airplane may be a little fast, but it has the power to pull out of dumb mistakes and it will take off with close to zero ground run.  A good modification is to use regular landing gear straps instead of the "shock absorbing" rubber band gear mount.  The rubber bands let the gear swing back too far and the wheels will break the bottom spars.  The gear wire is light enough to just bend back after a hard landing but the spars are a problem. Don't do the rubber band gear securement. If it is already done, just screw a couple of nylon gear straps below the dowel. 

[John Stiles]

If you have a tail skid, take it off, then lengthen your landing gear to create a steaper angle of attack. Use the foam wheels and you can go with 2"! Ask me how I know this....never mind I'll tell you anyway, I have 2 flying circles on my farm and they are both grass.

[john e. holliday]

Hey Doc,

    Where are you flying this season?  Are you getting out to the Northern Knights field or using alternate sites closer to home?  With gas at $3.50 to $3.75 a gallon, traveling any distance to a flying site could get prohibitive price wise.  Just wondering.       

Sent you a PM,  no response yet.   I am back at Shawnee Mission Park.

[George]

Try jacking up the the end of the masonite to give a better angle of attack.

Even an old Max .20 should jump off the ground unless the engine is worn out or the Akromaster is VERY heavy.

How does it fly after it gets in the air?

George