T-28 Front Landing Gear Repair

Flight Date: 4 April 2009

Conditions
Equipment: (T-28 Trojan)
WX: ~5 mph, Temp ~50 F
Ground Conditions: grass
Field: (#2 )

This was a great flight up until the last “landing”. I had made 4 nice landings on this relatively low-wind day. However, I unconsciously developed a bad habit of immediately reversing the direction of the plane just after it takes to the air. Toward the end I ended up reversing and flying into the ground fairly hard. The front landing gear took the brunt, breaking a plastic piece that holds the gear in place. I used some CA glue back a the hanger to fix it but it was not as secure as from the factory.

Flight Date: 7 April 2009

Conditions
Equipment: (T-28 Trojan)
WX: ~18 mph, Temp ~50 F
Ground Conditions: grass
Field: (#3 )

This was a quick flight and unfortunately I should have called it before I took flight. The wind gusts were too great to fly the T-28. I confirmed what I knew pre-flight once the plane was in the air. It was too gusty to realize steady, controlled flight. I brought the plane down after just a few minutes. Unfortunately, the landing was poor and ended up nose down on the front landing gear. The quick-fix that I had applied from the last flight came un-glued so to speak.

I ended up trying some new experimental repair procedures back at the hanger using spray foam- great stuff. Below are a few pictures of the process. It didn’t go as originally planned as the great stuff did not cure as hard as I would have liked. So, I ended up adding some reinforcing spars to the front gear. I have used these spars on other fixes and you may have also heard them called Popsicle sticks elsewhere.

Steps as show above:

1.) wood sticks used to keep foam from expanding into the area of the landing gear push rod

2.) foam allowed to expand and sticks removed (less than gracefully)

3.) trimmed foam down flush and found it was a little too soft

4.) cut out recessed area to receive to reinforcing spars*

*I like to use the word spars when discussing aircraft repair techniques

This more thorough fix worked out well and held up well on the next 2 flights.

Flight Date: 14 April 2009

Conditions
Equipment: (T-28 Trojan)
WX: ~10 mph, Temp ~50 F
Ground Conditions: grass
Field: (#4 )

These were 2 good flights in a very large soccer complex. I also had my first over water flight as there was a small lagoon adjacent to the fields. It was a little gusty at times, but the T-28 handled it fine. Both landings where decent and the new an improved front gear worked well. On the 2^nd landing I flared too much too soon and the plane gained a couple feet and the lost airspeed resulting in a less than stellar landing and the front gear took a little abuse. The good news is that the gear held up.

Damage
T-28 Front Gear- fixed with spray foam / glue ~$7

Stats
SC 1.0 Cumulative Flights: 15
SC 2.0 Cumulative Flights: 18
Total: 33
Cumulative Hrs: 7.6
successful Landings: 68
SC Maintenance / Repairs* ~$54.5

Stats
T-28 Cumulative flights 13
Cumulative Hrs: 3.6
successful Landings: 22
T-28 Trojan Maintenance / Repairs* ~$7

*Cost to replace items broken in flight

DA-20 Demo Ride

Last Friday, I took my first ever flight in a general aviation airplane. This was a demo flight and my mission was to see what it is like to fly in a small airplane. The above picture shows what the cockpit looks like in the Diamond DA-20 Eclipse that I flew. I guess it is technically accurate to say I flew it since I did control the stick for about 3 minutes and I made a shallow left hand banking turn. However, for the most part I was a passenger- in the left seat. The picture below shows the frontal view out of the actual plane from my seat.

Overall this was a fun experience and it did give me a good feel for what a GA flight is like in a small 2-seater. The conditions where clear and about 45 degrees. I was told it was bumpy up to about 3,500 ft. and we never went above that level. It was a little bumpy and at times unsettling- but I became comfortable with it rather quickly. I kept reminding myself that there has not been one US fatality in the DA-20 since it was introduced in the late 1980's..... "Wait what website was it that I read that on again, I think it had frames... when did Al invent the Internet again...I hope that is still true" moving on.

The flight initiated at Flying Cloud Airport (KFCM) in Eden Prairie, MN from runway "28R with golf" we ascended briskly to about 1500 feet leveled off and headed out about 10NM. We then circled around at level altitude over the area of Lake Minnetonka at ~100 knots. The view was fantastic! As I have read from others, flying in the DA-20 is almost like having the plane strapped to you.

Before I knew it, the time was up and we were headed back toward the airport. The CFI called the tower and we were cleared to land- again on 28R- with a right pattern from the west. The landing was a fun experience and smooth.

I can see why the DA-20 is highly regarded as a flight trainer. The plane is simple, comfortable (once you relax) and has fantastic visibility. The space inside is tight but ample once underway with your intended purpose- flight.

