Free Flight

kevin matthews · Jul 05, 2009, 10:41 AM

Yesterday I sat down and made a Wish/Things I Want To Do list... Make more art, get a drum kit and electric keyboard and practice, finish writing my song lyrics, get my book and movie typed and copywritten, get a reading lamp, have my paintings framed, buy more CD's, drink only two beers per day, lose weight, save money...

But all I really want to do is build and fly airplanes.

Does anyone else feel the same way?

Gluehand · Jul 05, 2009, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevin matthews

Yesterday I sat down and made a Wish/Things I Want To Do list...

Don't forget to add a digital camera to that list.....we wish to see your planes....

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevin matthews

But all I really want to do is build and fly airplanes.
Does anyone else feel the same way?

Sure do, Kev....someone mentioned in another thread: "Now I feel the smell of retirement"......I'll sign on that too, really looking forward to spend much more time on aeromodelling....thinking that goes for many of us.....

Slider2732 · Jul 05, 2009, 11:33 AM

Does anyone else feel the same way?

Yes indeed, though not with retirement thoughts, quite the opposite in some ways. I'm in a limbo at the moment, due to waiting on an Immigration decision (am English). There was some delay due to the economy with getting a family member to sign a particular form - long story short I was given 30 days to leave the USA unless a big wad of cash and a big amount of forms got posted off pronto. I'm not allowed to work and, because their decision will be over 2 to 6 months in the waiting, currently find myself using the time for learning at the free flight level.
Can't beat knowing more and that's why i'm currently also all over this forum !

There is some psychological reasoning why I seem to have a fresh model nearly every day too and that no model gets huge time spent on it.

Leadchucker · Jul 05, 2009, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevin matthews

Yesterday I sat down and made a Wish.........

:
That I was standing in a field of tall clover that extended from horizon to horizion in all dirctions and at this field there was hardly a breath of a breeze. And that this same large field was blessed with thermals moving over it at evenly spaced and fairly frequent intervals. Then I wished I had one of every type of free flight model I ever wanted to fly from old time ignition flying lumberyards to a large .60 powered 1200 square inch Class D the simplest HLG.
And my most ardent wish, is to be in the company of all my free flighting friends, past and present,those among us and those who have went on to eternity. And we would just spent our time talking about planes, and flying all day, then eating,drinking and telling lies all night.

To do list: Live fully everyday as best I can,love fully everyday as best I can, laugh loudly everyday as best I can and share the same with friends and family.

scrubs · Jul 06, 2009, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevin matthews

But all I really want to do is build and fly airplanes.

Does anyone else feel the same way?

Yeah but don't tell the wife.

Went out to my FF field yesterday morning. COnditions were just perfect. It's a nice local field, about .4 x .7 miles without a tree or even a bush. Grass is kept mowed to about 6-8", nice. First flight with my little E powered 27" Rambler caught a little air. Well over 2 minutes on 25 second's of motor run.

Watching it circling way overhead the red standing out against the perfect blue sky ... priceless.

Then some moron came & called the coppers for trespassing.

It's a piece of land that is slated for "upscale shopping" someday. Just what we need more shopping and less green grass.
bill

kevin matthews · Jul 06, 2009, 03:54 PM

I promise I won't tell your wife. I'm glad to hear of such a great flight. What a sad thing.

kevin matthews · Jul 18, 2009, 01:28 PM

Just to let everyone know what I've been up to lately. I'm in the process of building my sixth Legal Eagle. It's the same design as most of the others. This one has a tail wheel to help it ROG. The cabin windows are outlined in white. Looks are inportant to me. It will also all be covered with Jap Esaki tissue to meet the rule requirement. I'm trying to figure out what size rubber to use - a single loop of 1/8" or 3/16". This design flys well with the 1/8" if hand launched but I'm thinking it will need more power to ROG. I don't know.

I'm putting my plans to build the Big E plane on the back burner for now.

I'm wanting to build an Easy Built Models 28" wing span Hellcat kit. It doesn't cost much. Since I have a smaller Hellcat that flys well I think if I do the same thing but bigger, it would fly okay.

Kev

GeneralSocial · Jul 19, 2009, 04:18 AM

I am into free flight planes like crazy too.

I like the simpler ones so that I can do more of what I want.

And besides, the simple ones are just as fun as the complicated ones. Even funner than RC.

kevin matthews · Jul 19, 2009, 10:44 AM

GeneralSocial, Have you taken a look at the One Nite 16? Peck-Polymers has it. It's a smaller version of the larger One Nite 30" wing span, I believe. It looks like a simple plane and easy to build. It's supposed to fly really well.

Kev

kevin matthews · Jul 20, 2009, 07:56 AM

I can't take it any more! I keep telling myself my next Legal Eagle will be a bare bones model and made as light as possible. But every time I chicken out thinking well, if I do "this", then it will collapse under the stress of the rubber. I think "this part" needs to be made with a little stronger so heavier balsa.

Kev

GeneralSocial · Jul 21, 2009, 05:03 AM

Yes, I've built a One Nite 16 and a One Night 28. That was like 10 years ago though. They fly nice.

I lost one on the roof of a tall building.

On the subject of simple, have you tried the Squirrel that I designed?

I was out last night: http://www.rubber-power.com/Gallery12.htm

And here's a video on building it: http://www.rubber-power.com/make-it.htm

I built on in less than six minutes the other day. That video is posted on the home page. On it's first flight, it flew out of sight. There were a few witnesses so it was worth it.

I will try to build one quickly again. I figure I can break the 5 minute threshold.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevin matthews

GeneralSocial, Have you taken a look at the One Nite 16? Peck-Polymers has it. It's a smaller version of the larger One Nite 30" wing span, I believe. It looks like a simple plane and easy to build. It's supposed to fly really well.

