Fox with Carbon Prop

...too much of a good thing

I recently received a box of goodies containing items to finalise the Fox glider; a 32mm carbon spinner, a pair of carbon 9.5x5 folding props and a new battery. The reason for changing from the standard setup was that the R2hobbies spinner has an inboard pivot which prevents the prop from folding, and additionally I thought the standard 10x6 props too large.

On the weekend I had a chance to get the Fox out for a trial run with its new hardware, and got something of a surprise; the setup, powered by a 25-5-C 1800 Nanotech, developed that much thrust that it put the Fox into a turn at full throttle, and caused a vibration past about 80% throttle.

Consequently I've decided to try out a set of Walrus props I've got in the spares drawer. These are about 8x5 and I think should be a little more suitable. Anyhow, I've got the Fox set up and will give it another test flight soon...

Bumpy Ride

...and bumpy landing

There was a slight breeze this morning, well under double figures, so I happily lobbed up the Phoenix 2000 to enjoy some air-time before work. I was surprised to find it wobbling around surprisingly much; apparently what seemed a gentle breeze was a little gusty and more-so at tree-top level. I suppose with large wing areas gliders are quite susceptible to bumpy conditions.

So the flying wasn't all that relaxing, but I got in a couple of nice flights, managing the velocity changes with turning into and away from the wind. A did have a little problems with the landings though - the first ending with a mild ground loop and the second with a nose dive after I'd misjudged the landing distance, tried to pull up and then got everything wrong.

However, apart from the propeller mount being pushed in a little and a rather muddy spinner, the Phoenix is good to go...

A Profound Sadness

...collateral damage by stupidity

Having returned home, I was overcome by a profound sadness at having inflicted such wanton damage to such a lovely aircraft. It was like a nice pet being given to a bad home, and I was the culprit. Oh dear.

It may seem silly but I really felt gutted by the sequence of events; the effort I'd made, aspirations thwarted and damaged caused for no gain. A sorry waste for no benefit at all.

I pondered the situation and decided on two things. Firstly, as damaged as the Phoenix was it was still repairable to a flying state. Secondly, I would get a smaller and more novice-friendly aircraft.

For the Phoenix it was spares-shopping and improvisation. The nylon fuselage was up-ended in a jug of boiling water and left overnight, in the hope that relief of residual stresses would help to straighten up the wrinkles.

The original kit had included a fixed spinner, if no motor were to be used. This I modified to adapt to the spinner-base and to clear the propellor mounts. The battery tray, which had shattered most impressively, I tried to reconstitute after the fashion of a jigsaw-puzzle but then abandoned as folly, fabricating another out of modelling ply.

The wings mounts I superglued together and reinforced with fibreglass mesh. Ailerons were remounted, using hinges to replaced the ruptured EPO hinge and, as a bonus, I "activated" the moulded-in flaps giving them the same hinge treatment as the ailerons  and installing servos in the ready-moulded wing recesses. A new battery to replace the compacted original 1800mAh completed the repair process.

Now all I needed was the skill to fly the recreated Phoenix...

Same Again, Unfortunately

...not really having learned from the first time

Having repaired the glider (which had a wing mount cracked) and given some consideration to the events of the previous morning, I headed out again with the Phoenix 2000. Following the less-than-successful second flight, expectations for an early crash were high amongst the observers.

The field this time was larger - three fields end-to-end although shared with walkers and kids at one end and an informal soccer at the other. A little nervous. No, make that very nervous. And uncertain. Here goes.

The launch this time is fine, gliding across the field and a making a turn to the right. Coming back the glider dips in the turn so I push up the throttle, but too much. The  Phoenix turns its spinner to the heavens in a now-familiar manner, and I panic, cutting the throttle I wait for the nose to come down...

Now, having learned from the previous morning's exercise, I know not to leave the glider to drop on its own as I know it won't have time to recover. So now, as the nose dips, I add power with the expectation that the airspeed will increase rapidly and the big propellor will whisk the Phoenix into a climb; all will be well.

Except unfortunately not. It's a repeat of the previous day's crash, except faster and much more destructive. The spinner was smashed, the front of the nylon moulded fuselage reduced to a crumple zone. Both wings were also broken at the mountings, and incredibly the ailerons had snapped their moulded hinges, hanging limply from the control arms.

Looking around I saw that the canopy, jettisoned by the battery as it ejected from the cockpit, lying on the grass a few metres away. To complete the scenario the battery had been concertined in and was now about a third shorter than its original state.

Making light of the event, I picked up the Phoenix, collected the debris and headed back to the car...