I had to overcome a little bit of the "what the hell are you doing anyway" that was going on in my mind as we closed the hatch. "I mean you just met this young fellow 20 minutes ago and now your strapped in this plastic tube with an engine on it and we just closed the lid." I felt trapped and constrained for just a few minutes- committed as it were. However, once we got the engine running and started moving through the check list items, I was fine. This was not unlike the feeling I had when I descended the first 10 feet during my first ocean dive in SCUBA training. I look at it as my mind gently asking the question- "are you sure you know what you are doing?"

This reminds me of a colleague at work that toured a cave on vacation and found herself in the bellows of said cave with too many people, only enough room to crawl, and nothing but battery powered torch light. About the time it was way too late to turn back without spoiling everyone's fun, she realized that her own mind was screaming at her to get the hell out of there! It is both interesting and remarkable that sometimes the one thing most difficult for the mind to overcome is itself. You have to rely on what is deeper and closer to you than you own mind to get through these situations. She gained control and made it out fine. For my brief SCUBA career that has so far come to an end after 10 magnificent dives in the GBR of Australia, it is the fact that I overcame my own mind while descending the first 10 feet of my first ocean dive of the coast of Sydney, that I hold most dear some 6 years later. The incredible feelings and scenes underwater come in a very close 2nd :)

The pictures bellow show the view from the cockpit but don't come close the real experience!

RV-4 Build Update

For all of you that keep sending me emails, and late-nite tweets asking about the RV-4, rest assured, progress is being made. I have gotten beyond my aversion for CA-stained fingers and made some solid progress.

In this case, a picture is worth 1000 words.

Build hours to date: who cares?
Amount of Glue spilled on Kitchen table eating through the finish: Who noticed?

Zippy Flight Max 2200 mAh LiPo Review

When I started flying the Super Cub I soon stumbled upon Internet tipsters proclaiming the merits of the LiPo battery for increased flight times and performance in the SC. Before long I yearned for the extra boost and stick time per charge.

It took me a while to figure out what battery to choose. So, I want to make this process easier for others. It is this simple. Order the FlightMax 2200, 20C Zippy battery from HobbyKing. This battery costs ~18 Usd. It works will with the SC and my Spektrum electronics. It also works perfectly in the T-28 Trojan. If you want to know more read on. If you just want to fly, go order a few.

In both of these planes with the stock motor I am getting about 20-22 minutes of flight time. I try not to push it so far that the ending voltage is less than about 3.2V per cell. When I charge the batteries I usually put about 1900-2000 mAh Back in so there is probably a little more juice to wring out if I wanted to- I really don't want to since my hand are numb by 20 mintues in this cold MN “spring” weather and my 5 year old has, by 11 minutes, asked 25 times if we can go home now.

To use this battery in the T-28, the only modification you will need is to replace the battery receptacle to a deans pug on the plane- it comes with the e flight plug.

To use this battery on the SuperCub you will need to modify the battery box so that the battery can ride vertical. If you are using stock electronics, you will need to change a jumper on the ESC and move the ESC to a slightly different location to make it work. It is my understanding that this jumper changes the voltage cut-off – it raises the voltage cut off. Note: You can damage the LiPo by running it down much below 3.0 volts per cell on a 3S battery. NiMH can go lower- hence you need to change the jumper with the stock ESC.

Here is how the battery fits in my Modified Supercub:

I've not used other LiPos, but for this price and performance to date, I am planning to order a few more soon. I probably should before all you regulars run out and buy a few dozen!

If you are looking for a changer consider the Turnigy Accucell 6. BTW, I am not affiliated in any way with HobbyKing but so far my experience is that these 2 poducts offer a lot of value.

Back to the Hanger

Flight Date: 28March2009

Conditions
Equipment: (Parkzone T-28 Trojan)
WX: ~5mph, Temp ~40 F
Ground Conditions: Almost all snow melted- wet field
Field: (#1,2 )

Flight Summary

Flight 1 (~20 minutes) and Flight 2 (~20 min)

Great first flight in the early afternoon. The whole family came to watch. It was a little cold however, and the Kids had a hard time staying entertained by the plan. I was able to make a 1 ok and 1 nice landing.

Flight number 2 was solo. I had a great flight, but the last landing was hard and I had a minor breakage on the nose landing gear. I have inspected it and it will be easy to fix- but the plane is currently in the hanger until I find 5-10 minutes.

I continue to love flying this plane!

Flight Dates: 29March2009

Conditions
Equipment: (Super Cub 2.1 – Ailerons – LiPo Battery)
WX: ~5 mph, Temp ~35 F
Ground Conditions: grass
Field: (#1 )

Flight Summary

Flight 1 (~16 minutes)

The wind was fairly low. I was practicing gentle turns and things where going well. About 16 minutes into the flight I lost perspective of the plant- thought it was flying towards me and it was flying away. The end result was a nose-dive landing. I broke a prob and the front fuselage is a little more cracked than it was. SC 2.0 is also grounded until I can find about 15 minutes to do the fixes.

