How do you fly a Bi Slob?

[Ryan Taylor]

Marvin Denny presented me with a bi slob at the brodak fly in!
And because this plane is special to me, i want to learn to fly it without crashing
I saw some amazing bi slob stunts at the fly in.
anyone got good tips to reduce this planes fatality rate?

Thanks!

[Andrew Hathaway]

It's virtually impossible to fly a Bi-Slob without crashing it.  Fortunately the construction is very simple and they can take a lot of abuse.  Fuselages seem to take most of the heat. 

As far as flying, it'll do anything you can think of.  Mine always seem to have a bit of freewill.  They like to do their own thing from time to time.  At the end of the tank stay close to the ground, they don't glide.  Try to keep track of the inside turn count and do close to equal outsides, to keep the lines unwrapped. 

[don Burke]

The only problem I've had with my SLOB is the bellcrank pulling through the side of the fuselage after the lines slacked upon doing a whifferdill!  LaSLOB sits in the shop waiting attention.

[Keith Spriggs]

I am sure you don't want any advice from me. Seriously it was pretty easy to fly right to the last. I had never flown one and I guarantee it is different, but I never felt that it was out of control.

[Elwyn Aud]

The line tension was pretty minimal on the one I flew so don't let that bother you. When you pull out of a maneuver it's good to keep the nose at high at first to keep it from mushing into the ground.

[Wynn Robins]

Bi-slobs......my favourite....hmmmm tips on flying without crashing.....

fly on a relatively windy day.....fly the slob downwind ALL the time....do NOT try an do any level laps.

time the first run of the tank, flying LOW stuff.....get the right timing.....when you have established the run time....fly with a watch, or a spotter to yell at you when the tank is nearly empty......... bi-slobs glide like bricks...so when you are close to running out of fuel....get low to avoid falling damage.....YES they fall!!!!!!!  ask me how I know!

Set the engine rich, but so it breaks into a 2 stroke when you lift the nose.....trial this on the ground....
Slobs turn REALLY tight, so be careful on your inputs....fly some lay eights and get used to the inputs......they STOP in the air if you give them full control from level flight........they will stall, but hopefully the motor will change into 2 stroke and hold you up......


you will get the hang of it.....(literally),

As mentioned by others....you WILL crash it.......they are so much fun you will try all sorts of craziness..........

get a nylon prop....the REAL flexible ones, I use a 3 blade GRISH nylon 10x6 on a fox 35....you will live up to your handle, and break props if you use standard ones.....as I mentioned, the glide like bricks and you will land (bounce) nose first ALL the time)


DO NOT fly a normal airplane AFTER you have flown a slob....make it the last flying in a day.....the timing will throw you, and you may lose a good airplane......just a warning..

[frank carlisle]

Ryan, I'll bet you're glad I told you to stay for the awards presentations Huh? Marvin had told me he was going to give his Bi-Slob to you because you seemed to be the one young person there who would respect it and enjoy it.

It seems that everyone flies the Slob in many different ways. If you ask 5 different people from 5 different areas of the U.S. you will get 5 different sets of advice. Here in Michigan we use .015 X 52 foot lines, Fox .35 and a 10/5 APC prop.
I suggest you set yours up the way the guys in your area do. Also disregard the guys that say crashing is a given. John Paris and I have been flying the same Slobs for two years.

When you start flying your Slob just fly it and do the tricks you know and the Slob will reveal itself to you.

It was nice meeting you and Paul in person at Brodak's.

[Bob Disharoon]

Although I havent met Ryan, from what I know of him, he seems to be very bright and energetic young man. What a wonderful act of kindness to give him that kind of gift. ..Bob

[John Paris]

Ryan,
I would start flying it with a moderate breeze to help it stay on the end of the lines as you play around.  Frank mentioned the set up that we use and I think that it will be fine for you as well.  Remember to run heavy oil in the Fox (25% minimum-I use all castor) and play with the needle until you find the point where it is rich and falling in a hover at the beginning of the flight, holding itself steady at the middle and slowly rising at the end.  However, after watching Dan fly his Slob, a leaner setting will give you more authority to challenge the ground with the low and tight maneuvers.

Personally, I like to keep my bottoms at about 6 feet as I have found that it provides a little cushion for drifting.  Banging the controls up and down is a good way to make it slide through the air, but the tightest maneuvers are flown at significantly less than full throw.  Be aware that the plane will rock on the end of the lines especially in low wind.  Don't be afraid to step back to maintain line tension and if the rocking gets severe, let it fly on the wings for a little bit.  BTW, there is little to no glide at the end of flight, so watch your time.  Most of all, have fun.
John

[don Burke]

I flew mine with an OS25LA (remote needle included) 9-4 APC, 52' lines.  I flew at an R/C club's potluck dinner and was greeted with applause when I made a perfect half loop from inverted to land 3-point.  Not planned on my part but looked like to them.  Some of them had never seen a Cl airplane fly before.  Tons of fun.  Now I'll probably have to put it back together.  All I have to do is get a roundtuit.

[James Lee]

How do you fly a Bi Slob....   Weellllll....   Any old way you want!!!   They are unto themselves in flight attributes...   Many very good thoughts already posted, the most important I saw was to use 52' lines and a needle setting to barely climb from a hover...   A light breeze is best and then start flying!!!
I've destroyed several and the current one is a 'bit' used but they are a LOT of fun!!! 
And, Frank, If yours has lasted two years, you ain't trying!!!   Those 8 - 10' tall vertical eights always get me....   If I didn't trry to touch the ground at the bottom, it would help....        
Enjoy   
Frank...  bring your BiSlob to Sig...  We will try some dual Bi Slob   
Later
Jim
       

[frank carlisle]

Jim, I guess I didn't mention that my Slob has double layers of Monocoat over most of both wings.

Unless a miracle happens ( and I'm looking for one) I probably won't be at SIG this year. sigh

[Joe Gilbert]

Ryan I think it is best to start your learning on the Left side of center down wind so if the plane starts to slip down while hovering you can give it down and fly into the wind quicker and it wont hurt it to settle on to the gear as it fly off good luck and good flying.

[Kreth]

Just bring it to the field and we'll get it done. 

[Paul Taylor]

Hey Kreth,
Ryan and I got in the wifes SUV the day after we got back from Brodaks and rode down to Destin Fl. Our trip was up to Brodaks, hers was to the beach. Too windy down here to fly C/L but Ryan is flying a stunt kite.
We will be ready to fly next week. I hope it is cooler back home then here.

I have very limited access to the internet. I just got lucky and we found a open wireless connection today. I am sure it will go back down very soon.

Paul