Speed,Combat,Scale,Racing > Scale Models

Orin and his NATS

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john e. holliday:
Just came from Flying Lines site aand reading Orin Humphries trip to the NATS.  Over 2,000 miles one way is a trip.  His exsperience getting ready and what happened once there.   I vaguely remember meeting him at the Lincoln NE. NATS.  it is well worht the read in my opinion.  Thanks Orin for the write up. H^^ D>K

Fred Cronenwett:
I originally met Orin when I attended the NW Regionals back in in 1999 time frame. Evey Nats is different depending upon how your airplanes work or don't work. I will read his Flying Lines write-up, driving 2,000 miles is a long drive to get to the Nat's or any contest. The longest I have driven is from St Louis to the Carmicheals PA for the NASA CLassic.

Fred

Pete Bauer:
Here is link to Orin's writeup
http://www.flyinglines.org/orin.23.nats.html

Gary Dowler:
Known him since 1976. He was my middle school science teacher, and he had a model airplane club at Libby Jr High.  That's where I got my start.  Yeah, driving 2400 miles is quite a commitment!  Its most unfortunate that the F-84 he spent 9 years building for authentic scale, which would have been at that contest, was destroyed in a practice flight.  The level of scale detail was phenomenal.

Gary

Fred Cronenwett:
Test flights are always nerve racking. I approach the 1st flight very carefully just like the full size guys do

1a) engine runs in the test stand & verify CG location
1b) line guide location - hang the model from the leadouts and verify I have positive line rake
2) slow taxi test - looking for any ground control issues like turning in towards me
3) fast taxi test - continue to look for turning in towards me
4) High speed run - almost at flight speed. get the tailwheel off the ground
5) low level flight - with enough power to lift off just a few feet evaluate the elevator control (too sensitive and cg location)
6) full power flight - throttle up to flight speed and take it up

I do not ramp the throttle up to full power and just release and hope for the best. The taxi test and low level flight will show a lot of problems without risking the model. I was flying a friends brodak Bearcat and when I got the model a few feet off the ground it was CG unstable, I had to lock my hand, throttled back and knocked one gear door but the model survived. We added nose weight and all was good.

Fred

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