Taking a chance on flying lines

[RknRusty]

Over the last couple of days I've been getting my Sig Magnum ready to fly. But I didn't realize until too late to order, that I don't have any .018" flying lines. I do have a new set of .015s that I wrapped properly with 28g copper and new eyelets, and no damage or kinks in that set.

This is an overweight Magnum at about 69 ounces. So if my buddy and I go to Fort Jax, we'll likely be all alone and only endangering ourselves. How would you guys feel about putting up 5 or 6 flights with that plane on .015" lines? Only light wind is forecast.
Rusty

[wwwarbird]

 Ask yourself this, do you want to lose a brand new airplane to a line break just because you didn't wait a few extra days for some new lines to arrive?


 You might get away with it, and you might not.

[Steve Helmick]

When an accident happens, you ALWAYS want to be able to say that you were following the rules and safety guidelines set by the AMA.  Steve

[Clint Ormosen]

.........but if you decide to try it, please get it on video.

[Lauri Malila]

Why not? Do a pull test 10x model weight and if it's ok, fly.
I have once tried .018" lines and felt that model is more in danger with those, than with .015's.
Only one thing; with heavy-ish model/strong wind, stainless .015 lines are annoyingly flexible.
I see no problem. Over here nobody uses .018's.

Lauri

[RknRusty]

Okay, compiling the results of my survey so far...
Two guys said what the logical answer should be.
One guy said what I would have answered if asked. Lol, Clint.
And another guy said what I wanted the answer to be.

Whatever happens I will consider the wind and do a pull test, and I will get it on video, good, bad or ugly.
Rusty

[Dave_Trible]

I couldn't suggest it but you'll probably get away with it because a certain amount of safety factor is built in.  Give it a good pull before hand.  Get on to the heavier lines ASAP thought.  The airplane will trim out quite different on the proper lines so any efforts to trim the airplane with the light lines is mostly wasted.  I flew one of my .61 heavy airplanes on .015 lines by mistake for a couple flying sessions and couldn't understand why the thing seemed so out of trim....until I spotted my goof.



Dave

[Larry Wilks]

Rusty, Sent you a PM!
Larry

[mike londke]

Go to Bass Pro and buy some 100lb Power Pro Spectra. AMA legal for sport flying. You can make a set of lines in about 5 min at the field. Use the right knot and make sure is is US made Power Pro Spectra.

[RknRusty]

Mike
Thanks, that was actually my next question. 100lb. I've got a good fishing outfitter here in Columbia that will have it.

Larry
Got your PM, will reply shortly.

Appreciate you guys looking out for me.

Also, got a call from Bob Zambelli inviting me to fly at his place tomorrow, and I'll bet he's got a set of lines that he'll loan me for the day. I'll get some Magnum video for y'all's viewing entertainment. Sorry Clint, probably no spectacular fly-aways.
Rusty

[M Spencer]

Be interesting o see a lean run in a bit off moving air . Not uncommon on a new tank . 

wouldn't use .015 in a 55 Oz .40 ship in the wind . Wiped out a OS 35 muffler on .012s on the glide ,
old watercourse / dip ( 12 inchs deep almost by 30 wide curved dip ) as the wind followed the curve
and the up wasn't there . 57 ouce ship on new .015s on a gusty evening was hope & pray . though
fine in the sun at lunch in calm air .

Go Ahead  only get it on Video , with a fast zoom to catch the flyaway or crunch . Afterall , you
can kock up another one before breakfast . 

[Motorman]

I would never risk a fly away.


MM

[RknRusty]

I've got it covered now.

[Randy Cuberly]

In reality it will probably be alright...However, consider that you're violating AMA CL rules by flying this weight aircraft on .015 lines.  Should there be any mishap, no matter how remote the possibility, your insurance would likely be void, and shoud any injury result I don't have to tell you what problems could arise from that!

