Bummer day at the field!!

DaleM · Sep 15, 2001, 05:05 PM

After only two flights with a NEW MM - I was up gaining some NICE altitude in a lift and "IT" happened. I watched as the wing on my Soarus Sports did a full taco, came off and floated nicely somewhere into a cornfield. The fuse on the other hand made a great re-entry as a white missle. The plastic probably started to bannana back from shear heat on re-entry

Let me tell you, you think a high speed pass sounds neat with a sailplane......you should hear a high speed STRAIGHT DOWN dive (oh, with no wing mind you!) followed with impact! One interesting sound for sure. Kinda like dropping a bowling ball from a few hundred feet into mud. And I can say for sure that it's a guarnteed way to take a foot or two off the total length of your fuse!

Needless to say the entire plane is trashed, including servos. I did manage to salvage the receiver. It actually checked out and all channels still function.

SO - does anyone have recommendations on another plane LIKE the Soarus? I'm interested in an ARF with ailerons - and have it be electric.

Thought I'd share the above for a laugh - to keep from crying of course!

"We hate to see you crash.....but we hate to miss a crash even more!!"

Dale

Don Sims · Sep 15, 2001, 09:45 PM

Dale,
That stinks!! Any idea why the wing came off?? I crashed my Gentle lady a few weeks ago because my speed control fried in flight and the plane sheared the wing in half hitting a barbed wire fence.... I had to stand there watching... But at least I could repair the plane and tomorrow is it's re-maiden flight. GOOD LUCK finding and deciding on a new plane!!

CaptQuirk · Sep 15, 2001, 11:43 PM

Dale,

That's a shame about your Soarus. I can't really reccomend
a replacement but thought I would let you know that I have
been thinking about getting the Mytus 250 from Dymond.

It's a full house electric ARF and priced comparably to the
Soarus. I believe it's made in the Czech Republic.

I haven't actually bought one yet because I just have too
many unfinished projects now.

Quirky

DaleM · Sep 16, 2001, 09:05 AM

Don,

I'm not sure why the wing folded. All I know is even at altitude I could hear that distinctive "pop". After that I suddenly had SUPER-DIHEDERAL, and one less wing. I'm guessing that it failed somewhere near the end of that ply/metal strut that is inside the wing. There wasn't enough fuse left after impact to determine if the wing tore through the pastic or what.

Oh well - gives me an excuse to get a different plane!

Dale

AndrewK · Sep 16, 2001, 09:09 PM

I got a Silent Dream 2.5 meter saiplane. I am currently not using it, but it has ailerons and spoilerons and appears to be well built. Its an ARF. Available from Germany @ around $220 incl. shipping.
Andrew

DaleM · Sep 17, 2001, 09:53 AM

Thanks for the information. The plane looks great - I'm going to have to stick with something with a traditional tail (non-vtail) because I don't have a computer/mixing radio. It's a standard run of the mill 4 channel.

Lloyd Peterson · Sep 17, 2001, 03:53 PM

Dale,
Consider the Elipsoid, available thru NES and maybe some others. T tail, spoilerons-ailerons, prebuilt 110" wing and glass fuselage. It thermals well and makes beautiful big sweeping turns, however you must check the wing for warps and do not exceed the speed limit or flutter will occur. I have flown mine with two different power systems straight drive and geared, I like the direct drive Astro 05 sport because it climbes at a low enough angle you can thermal with power on during launch. Get the model with RED wings do not let anyone tell you they only make blue wings. Come fly at Vincennes and see for yourself.
Uff-Da Pete

DaleM · Sep 18, 2001, 09:37 AM

Lloyd,

The Elipsoid seems like a VERY pretty plane! Does the plane REQUIRE flaps to land? Again I'm trying to keep costs down by not having to buy another radio. I have a basic 4 channel radio (no mixing, etc). I know sounds cheap - but I'm still in the learning stage. I can fly - but I'm not an excellent pilot yet. The Soarus Sport gave me a decent base to learn on before it folded.

Is the wing fairly durable? What is the contruction? The Soarus with the EPP core and that plastic skin was resistant to dings, and "less then perfect" landings.

I look forward to your reply!

Thanks!

AndrewK · Sep 18, 2001, 04:06 PM

You can get an on-board mixer for around $15 to operate V-tails. Nothing really NEEDS flaps (well, maybe a few planes) , I've seen a lightly loaded F5B plane land w/o flaps. I think you would be ok w/o them. I know one guy at my club has one but I'm not sure about the flaps (or more likely spoilers) are necessary. I thought I had remebered some discussion about the all up weight of the aircraft, but again I'm not sure.
Andrew

tman1962 · Sep 19, 2001, 12:16 AM

LAWN DART!!!!! Definitely a bummer. We had a guy fold up a v-tail on the winch during our regional contest back in March. It was a NEW full-house comp job (Big $$$ ARF job). It actually fluttered down and didn't score high on the splat scale.

DaleM · Sep 19, 2001, 08:09 AM

Lawn dart it was and it's pretty amazing at how deep things can become embedded the the ground when traveling at speed!

Well, I've done it - I think I took the middle road on planes. I purchased the Mytus 220 yesterday. Dymond was great because the bigger version (the 100" wing) was listed as a special. The guy on the phone gave me the same deal on the smaller plane. Now it's just a matter of time before I'll be back in air....HOPEFULLY!

