Bought a new Baby FliteStreak kit/Crippled the Bean

Great, the Streak is going to take over for the Bean. It's bellcrank mount broke loose this morning and smashed through 3 ribs before stopping. The control rod is sticking out the other side like a shattered bone. It must have been breaking from pulling it out of the stooge. Maybe it was a bit too tight. I'll address that before it happens to the Satan. This is bad, hardly in a place for surgical access. I was planning to post a thread with autopsy pictures later this evening. Very sad.

The final break happened while I was back-peddling at the top of a loop. When I started losing it I did what I do in an emergency; whip my left arm over the lines and push them down with my forearm to take up the slack and level the elevator. It usually works, but that must have pulled it completely loose. It had been feeling a little funny leading up to that.

I can mount the bellcrank on the outside and repair the ribs, and it will fly. But I think its days as a workhorse are over.

Funny, I had ordered the Flightstreak 30 minutes before taking the Bean out to fly. I'm sick about it. I loved that little plane.

Maybe it's just time to strip it down and sand/repair all the evidence of past mishaps. Give it a fresh coat and voila! Brand new bean. Nothing a little glue and new balsa wouldn't fix.

Hope you enjoy the streak!

Fix it up and retire it or use as back up plane. Simple fact you fly/ you crash! The better you get the longer they last. I have given away many airplanes that just got sick of looking at them. New is better as you learn more about them. Use that RR1 on a Corehouse Little Hacker and real flyer. Best with new project and keep up the good work !!

Do you find it necessary to step back in a loop?

You'll love the Streak, Rusty! I had a couple of them some 45 years ago, powered by a Golden Bee. They stunted just like the big .35 powered ships.

Godsey3.0 wrote:Do you find it necessary to step back in a loop?

Not normally but when you see the plane coming into meet you in the center of the circle you step backward to tighten the lines to regain control.

Been there, done that many times especially when flying a CL plane for the first time. Airframe adjustments will be required to prevent a reoccurence.