Viper 8 test flight

[RC Storick]

Well it was a long time coming but Sunday I got to try my new Viper. This plane has been 16 years in the making. While Viper 6 was a dud (due to bad bell crank placement) and 7 was sold, 8 looks to be very promising.Sunday we started the engine and I set it to a fast 4, Up to level flight and it unloaded. Humming like a sewing machine. I did not attempt a RWO on the first flight as the wind was around 15 and I had not had a flight in 3 months. I just did some inside and out side Squares triangles and rounds. Just to get the feel of the new ship. There are a few on this forum that saw it fly. You will not see a faster corner except from a combat ship. The nice thing about this fast corner is it is controllable. It turns and stops. The reason for this is weight! Period! 8.75 in the nose as oppose to 13. Gross weight 47.5 as opposed to 64+. 650 squares and 47.5 oz means wing loadings are way down. I have finally achieved my goal of getting a airplane with a pipe to fly like the did in the 60tys and 70tys only with power. I had people ask me for plans already. Impressive flight to say the least!

I wanted to fly 8 before starting 9 to see if there was any design changes needed. I think its fine the way it is. SO 9 will be a duplicate. I have started on it today.

[Matt Colan]

Sounds like a winner Robert    I still have to wait until April to get my new ships flying; the Ares that will have clear on tomorrow and maybe tomorrow start my Oriental Plus.

[RC Storick]

Thanks. After checking the forum I think I have my numbers wrong. Viper 8 should be Viper 9 and the next one should be 10. So I think I will go to the software system and call it Viper 1.0

Maybe George Jetson will chime in here and give a outside perspective on how it flies.  Aside from the flap tweak and tank shim.

[john e. holliday]

Seen the plane in person after flying was done.  Did not get to see Robert fly the Viper tho.  If I could have enough patience to get my planes to look that good I would be in stunt heaven.  Also thanks, Robert for introducing me to the man.  DOC Holliday

[RC Storick]

Your welcome Doc. He's quite knowledgeable in Stunt Don't you think?  We don't need no stinking Aero Space degree to design Control line planes. Just common sense. Remember I always say engineers design it and mechanics make it work.

[Allan Perret]

So are you going to make plans available ?

[RC Storick]

We will see how it does this year with its final revision. I wouldn't want to send out Junk.

[Crist Rigotti]

I saw it fly Sunday at Buder Park.  While the tank needed shimming to correct a speed up on inside loops, the rest of the plane appeared to behave very well.  No real wobbles or yawing.  What struck me most was the quality of the corner.  Very tight, very controlled.  Reminded me of Dave Fitzgerald's corners.  The plane appeared to just rotate around.  Very, very nice corner!  Ya done good Bobby!

[john e. holliday]

So true about mechanics.  We had same problem with the phone company.  The engineers would design a circuit for a customer and we, the switchmen had to make it work.  One engineer really got upset with us when we wouldn't tell him how we got it to work.  But, now does the bellcrank have to be on the exact location of the CG?DOC Holliday

[RC Storick]

Even tho most people think it don't matter thats not what he said as we discussed. B,Netzaban says BC location should be just behind the CG. For static alignment only. But we don't fly in static conditions.

[Randy Powell]

Robert,

Glad you are happy with it. It's a very slick looking plane and I imagine it presents very well in the air.

Airplane design, feel, trim and such (after good base trim) are really a matter of person choice. This came home to me when Pete Peterson complained to me that my classic plane pulled to hard. I've flown the plane for a bit and never really noticed much pull. It was positive, but didn't seem like it was pulling particularly hard and the amount of tension is now fairly consistent throughout the flight in most attitudes and positions in the circle. I suppose it's a matter of personal preference. Pete likes a light touch. I like planes that have a positive feel everywhere. I don't think one way is better (as long as the touch isn't too light or too heavy as to interfere with positive control), but it is a matter of what we like.

[James Mills]

Sparky,

Nice looking plane, I missed the flight (I think that was when I ran my boy over to McD's for some lunch). 

Bob showed me the new one and had me pick it up, weighs almost nothing.  He was concerned about the finish not being "that great" and I told him that his worst finish was better than most of our best attempts (don't let him kid you, it looks good).

James

[Michael Floerchinger]

Great looking plane Bob!

I wish I could have hung around longer to see it fly.

It was great seeing everyone again again, I have the bug but I have to get the big model done(house)

Mike

[Allan Perret]

Have you ever posted any pictures of this latest V8 ? 
I dont recall seeing any..

[Steve Helmick]

Apparently, he did!  Steve