Kev

kevin matthews · Jul 21, 2009, 11:39 AM

GeneralSocial, Yea, I have built a Squirrel. It flew pretty well. I also enlarged the plans and built a Squirrel with a 34" wing span. I haven't tried flying it at full power yet but it has done well at around half power. The fuselage is like a Souper 30 fuselage to enclose the rubber which is two loops of 1/4" to power a 9 1/2" propeller.

Kev

kevin matthews · Jul 21, 2009, 03:51 PM

I fit the Legal Eagle I'm working on currently with a single loop of 3/16" rubber. The fuselage held up to the stress. I think it needs the larger size.

Kev

rabidrue1 · Jul 25, 2009, 05:04 PM

Fourteen years of running a repair shop for cars,bikes and fleet work+ some custom paint work here and there is about to come to an end because the economy sucks,and all I care to do is work on my models.scottie.

Applehoney · Jul 25, 2009, 07:50 PM

Sad story, hope things pick up for you soon

Jul 05, 2009, 10:41 AM	#1
kevin matthews Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: carbondale il Posts: 1,467	Free Flight Yesterday I sat down and made a Wish/Things I Want To Do list... Make more art, get a drum kit and electric keyboard and practice, finish writing my song lyrics, get my book and movie typed and copywritten, get a reading lamp, have my paintings framed, buy more CD's, drink only two beers per day, lose weight, save money... But all I really want to do is build and fly airplanes. Does anyone else feel the same way?

Jul 19, 2009, 10:44 AM	#9
kevin matthews Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: carbondale il Posts: 1,467	GeneralSocial, Have you taken a look at the One Nite 16? Peck-Polymers has it. It's a smaller version of the larger One Nite 30" wing span, I believe. It looks like a simple plane and easy to build. It's supposed to fly really well. Kev Last edited by kevin matthews; Jul 19, 2009 at 04:34 PM.

Jul 20, 2009, 07:56 AM	#10
kevin matthews Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: carbondale il Posts: 1,467	I can't take it any more! I keep telling myself my next Legal Eagle will be a bare bones model and made as light as possible. But every time I chicken out thinking well, if I do "this", then it will collapse under the stress of the rubber. I think "this part" needs to be made with a little stronger so heavier balsa. Kev Last edited by kevin matthews; Jul 20, 2009 at 08:40 AM.

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Jul 05, 2009, 11:33 AM	#3
Slider2732 Storm Runner guy Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Muskogee, OK, USA Posts: 715	Does anyone else feel the same way? Yes indeed, though not with retirement thoughts, quite the opposite in some ways. I'm in a limbo at the moment, due to waiting on an Immigration decision (am English). There was some delay due to the economy with getting a family member to sign a particular form - long story short I was given 30 days to leave the USA unless a big wad of cash and a big amount of forms got posted off pronto. I'm not allowed to work and, because their decision will be over 2 to 6 months in the waiting, currently find myself using the time for learning at the free flight level. Can't beat knowing more and that's why i'm currently also all over this forum ! There is some psychological reasoning why I seem to have a fresh model nearly every day too and that no model gets huge time spent on it.

Jul 06, 2009, 03:54 PM	#6
kevin matthews Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: carbondale il Posts: 1,467	I promise I won't tell your wife. I'm glad to hear of such a great flight. What a sad thing.

Jul 18, 2009, 01:28 PM	#7
kevin matthews Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: carbondale il Posts: 1,467	Just to let everyone know what I've been up to lately. I'm in the process of building my sixth Legal Eagle. It's the same design as most of the others. This one has a tail wheel to help it ROG. The cabin windows are outlined in white. Looks are inportant to me. It will also all be covered with Jap Esaki tissue to meet the rule requirement. I'm trying to figure out what size rubber to use - a single loop of 1/8" or 3/16". This design flys well with the 1/8" if hand launched but I'm thinking it will need more power to ROG. I don't know. I'm putting my plans to build the Big E plane on the back burner for now. I'm wanting to build an Easy Built Models 28" wing span Hellcat kit. It doesn't cost much. Since I have a smaller Hellcat that flys well I think if I do the same thing but bigger, it would fly okay. Kev

Jul 19, 2009, 04:18 AM	#8
GeneralSocial Squirell guy Join Date: May 2009 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 66	I am into free flight planes like crazy too. I like the simpler ones so that I can do more of what I want. And besides, the simple ones are just as fun as the complicated ones. Even funner than RC.

Jul 21, 2009, 11:39 AM	#12
kevin matthews Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: carbondale il Posts: 1,467	GeneralSocial, Yea, I have built a Squirrel. It flew pretty well. I also enlarged the plans and built a Squirrel with a 34" wing span. I haven't tried flying it at full power yet but it has done well at around half power. The fuselage is like a Souper 30 fuselage to enclose the rubber which is two loops of 1/4" to power a 9 1/2" propeller. Kev

Jul 21, 2009, 03:51 PM	#13
kevin matthews Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: carbondale il Posts: 1,467	I fit the Legal Eagle I'm working on currently with a single loop of 3/16" rubber. The fuselage held up to the stress. I think it needs the larger size. Kev

Jul 25, 2009, 05:04 PM	#14
rabidrue1 Blueplaidcanard flyer Join Date: May 2007 Location: sdy. ny Posts: 2,168	Fourteen years of running a repair shop for cars,bikes and fleet work+ some custom paint work here and there is about to come to an end because the economy sucks,and all I care to do is work on my models.scottie.

Jul 25, 2009, 07:50 PM	#15
Applehoney Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Ajax, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,647	Sad story, hope things pick up for you soon