Flying day......mostly.....

[Gary Dowler]

Got out flying today. Was quite funny, I made more mistakes and had more weird crap happen today than any flying day I can recall.

First time up with the Shoestring, engine running, all looked good, pulled the release line, plane took off and did a nearly perfect loop before pancaking on the grass.  All it did was bend the aluminum gear.  Turns out the line clips had caught on each other somehow so it took off with full up elevator. 

Then I got in the air, flew fine. Trying a new, small, tank so I can make shorter flights.  More consistent than trying to short tank it.  First time up I didn’t know how long I had in the air. Found out when it ran out of fuel inverted.  Landed upside down, and again no damage at all.

Several good flights fit in this spot.

Now By this time I had attracted the attention of one of the neighbors and her grand kids. They decided to come watch.  Next up all started well, grabbed the handle and pulled the release.  What I’d forgotten to do was check the controls. I’d grabbed the handle upside down.   Nope, never saw air on that one. Nosed it right over in front of my audience.   AGAIN no damage. Reset.

Another good flight here.

Then last effort. Running out of time, but wanted one more flight. Still with people watching. Started things just fine, went to make a adjustment to the NV and got a little too close to the prop with my hand......
Nicked the outside of my left thumb behind the second joint, below the web area.
Now the engine is screaming and I’ve got blood all over. Got to kill the motor, then get the first aid kit. Of course nothing is sticking to my skin. Between sweat and fuel and the awkward spot the cut was in......  no dice.  Alcohol wipe helped a little, finally got a bandage to stay in place, but then to secure it I had to grab the roll of medical tape and start wrapping.

People are still watching....

Cut actually isn’t too bad, bleeding is under control, can’t let the little kids down,  one more flight and, amazingly, it goes well.

Called it quits at this point. I survived, the plane survived without any issue, was a great day.

[John Park]

Funny how prop. cuts on a hand with fuel on it always seem to heal fast and cleanly!

[john e. holliday]

I've lost count how many days I have had like that.  Engines start great at home, but not at the field.  But, yes getting in a hurry is my biggest problem.  The worst cut, actually a gash was when I tried the maiden flight on the B-25.  Had started out board engine like I do on most twins and moved to in board.  While trying to disconnect the glow plug clip I stopped the engine instantly with my hand.   Index finger on left hand a gash that took 11 stitches but for some reason did not bleed that much.   Had to go in for surgery to reconnect the tendon that was broke just before the knuckle that goes to the finger.  I thought it was a muscle that would heal.  The specialist says those are all tendons leading to the arm muscles.  with out it I would never be able to straighten the finger. 

Now I have a different starting procedure for twins.   Thank to David Trible and a couple of quad flyers every thing shut down and put in the Suburban and Dave drove me to emergency room.  Can never thank him enough for what he and the gentle men did.   The only pain I had was when intern started washing out the gash with water.  Never felt anything while he was stitching it up.  The doctor who fixed the tendon left a little scar you have look at just right to see it.

Oh thanks for your story.  I thought I was the only cluts in this world.

[Peter in Fairfax, VA]

Great story.  Love the final result, a good show for the young folks.

Couple comments.

On the stooge, actually 100% of the time for every flight, it is a good idea to check that the controls are correct and free.  By correct, I mean that up at the handle gives up at the plane.  Full scale checklists also require this control check, or so I understand.

Regarding the short tanking, a graduated syringe is a technique that works for me.  For example, if I have a 4.5oz tank with an LA 46, I load it full when I am learning its duration, then progressively load less, which might be 3-5/8oz, 3-3/4oz.  As I change props and fuel, this constantly adjusts. These syringes are about $1 each and last several seasons.

Thanks for sharing.  All the best,

Peter

[Gary Dowler]

Peter, thanks for the post. My syringe has had all the markings worn off. That’s why it’s inaccurate.   As to checking controls, I do this “almost” every time. Prior to yesterday I would have definitively said every time. Just got in a little bit of a hurry on that one.  Won’t happen twice! 

Gary

[Peter in Fairfax, VA]

Sometimes I file notches in the syringes before the marks wear off.  The marks don't hold up to fuel, as you say.

I've taken off with reversed controls in both C/L and R/C.  It's interesting how difficult it is to fly with reversed controls.



Peter 

[Dan McEntee]

Peter, thanks for the post. My syringe has had all the markings worn off. That’s why it’s inaccurate.   As to checking controls, I do this “almost” every time. Prior to yesterday I would have definitively said every time. Just got in a little bit of a hurry on that one.  Won’t happen twice! 

Gary

     When you have a nice, new syringe, as soon as you take it out of the bag, wipe it down with a clean, dry cloth, write your name, phone number, and AMA number on it with a nice Sharpie, then put a layer of clear box tape over the printed and marked parts. Make sure the edges are rubbed down smooth. This lasts a long, long time. You can take you old one with no marks, degrease it thoroughly, hold it up to the nice new one, and transfer the basic marks with that nice. new Sharpie, then lay clear box tape over that one also. No reason to not know how much fuel you are loading up!
   Type at you later,
    Dan McEntee

[Gary Dowler]

Dan, great idea!!

[John Park]

It's interesting how difficult it is to fly with reversed controls.

Yes - I connected the lines up wrong on my most recent flying session (Peacemaker over longish grass - no damage except to my pride).  Didn't Bob Palmer fly with an 'upside-down' handle, or is my memory at fault?

[mccoy40]

Did something similar this Sunday

K&B Stallion on a banshee. The needle was loose so the plane would start out in a strong 2 stroke and then a minute later would richen up to the point where I could land the plane.   
Took the needle valve out. Tightened the clip on the needle valve an put it back in. Engine started right up but was running very rich, I expected this, so I started screwing the needle valve in to get a leaner run.   

Well 10 turns later the needle is starting to lean out and i finally get it set in a slow two stroke - ready to go! 

run out to the lines - pull the stooge cord - plane takes off and runs right into the two rags I left in the runway.   

The plane got off the ground about six inches and banked in towards me at a shallow bank.

Hit the ground and broke a prop - but lost the inside wheel so that was it for the day. Plane is ok to fly with a new prop and a new wheel.

Things out of the normal sequence can make you forget and leave things where they shouldn't be.   

[Gary Dowler]

Couple days on and it doesn’t look so bad now

[john e. holliday]

If I remember right Mr Palmer did fly with up side down controls to what I was taught.  In fact he had to wear a glove that fit his hand as he had no fingers,  One reason he always or almost always reached with his left hand to greet people.

[Peter in Fairfax, VA]

Dan,

The clear packing tape over the syringe, combined with lining up the old syringe with a new one worked out great today.  Went to the Philly contest early, waking at 4 AM and departing at 5 AM for the 175 mile drive.  Got the syringe ready and put in several test flights, as I was the first to arrive.  Took less than a minute to prepare my old syringe with no markings left.  Today's tank has never worked better, thanks to your advice.

Keep the content coming,

Peter