Finally got castor fingerprints on my new Lucky Flying Hat!

**RknRusty** Thu Jan 22, 2015 10:53 pm

That's right, given to me by Philly Flier Ken Cook. I'm now honored to wear the red and white emblem of the funnest experts in control line! I'll pretend like I'm am honorary member lol. I've been breaking it in working around the shop waiting for weather and my flying pal. Today winds were forecast to be 4 mph, so of course when we got to the fort, Wayne the FAA weather guy estimated we had about 10-14 mph. That big daisy weathervane of his was hummin' like a golden Bee.

At the Christmas party, Wayne gave me a Ukey to take home and fix up. If you don't know the Ukey, it's an old design. Basically a stick with a big foam stunt wing and an engine. I bolted the OS25fp from my Osprey on it and took it out for a test romp. After confirming it could do all the moves, I knocked down about the best damn pattern I've ever flown. I thought so anyway. Still made the OH8s as badly as I always do, but I can finally make flat pullouts most of the time and power through overheads better than any other plane I've flown. Every flight I made with it would have gotten the pattern points, which as an Intermediate flyer is my most important goal. It needs a bigger tank. With 3 ounces I was flying 2 laps after the pattern, which is minimum or you get a 25 point penalty for busting the pattern points.

It's funny looking but it sure flies right. Here's what it looks like. This picture is from Google:

Last time out with the Magnum the wind was kicking it out of the overheads. I needed more speed and more line tension. Along with my Lucky Flying Hat came a Thunder Tiger 11.5x4.5 prop with the words, "Use this on the Magnum" written on it. I had planned to run it leaner, so I did what one should never do while trimming... changed two things at once. The mixture and the prop.

So I waved the launch signal and off it went. My takeoffs are really improving. I'm actually holding it down using a whole lap to climb to 5' and level off. That's harder than it sounds like. Everything was in its wheelhouse. It pulled harder than I have ever felt a plane pull, but I hung on trying to fly a decent pattern. But some of the time it felt like it was flying me. I was off balance and struggling to stay somewhere in the pilot's circle. On pullouts it would pull me two steps towards it. I gutted it out as long as I could, but at the bottom of the hourglass I did a touch and go, stopping the engine(did not break the prop, Ken) and continuing to glide another lap and I fairly casually rolled it in for a decent landing. Wayne said,"What the heck happened, that would have been a first place intermediate flight!" He had been watching the plane and didn't know I'd been stumbling and fighting the whole time.

I was so mad at myself because I had intended to try a different stance to impart more authority over this plane. Someone at Stunthangar pointed out to me that I was leaning in toward the pane while I fly. and that is why I'm off balance. During todays flight I forgot all about my plan to fly leaning back against the lines. Now I have to wait till next time to try again. Maybe it's too much plane for my 125lb frame, but I'm not ready to admit it's kicked my ass yet. At worst it will be a plane I can only fly on calmer days, but damned if the big girl doesn't hide most of my usual bobbling pullouts and tight OH8s. I can actually perform my worst stunt, the OH8 fairly nicely with the Magnum. I've seen other skinny guys do it. There must be something I can compromise to tame this one. I hope we get a good day next week. It won't be long before the Oriental is on the flightline, so between that and the Ukey, I think by May I'll be able to be a real competitor. There are two contests in May.

Here's me with my new Philly Fliers Lucky Flying Hat.
The ol' Mag looks a lot better that she did when I first brought her home doesn't she.

Mark Boesen Thu Jan 22, 2015 11:42 pm

That's just too cool Rusty, congrats, the Mag looks great!

Ken Cook Fri Jan 23, 2015 4:33 am

Rusty, that's pretty cool. I wish we could get out as were expecting 7" this weekend and possibly more on Monday. It rained very hard last weekend. I'm glad to see the prop is working. That prop is also a good choice for the FP.40-LA.40-.46. If the plane is pulling hard to the degree that holding on is an issue, you might possibly be able to trim for less tension. If any engine offset is present, you might be able to loosen the mounting bolts and cock inboard and tighten. Try sliding those leadouts a bit forward. Whatever you do, don't do all of them at once and fly the entire pattern one experiment at a time. This could take a few flights to resolve. I'm glad your enjoying the hat. As for the Ukie, a very neat plane. Larry Wilks was flying a Ukie for some time until it got planted. I haven't seen it out but I do recall it was repairable. Ken

**RknRusty** Fri Jan 30, 2015 3:59 am

The Magnum and engine really like that Thunder Tiger 11x4.5 prop. The fuel efficiency has improved to where there are plenty of laps after the pattern now, as opposed to about three. That was too close for comfort. And it was better even in the cold yesterday too.
Rusty

Ken Cook Fri Jan 30, 2015 4:17 am

Rusty, it sounds to me that the wider paddle bladed Thunder Tiger prop is allowing for good thrust but lowering your rpm's which is what I was hoping for. If cold weather flying is allowing for ample fuel, I can see a possible problem in the hotter months. This may lead to the engine slightly overheating thus the need for richer settings. I could be totally incorrect on this as only time will tell. Your dealing with a higher timed r/c engine so therefore taming it can lead to this kind of issue. I try to use a tank in the 6 oz-8 oz range if I can fit it in. I only use 4.5-5 oz's or whatever is needed so I do have a few level laps after the clover. Certain tricks can get you some lap time. FIll the bird nose high to expel all air pockets when filling. Make sure your overflow pipe isn't down too low this can be done without taking the tank apart by heating it and pushing it all the way to the opposing side of the tank. You only need to fly 5 laps on take off prior to the wingover and not 6. Have some one else start and launch for you to gain a bit more time however I like to be present for the needle setting. Adding one head gasket and reducing your nitro works but doesn't always produce favorable results. Ken

**RknRusty** Fri Jan 30, 2015 10:19 am

Ken Cook wrote: ...If cold weather flying is allowing for ample fuel, I can see a possible problem in the hotter months. This may lead to the engine slightly overheating thus the need for richer settings...

That explains why we had to richen the mixture on planes we flew last Summer when it was about 105F one day. I never could explain why it was happening. I thought I was getting dumb. Actually I guess I was, missing the overheating possibility.
Rusty

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Finally got castor fingerprints on my new Lucky Flying Hat!

Finally got castor fingerprints on my new Lucky Flying Hat!

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Re: Finally got castor fingerprints on my new Lucky Flying Hat!