The Blue Flame

[Mitch]

Hey Guys,

Was busy with my daughter today, and now getting ready to go to a MC club meeting... Then I just had a thought about... The Blue Flame...

I've got this Arrow sitting around, colecting dust. I built this last year and helped a fellow interested shipmate build the same model (2 models total) I have not flown mine yet. I think this is a perfect candidate to test tan rubber and she how she really flys...



I don't know what's wrong with me but I usually have multiple things going at the same time... I hope that's okay

I made a few modifications to the plan on this one... mabye I should attach a note, "If found, call this number..."

Mitch

[ADW 123]

I put my name and adress on mine... that thing will fly away if you didnt trim it for a turn and add down thrust

[Wildpig]

That schoolyard might be a bit too small for that one.

Nice wheels!

[Mitch]

Just got back from my MC meeting... Some guy asked to pull my bike out of the lineup and did a walk around with a video camera... said he will post it on youtube in a few days, I said "Cool"... Here's the "Silver Bullet"



Back to the "Blue Flame"... Okay I promise not to fly it in my neighborhood with 6 stands of tan rubber...

Seriously, I am planning on joining a Fly Club and they have Non-Powered day on Saturday

I added 2 inches to the ws because I could, the tail has dihedral added because I thought it looked better. No ballast needed and she's ready to go.

Mitch

[Wildpig]

I added 2 inches to the ws because I could, the tail has dihedral added because I thought it looked better.
Mitch

[Mitch]

DISASTER STRIKES

I was setting up for the first flight, when I discovered I did not have my camera, so naturally I stoll back to my truck to retieve it, and when I return...

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is what I see..............................................................................



I hope it's not too bad and I turn it over...................................................




LESON (HOPEFULLY) LEARNED

1. NEVER leave the airplane on the table unattended.

I will try to repair this, but don't want to think about it right now. I had the Spitfire with me, but it was brezzy and I decided to call it a day.

Mitch

[Mitch]

The operating table is ready...



The patient is ready, motor and wing removed, the fuselage and tail wieght in at 27 grams. Lets see what it weighs when the operation is done... I'm glad I got 2 extra inches on the wingspan.

This will be a delicate operation as it is right at a critiacal strength point, but I believe this plane is worth trying to save.

All the necessary outter skin and broken pieces are removed and cut back to the point where I can splice longrons back in with a lap joints. I decided to NOT cut back two longrons, one on each side. They have a clean break, and I will gently glue them back together, the broken ends and fibers will fit perfectly, This will also give me the proper length so the fuselage will be of the same size when finished.



I will now glue just these two longrons together, and clamp and leave the patient overnight. I will then cut and fit all the other pieces back in tomorrow. I plan to put in more diagonal braces where I see appropriate.



I was first thinking of leaving the tail section as a skeleton, but when I was removing the skin I found it was adding alot of strength to the model. So tune in tomorrow to see the reconstruction efforts of the "Blue Flame"

Mitch

PS. I will be open to any comments on my repair efforts!

[Mitch]

I am hopefully the "Blue Flame" will take to the sky again...

After numerous delicate operations... and using an assortment of clamps...



The paitent looks like new again. There were some lap joints and when things did not line up I added a graft, also added 3 more longrons.



The patient needs to rest for another 24 hours, to let the glue dry, then on to papering...

Looks like she is straight...



She weights in at 27g, same as before , but she need paper and dope... That will come tomorrow.

Mitch

[Wildpig]

Dr. Mitch,
The operation appears to have gone well. Glad to see the patient is recovering.

[Charles_c]

Mitch: It's a damn shame that you can't leave a model unattended. I hope whoever trashed your plane rots in hell....

Nice repair job....

Charles

[Pauli72]

That's a damn shame that some punk would smash your plane like that Mitch. If people knew how much time & effort went into building one of these, maybe they'd have a little more respect for them. Maybe next time you could have some of your buddies from your motorcycle club stop out & pull security duty @ your airfield.
Glad to see she's back in order though.
Best of luck with the flight testing.

[Mitch]

NO NO NO... GUYS... NOBODY touched my plane... It was ALL my mistake... I had the plane clipped into the Stooge ready for winding and I was moments away from my first real flight test, when I looked in my little "Field Box" and forgot my camera... I already had a "REWARD" note on the wing (just in case). It was a beautiful warm day, but there was an occassional brezze... I should have NOT LEFT the plane in that condition. I should have known...

There was a breeze... the airplane is sitting on its landing gear... ready for Take-Off, only held by the rear peg... Do YOU see what's coming...

I did not see what happened but the wind must have lifted her up and then flipped it over and broke its back...

When I was going back to the Field Table I see my model sitting on the grass... and I think, "This is not good!"

So I am just upset with MYSELF. I expect to damage and repair the models due to flying, but not BEFORE flying... I think all the damage I reported so far has been to "Hanger Rash" and this accident... The only flying damage thus far are a few small "Flak" holes in the wings.

The lesson for Everyone if you fly these airplanes... They must be secured when unattended... I sorry I did not explain what happened better...

ANYWAY the patient is doing well and resting (Glue is Drying) and I will cover the plane with tissue and dope tomorrow.

Mitch

PS. The Dr. added a pair of splints that will be left on permanetly that span the break. The model gained 1 gram. The fuselage feels very strong!

[Mitch]

ALL repairs made... I think I may have overbuilt it now. She gained 2g but my wingspan is 30" not 28" so I think she will fly well. Weather report is: Overcast, Temp 80F, Wind SW 5 knots.



The fuselage is very strong and stiffer than before. I wanted to be sure I don't have a catastrophic failure under rubber tension. I will do a gluide test as the CG has changed, but I am hopeful things will go better today.

Mitch

PS. Win, Loose or Draw, I will post Flight Test results at the end of the day...

[Mitch]

OKAY... I'll call it a WIN... although limited
DECIDE to set up on the pavement today...
LEAVE the model in the truck...
MAKE sure I have everything I need...
THEN go back to the truck to retrieve my model...



START winding the model up... and it starts to rain... just a few drops... I was going to walk up to the field and fly, but decide for a Taxi Test...

SO with only about 50 or so winds on the motor (Guillows Grey) I place the Blue Flame on the ground...

She rolls out nicely and after about 5 feet, lifts off the ground and has a nice short flight straight at my table... but with only a few winds on the rubber settles back down for a soft landing on her foamy tires.



Just to see the Blue Flame fly after all that damage, I consider this a victory and decide to wait for better flying weather. I pack up and call it a day

Mitch

[Charles_c]

Sounds good to me !!!

Hoz about some in flight pic's.... when the weather gets better...

Charles