Larry S (s4227) Probably this belongs somewhere else, but hey . . Streak flight

[Just One-eye]

I'm now on my 2nd Flite Streak ARF. (snip) I've got about 20 flights on it thus far .... with no repairs. I've been able to really start trimming it out, and doing some basic stunt practicing. Counting off in my head .... I think I'm around 5 sec. laptimes, with a OS 25, 9x5 prop, and 60' lines. On this same basic setup with FS #1, I was low-mid 4 seconds ..... The rebuild of the fuse in FS #2 has made the plane heavier, thus a little slower.

Next time out to the field I gotta figure out why my loops look like an 'upright #9'. Starting the loop is pretty tight, but the last half of the loop the plane seems to fall off and struggle to complete the loop.

That's typical "full up and hang on" results!  Apply half as much up and allow the top of the loop to go way beyond any 45 degree elevation so you don't bleed off all the speed in that stall-turn attitude you end up flying in.  Or else reduce the elevator throw to only 15-20 degrees (between a quarter and 3/8"). 

I got a feeling that I need some more weight in the tail. I moved my handle line spacing out (which helped), and elevator throw seems to be more than sufficient (at least 1/2", from memory). With FS #2, I've never been able to get the 'start' and 'end' of the loop on the same line. Maybe the extra weight and slower speeds is causing it .... before adding tail weight, I may try a 9x6 to bump up the speed.

A 9-6 on an LA 25 may reduce the Streak's maneuverability, instead.  I like 9-4s on OS 25 FPs, but those are way too fast for a Streak with any more pitch than 4".  You may find that a 10-4 and a faster rpm will suit you far better than a 9-6.

Ahhh .... the trials of experimentation!  As long as I can fly without some sort of repair to this thing, then its all good!

After building a fuse for FS #1, I'm definitely going with a kit plane. By that time, the new Evolution 36 should be out. I wanna try that engine. I've got a Evo 46 in an RC plane, and its a wonderful engine.

Babbling now ..... FlySafe! Larry (Larrys4227)

Unless you plan to enter Speed Limit combat events, the only engine "bigger" than a 25 to put on a Streak is the old Fox 35 stunt, and that vibrates a helluva lot more than any ARF nose can handle!

[Larrys4227]

That's typical "full up and hang on" results!  Apply half as much up and allow the top of the loop to go way beyond any 45 degree elevation so you don't bleed off all the speed in that stall-turn attitude you end up flying in.  Or else reduce the elevator throw to only 15-20 degrees (between a quarter and 3/8").

With my first FS, I never noticed issues with oblong/stalled loops .... but with FS#2, maybe I am causing this to happen by too much elevator input at the beginning of the loop. I'll try not being so aggressive, and see what happens.

A 9-6 on an LA 25 may reduce the Streak's maneuverability, instead.  I like 9-4s on OS 25 FPs, but those are way too fast for a Streak with any more pitch than 4".  You may find that a 10-4 and a faster rpm will suit you far better than a 9-6.

FS#1 was way too fast with a 9x6 .... I slowed it down by running a 9x4, and it was still mid-4 second laps. With FS #2, I am running a 9x5 and (mentally counting off in my head) its running close to 5-sec laps. It feels slow and sluggish at 5-seconds, but I think it was helping to give me time to get through some manuevers. Still, I'd like to see mid-upper 4's again. It had a better pull and seemed more solidly flying.
*** I think the reason for slow and sluggish is because of the weight I've added. Remember, the entire nose has been reinforced, and I also had to do some work to the tail section.
Based on what I found with the 9x6 on FS#1, I was gonna try it (and still will), but it hadn't occured to me to try a 9x4 and bump the RPM. 

Unless you plan to enter Speed Limit combat events, the only engine "bigger" than a 25 to put on a Streak is the old Fox 35 stunt, and that vibrates a helluva lot more than any ARF nose can handle!

I think you misunderstood me ..... when I spoke of the new Evolution 36 coming it, its definately NOT for the Flite Streak!  Because of all the issues I've had with FS#1 and #2 ARF's, I want to BUILD my next plane from a KIT, and the Evo36 will go in that. 

Thanks for your insights!  I got lots to work on (flying and trimming) and if I can keep it in one piece, its all good! One lil' mistake and it seems to cost me 2-3 days in repair time. Gettin' sick of that ...!!

FlySafe! Larry (Larrys4227)

[Just One-eye]

With my first FS, I never noticed issues with oblong/stalled loops .... but with FS#2, maybe I am causing this to happen by too much elevator input at the beginning of the loop. I'll try not being so aggressive, and see what happens.

FS#1 was way too fast with a 9x6 .... I slowed it down by running a 9x4, and it was still mid-4 second laps. With FS #2, I am running a 9x5 and (mentally counting off in my head) its running close to 5-sec laps. It feels slow and sluggish at 5-seconds, but I think it was helping to give me time to get through some manuevers. Still, I'd like to see mid-upper 4's again. It had a better pull and seemed more solidly flying.
*** I think the reason for slow and sluggish is because of the weight I've added. Remember, the entire nose has been reinforced, and I also had to do some work to the tail section.

If the CG is too close to the LE now, from the extra material, you could swap a lighter muffler of the tongue type, for the stock OS LA muffler, and perhaps shift the CG closer to the 1 1/2" point behind the front of the LE that most people find themselves comfortable with (my own preference for Streaks has always been right where George put it in the first place, about where the front of the spar is, but many fliers find that too sensitive).

Based on what I found with the 9x6 on FS#1, I was gonna try it (and still will), but it hadn't occured to me to try a 9x4 and bump the RPM. 

I think you misunderstood me ..... when I spoke of the new Evolution 36 coming it, its definately NOT for the Flite Streak!  Because of all the issues I've had with FS#1 and #2 ARF's, I want to BUILD my next plane from a KIT, and the Evo36 will go in that. 

Thanks for your insights!  I got lots to work on (flying and trimming) and if I can keep it in one piece, its all good! One lil' mistake and it seems to cost me 2-3 days in repair time. Gettin' sick of that ...!!

FlySafe! Larry (Larrys4227)

I still like SIG's Twister for an Intermediate size and performance model, and it's probably matched well enough to the engine you are waiting on.