AVA pic's

[marc 540]

Hi All,
could some of you lucky Ava owner's post some glamour shot's of your Ava's? I'm on the waiting list and trying to decide on a color. I'm thinking about red and yellow but maybe a darker color like the all violet would be easier to see at alltitude. What do you guy's think? Also is the super Ava even better than the standard or not really?
Thank's in advance for any pic's or advise!!


Marc 540 :)

[Test005]

Mine is red/yellow

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/7541/12102008441jt8.jpg
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/1922/12102008434qt0.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYje6NnzOhI

[seanpcola]

Both of mine are trans violet. I can see them extremely well. I have heard others say that the other choices are more visible to their eyes. I have another to build that is also trans violet but with a trans yellow center section and suspect that it will be even more visible.

Sean

[neonbutterfly]

hi...here is my superava....when i received the plane it was all trans red and i needed some contrast on the wings and tail...so i covered the tip panels and rudder in trans yellow...now i can see the plane extremely well at altitude....i also painted the fuse bright yellow, just to complete the color scheme.....

bob

[Andy W]

I would have preferred red myself..
..a

[nuevo]

In my club, I have seen all the above. As well as all-red, all-purple, and all-blue. For my eyes, any of the solid colors without the yellow work great. Yellow looks good for contrast if the sun is behind it, otherwise blends into the sky. Different people perceive color/contrast different.

If you look through the mother of all Ava threads (http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=173093), you will see other colors.

Here are a few pics from that thread.

http://static.rcgroups.com/forums/attachments/9/2/7/1/a288442-202-gaggle2.jpg

http://static.rcgroups.com/forums/attachments/1/1/8/6/2/a309634-214-DSC00148.JPG

http://static.rcgroups.com/forums/attachments/3/4/7/3/5/a276730-107-ava_face.JPG

http://www.workflow.as/jogrini/diary/605ava/ava_launch.jpg

[slozuke]

Here is an underside pic of my Super Ava flying violet tips with yellow center section. I like the contrast of those colors and as a result have no sight problems when it ranges out (as long as I'm wearing my glasses too!).

Also, I prefer a standard Ava over a Super Ava but that is just my preference. I think the standard has better turning ability. As Joe W. told me, sometimes more wing is not necessarily better.

Brian

[marc 540]

Thank's guy's for the awesome Pic's!! I really like the all violet Ava's, But then again they all look great. Thank's again!!

Marc 540

[marc 540]

Another quick question... What keeps the bottom of the vertical stab from getting damaged on landing? I'm not a contest flyer so I don't do any spere landing.

Saenpcola,
What kind and color of paint did you use on your pod's and how much weight did it add?

Marc 540

[nuevo]

Here's a few pics of a purple Ava, posted in this summer's NATS news.

[Robglover]

Cool! 4 photos of my Ava's showed up here before I even saw the thread. :D

I like all purple or all red. Yellow dissappears in the air for me, not a good thing. Yellow Bubba Dancer stickers on top of the wings are OK, you can't see them anyway when the plane is 1500 ft high.

Nothing protects the bottom vertical fin. It doesn't seem to care much, unless you land on pavement a lot.

[slozuke]

What keeps the bottom of the vertical stab from getting damaged on landing?

I use a landing skeg to stop it from skidding on landing. Also, especially if you don't contest fly it, the spoiler on the Ava will allow it to slow way down. I sometimes do what I call my "hover landing" using spoiler/elevator comp. Yes, it can fly that slow!

[Andy W]

It can. That said, it takes a little abuse and then is easily repaired and reinforced. The problem with mine was that the "back" end had no supporting wood, was just glued to the hinge tube, so it broke loose. When I repaired it, I just put a balsa block in that ties the bottom to the main structure.
865853
Some have put wire skids running between the boom and the fin to protect it, but that's overkill really.
..a

[seanpcola]

Saenpcola,
What kind and color of paint did you use on your pod's and how much weight did it add?