If you do decide to risk it I wouldn't advise a 10 G pull test because that will simply stress the lines more before the flights and may even cause a mishap during flying.

Certainly a pull test is in order but make it a reasonable pull within the AMA guide lines.

Randy Cuberly

[RknRusty]

Thanks Randy. Like I mentioned above, I think Mr.Z will have some lines I can borrow. Surely with the gargantuan planes he sometimes flies, I think I'll be able to play safely. Also Will Davis has a couple of spools of Allen Brickhause's lines he's going to give me next week in Huntersville at our 1/2A day meeting. Larry Wilkes also offered to send me some. I'm up to my knees on .018s now Lol.
Rusty

[NED-088]

In reality it will probably be alright...However, consider that you're violating AMA CL rules by flying this weight aircraft on .015 lines.  Should there be any mishap, no matter how remote the possibility, your insurance would likely be void, and shoud any injury result I don't have to tell you what problems could arise from that!

If you do decide to risk it I wouldn't advise a 10 G pull test because that will simply stress the lines more before the flights and may even cause a mishap during flying.

Certainly a pull test is in order but make it a reasonable pull within the AMA guide lines.

Randy Cuberly

May cause a mishap during flying? 
A 10 G pull test would be according to FAI rules, and to my knowledge we haven't seen more percentual mishaps due to line failure in the big, wide world outside the US.
So 10G has proved to be a most reasonable pull.
I'd never, ever fly a normal stunter on anything over .015,  feels like flying on steel rods instead of cables...
But, just what Lauri said....

[RknRusty]

Well it stayed on the lines. Both of them, haha.
I had a sore arm Sunday so only short tanked it and did some wingovers, inside and outside loops, and an inside square. It was also too rich so I nipped away at wingovers before I put it all the way over the top, but that 46fx and 12x4 Zinger has a lot of power and chugged through with no complaints. What a graceful plane, now I can see how some pilots make such nice flat bottoms. I usually come up bobbling. The tank worked pretty well and when it leaned out for the last couple of laps me and my gimpy arm were grateful it had been a too rich run. Didn't get much on the video, but that greased landing i was expecting didn't happen. I'll blame it on my pit crew shouting for me to back up distracted me. I did get a pretty nice low climbing takeoff lap. I think it's nose heavy but will get into trimming when I'm in better shape to fly it. But I like it. Flying a plane with flaps is new, not counting my Yak-9 which is my first.

Not a lot to show, but I promised, so here it is.

Sunday's flight after fixing the old bird up:


My only other flight on the Magnum back in May after it was presented to me by John Tate and the Norfolk gang.


Playing with my Li'l satan. Yeah we flew some 1/2A too. Exhilarating!


Rusty

[Ron Cribbs]

Hey!

That's me with the Satan! It's a fun little plane, you built it well.

[RknRusty]

Hey!

That's me with the Satan! It's a fun little plane, you built it well.

Yeah it was! Aw man, I wasn't trying to swipe your glory. Ron is in the area on USAF business and we just met in real life after several years on the forums. I don't seem to have anything too fast for him to fly. Lol
This is the first time I've ever flown the baby planes on steel lines. I think it makes a big difference in a good way but i've always gone way over-size with the Spectras for the sake of reducing tangles.

Ron is one of three beta testers for Hobbico's new blend of Cox Super Power Fuel with 25% nitro/20% oil(half castor). The manufacturer responded to our shouts on Coxengineforums.com and Bernie of CoxInternational.ca, that their current blend with the same name could not be used in Cox engines and is now testing a formula to compete with Sig Champion 1/2A fuel. That's what we've been using for a month in our Cox engines and it runs great. The sagging you hear in the Li'l Satan video is only caused by an old flabby bladder I should have replaced and too much air in the tube. I added some air to try and induce a 2 lap cutoff warning, which usually works with the cone shaped pickup insert from TexasTimers.com.
The new blend is good stuff. I hope it's on the shelves soon.
Rusty