Things I learned from these flights
Wind above 15 mph really makes the SC difficult to fly. Both aileron and non-aileron wings where impacted severely by the gusts. Not really a new learning- rather a re-learning. (I didn't realize the gusts where at greater than 20mph until I checked weatherbug)

Damage
SC 2.0- Broken Prop- $3.50
T-28- Front landing gear plastic broken

Stats
SC 1.0 Cumulative Flights: 15
SC 2.0 Cumulative Flights: 18
Total: 33
Cumulative Hrs: 7.6
successful Landings: 68
SC Maintenance / Repairs* ~$54.50

Stats
T-28 Cumulative flights 9
Cumulative Hrs: 2.6
successful Landings: 16
T-28 Trojan Maintenance / Repairs* ~$0

*Cost to replace items broken in flight

1 step forward, 2 steps back.... 1 step forward

Flight Dates: 18, 19 March2009

Conditions
Equipment: (Super Cub 2.1 – Ailerons – LiPo Battery)
WX: ~10 mph, Temp ~50 F
Ground Conditions: grass
Field: (#3 )

Flight Summary

Flight 1 (~6 minutes) and Flight 2 (~4 min)

I found a new field near a very large soccer complex, however the exact spot I chose was sub-optimal. I was fling the SC fairly low to the ground and there was a tree that I needed to stay away from in the line of flight. Unfortunately, I had some kind of stall / nose dive at about 7 minutes into the first flight. The plane “landed” hard on its nose. Remarkably, the only thing damaged was actually the tail. Just like SC1.0 the tail snapped clean off. It was a disappointing error even knowing that I would be able to fix the damage with epoxy.

The following day I returned again with the re-conditioned SC and flew a short flight in a better spot. However, it was too cold and windy to make the flight last longer than 4 min. so I called it good.

This first flight felt like 2 steps back compared to the recent flying I had been doing with no major events. It primarily came as a result of poor field positioning / selection and the need to avoid the tree.

Flight Date: 20, March2009

Flight Summary

Conditions
Equipment: (Parkzone T-28 Trojan)
WX: ~5 mph Temp ~50 F
Ground Conditions: grass
Field: (#2 )

Flight 1, 2, 3 (20, 20, 21 Min)

I lucked out with some great weather last weekend. Saturday was 50 degrees, sunny with minimal wind- perfect!

I took the T-28 out again and had a great set of flights. I am really impressed with how this plane flies. It is easy to fly it very smoothly and it looks great in the air. I am having some problems getting the landings down because the plane does float. I am finding I almost need a throttle off approach to get it down. It makes for some fun low and long approaches. I am getting the hang up the no-touch, touch and go, but not quite ready to consistently make a touch. I had a number of decent landings and a few rough ones as well. The plane is holding up and so far I have not abused it too badly.

I did have a couple of landings where the plane essentially dropped straight down from about 1 foot in the air. The was brought on by either too much flair or inability to get it down and It just ran out of lift...

Damage
SC 2.0- Broken tail- fixed with epoxy

Stats
SC 1.0 Cumulative Flights: 15
SC 2.0 Cumulative Flights: 17
Total: 32
Cumulative Hrs: 7.3
successful Landings: 68
SC Maintenance / Repairs* ~$51

Stats
T-28 Cumulative flights 5
Cumulative Hrs: 1.9
successful Landings: 12
T-28 Trojan Maintenance / Repairs* ~$0

*Cost to replace items broken in flight

Grounded By Gusts

Flight Date: 15March2009

Conditions
Equipment: (Super Cub 2.0 and 2.1 – Ailerons – LiPo Battery)
WX: ~11 mph with 23MPG gusts, Temp ~50 F
Ground Conditions: Wet Field
Field: (#1 )

Flight Summary

Flight 1 (~6 minutes) and Flight 2 (~4 min)

The winds where once again too strong for the SC to handle. It does OK up to about 15mph even 20 if it is consistent wind. The condition for these flights about 15mph with additional 10 to 20mph gusts. The aileron wing was picking up the wind like a sail and it was very difficult to control the SC.

For the 2nd flight I switched back to the stock wing thinking it might help- it didn't!

3 Landings

Things I learned from these flights
Wind above 15 mph really makes the SC difficult to fly. Both aileron and non-aileron wings where impacted severely by the gusts. Not really a new learning- rather a re-learning. (I didn't realize the gusts where at greater than 20mph until I checked weatherbug)

Damage
None

Stats
SC 1.0 Cumulative Flights: 15
SC 2.0 Cumulative Flights: 15
Total: 30
Cumulative Hrs: 6.8
successful Landings: 66
SC Maintenance / Repairs* ~$51

*Cost to replace items broken in flight