Marc 540

Hi Marc,

I used RM Brand automotive base coat/clear coat mainly because a close friend owns an automotive refinishing supply store and was willing to put up with me after hours while I color matched the spoiler which is factory finished in a really nice magenta/pink/purple. Apparently my wife decided that from now on this color combo is my official scheme, not to be deviated from! :rolleyes: :D

As far as weight added I can't say, I didn't do a before and after comparison but I think all the other AVA owners on here will agree that such a small amount of additional weight will make zero difference. Actually I, and I think most guys on here fly their Super AVA ballasted anyway. My E-AVA is of course balanced by the battery location and again, I doubt there is any difference to speak of. To get longer winded, the E-AVA has 20" less wing than the Super, plus a motor, prop, ESC and various extra doodads that give it a bit higher wingloading and frankly I think it flies better for it.

I say all this to say: Don't worry about it! :)

Here is a photo that may show the color of the pod and spoiler better. Also it's actually oriented correctly.

[Ed Franz]

Sean,

Old buddy you have a bad fixation on Ava's. I will have to take the electric one off your hands for your own good. I'll just have to take the risk of getting addicted as you are, but what are friends for. :-)

Ed
www.commonsenserc.com

[seanpcola]

Howdy Ed,

I would never lead a friend into such a terrible addiction. For your own good I refuse to expose you to this nasty habit. However, if I finally get a chance to head your way (may be next spring on business) I will let you casually experiment. :p

PS: Oh yeah Ed, I still haven't gotten around to the "no-name sailplane" yet. :rolleyes:

[Test005]

I have read that some people fly the Ava with ballast all the time because it doesn't benefit much from being flown empty.
My Ava is electric and although it has motor, ESC, 3s2250mah LiPo it floats forever... Can't really see any advantage of flying it in a lighter configuration because the wingloading seem right on the money with the electric set-up weighting her down :)

All in all a very good plane IMO

[Wing-span]

It is a shame they don't seem to come in green, as the human eye is particularly sensitive the colour.

[Robglover]

It is a shame they don't seem to come in green, as the human eye is particularly sensitive the colour.
Make that some human eyes. I can't see green airplanes in a clear blue sky very well at all. And they really disappear in a bean field.

[seanpcola]

I agree Rob,

I have built a couple of planes with green (jade metallic and trans green). Both dissapeared on me above a certain height. Everyone's eyes are different. For me the trans violet has been the best thing I have ever found for my old eyes. Trans red is second best.

Sean

[Test005]

For high vis. I prefer any darker colour that turns black at a distance.

[marc 540]

Has anybody ever seen a trans white center panel with red wingtip's? I just ordered it from berry!! I just hope I can see the white at alltitude. He said that he special ordered them for the JR team. Any pic's of the white and red? I'm stoaked!!

Marc 540

[Robglover]

Has anybody ever seen a trans white center panel with red wingtip's? I just ordered it from berry!! I just hope I can see the white at alltitude. He said that he special ordered them for the JR team. Any pic's of the white and red? I'm stoaked!!

Marc 540

I've seen them and they are nice looking. Sorry, no photos.

[slozuke]

I have a violet/white that is supposed to be shipping today. And i know of a red/white that is also supposed to ship today. With any luck we can have some pics of these planes in the next few days.

[dhauch]

Here's one that I just re-covered.

I don't like flying semi-transparent planes, so I went for the high visibility look.
Bottoms are black.

dave
www.rc-builds.com

[marc 540]

The red/white one is probably mine. I called berry today and he said he would ship this afternoon.

Marc 540

[marc 540]

Just received my Ava today.. looks very nice!! Is there supposed to be a towhook included? I did not get one. Also how tight do you guy's tighten your wing's to the fuse? I cannot tell what kind of threads are in there. They don't look like blind nut's and I don't want to pull the thread's out of the fuse.

[slozuke]

Just received my Ava today.. looks very nice!! Is there supposed to be a towhook included? I did not get one. Also how tight do you guy's tighten your wing's to the fuse? I cannot tell what kind of threads are in there. They don't look like blind nut's and I don't want to pull the thread's out of the fuse.

Tighten the wing down nice and snug. Not gorilla strong but enough to firmly hold it in place, you won't hurt it. There are aluminum bushings in the wings and regular metal hex nuts buried in the fuse. I believe they are standard 10-32 threads. They are all strong enough for a full pedal winch launch!
As far as towhook, yes you should have gotten one with the plane. Look around in the box though. I got a new Ava the other day and my parts bag was torn open and parts were scattered all around inside the box. However, a freind just got his the other day and it was missing the ballast tube (you have to order that extra) even though he paid extra for it. Sometimes things get forgotten I guess.

Enjoy your new Ava!
Brian

[marc 540]

Is there supposed to be a manual with this plane or do I have to download it from somewhere?

Thank's Marc 540 :)

[Wing-span]

marc 540,

Just follow the other Ava threads on RCGroups. I'm sure some of the Ava owners will tell you which one's to refer to.

[nuevo]

You can download the instructions from the Kennedy Composites Ava page. Look on the right side.

http://kennedycomposites.com/ava.htm

[Andy W]

I don't like flying semi-transparent planes, so I went for the high visibility look.

:eek:
..a

(The above smiley in my original post is meant to express "wow, that's bright!" - in no way do I disapprove of the colors! Edited to include this for clarity as some may misinterpret my intent.. :) )

[mrbean88]

Modified the spoiler on my SAVA, by splitting in half and moving to out side on my center panel. I like the improved pitch stability when the spoilers are deployed compared to the single spoiler. That is not to say it was bad, just I like the way it fly's now even more. Makes it easier to catch on landing, too
I just love flying my SAVA, even in the frozen northern climate of Canada !

Simon

[marc 540]

O.K. guy's, Any more glamour shot's?
Here's mine in the trial fitting stages!! So far everything fit's perfectly!! Red and white JR scheme. Me likey!!! :D AUW so far with hardwear is 33 oz. (no radio)

Marc

[seanpcola]

Me like too Mark! That white sure is interesting. Get some shots soon of it in the air with the sun hitting it.

Sean

[marc 540]

Yes, I thought it was a little different than most. Barry said they were a special order for the JR team. I'm not on "the team" but I do fly JR. It will be a while for air shot's. waiting for spring in Indiana. If I get some time off work maybe I could come down your way and fly!!!

Marc 540 :)

[marc 540]

The white is kind of a semi-transparent.

Marc

[seanpcola]

Yes, I thought it was a little different than most. Barry said they were a special order for the JR team. I'm not on "the team" but I do fly JR. It will be a while for air shot's. waiting for spring in Indiana. If I get some time off work maybe I could come down your way and fly!!!

Marc 540 :)


Marc,

Consider yourself invited any time you can head this way. ;) :D We always have the field open, work gets put on hold for flying so no excuses on this end.

I've heard that white on the "JR" Avas really stand out in the sky.

Sean

[bobthenuke]

Here's a pic of mine, the only mods if you can call them that are an application of gap sealer to the spoiler, some holo tape on the leading edges, and a molded skeg. I also fly it with a 12 oz ballast which I hardly ever remove.

I really like those panels of translucent white. I have a roll or two of that around and the next time I recover any panel on mine I think I'll use that to offset the purple. :)

-bob

[marc 540]

What did you use to seal your spoiler gap. The directions call for "drafting mylar" and double stick tape but I'm not sure what drafting mylar is.

Marc

[Robert Burson]

Once had a yellow center section which just does not work mid summer in the midwest.

The Best

Robert

[bobthenuke]

What did you use to seal your spoiler gap. The directions call for "drafting mylar" and double stick tape but I'm not sure what drafting mylar is.

Marc

Marc,

http://www.hilaunch.com/ is a good source for gap sealing tape, besides the owner (Don) being a great resourse to the sailplane community and very nice guy.

Drafting Mylar is a frosted, relatively stiff plastic film that was used (and is still found occasionally) to produce original drafts. It takes ink and pencil well, and being translucent was a good medium for copy machines and blueprint reproductions. Today it's almost completely replaced with the advent of CAD and digital plotters and copy machines.

-bob