Bert · Sep 19, 2001, 08:17 AM

DaleM,

I have an Elipsoid and I'm nearby. I power it with an MM, 2.8:1 Graupner GB, and 12X10 folder. Does OK. I wasn't looking for vertical performance. Static draw is 20A on fresh 7 cell 2400 pack. The plane does not have flaps. I land without spoilerons because my radio doesn't do that mix either. The only complaint I have is the wing was warped (or had a built-in warp) and I have heard of at least one other that had the same problem. My all up weight is 64oz.

Bert

DaleM · Sep 19, 2001, 10:58 AM

Bert,

Thanks for the info. Where do you fly?

Sep 15, 2001, 05:05 PM	#1
DaleM Dale Lindsay Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Mt Airy, Maryland, United States Posts: 649	Bummer day at the field!! After only two flights with a NEW MM - I was up gaining some NICE altitude in a lift and "IT" happened. I watched as the wing on my Soarus Sports did a full taco, came off and floated nicely somewhere into a cornfield. The fuse on the other hand made a great re-entry as a white missle. The plastic probably started to bannana back from shear heat on re-entry Let me tell you, you think a high speed pass sounds neat with a sailplane......you should hear a high speed STRAIGHT DOWN dive (oh, with no wing mind you!) followed with impact! One interesting sound for sure. Kinda like dropping a bowling ball from a few hundred feet into mud. And I can say for sure that it's a guarnteed way to take a foot or two off the total length of your fuse! Needless to say the entire plane is trashed, including servos. I did manage to salvage the receiver. It actually checked out and all channels still function. SO - does anyone have recommendations on another plane LIKE the Soarus? I'm interested in an ARF with ailerons - and have it be electric. Thought I'd share the above for a laugh - to keep from crying of course! "We hate to see you crash.....but we hate to miss a crash even more!!" Dale

Sep 16, 2001, 09:09 PM	#5
AndrewK Ready for a Vacation! Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 383	Silent Dream I got a Silent Dream 2.5 meter saiplane. I am currently not using it, but it has ailerons and spoilerons and appears to be well built. Its an ARF. Available from Germany @ around $220 incl. shipping. Andrew

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Sep 15, 2001, 09:45 PM	#2
Don Sims Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Outside of Dyer, Tn. USA Posts: 7,135	Dale, That stinks!! Any idea why the wing came off?? I crashed my Gentle lady a few weeks ago because my speed control fried in flight and the plane sheared the wing in half hitting a barbed wire fence.... I had to stand there watching... But at least I could repair the plane and tomorrow is it's re-maiden flight. GOOD LUCK finding and deciding on a new plane!!

Sep 15, 2001, 11:43 PM	#3
CaptQuirk Registered User Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 124	Dale, That's a shame about your Soarus. I can't really reccomend a replacement but thought I would let you know that I have been thinking about getting the Mytus 250 from Dymond. It's a full house electric ARF and priced comparably to the Soarus. I believe it's made in the Czech Republic. I haven't actually bought one yet because I just have too many unfinished projects now. Quirky

Sep 16, 2001, 09:05 AM	#4
DaleM Dale Lindsay Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Mt Airy, Maryland, United States Posts: 649	Don, I'm not sure why the wing folded. All I know is even at altitude I could hear that distinctive "pop". After that I suddenly had SUPER-DIHEDERAL, and one less wing. I'm guessing that it failed somewhere near the end of that ply/metal strut that is inside the wing. There wasn't enough fuse left after impact to determine if the wing tore through the pastic or what. Oh well - gives me an excuse to get a different plane! Dale

Sep 17, 2001, 09:53 AM	#6
DaleM Dale Lindsay Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Mt Airy, Maryland, United States Posts: 649	Thanks for the information. The plane looks great - I'm going to have to stick with something with a traditional tail (non-vtail) because I don't have a computer/mixing radio. It's a standard run of the mill 4 channel.

Sep 17, 2001, 03:53 PM	#7
Lloyd Peterson Pres. Uff-Da Air Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Vincennes, Ind. 47591 USA Posts: 178	Dale, Consider the Elipsoid, available thru NES and maybe some others. T tail, spoilerons-ailerons, prebuilt 110" wing and glass fuselage. It thermals well and makes beautiful big sweeping turns, however you must check the wing for warps and do not exceed the speed limit or flutter will occur. I have flown mine with two different power systems straight drive and geared, I like the direct drive Astro 05 sport because it climbes at a low enough angle you can thermal with power on during launch. Get the model with RED wings do not let anyone tell you they only make blue wings. Come fly at Vincennes and see for yourself. Uff-Da Pete

Sep 18, 2001, 09:37 AM	#8
DaleM Dale Lindsay Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Mt Airy, Maryland, United States Posts: 649	Lloyd, The Elipsoid seems like a VERY pretty plane! Does the plane REQUIRE flaps to land? Again I'm trying to keep costs down by not having to buy another radio. I have a basic 4 channel radio (no mixing, etc). I know sounds cheap - but I'm still in the learning stage. I can fly - but I'm not an excellent pilot yet. The Soarus Sport gave me a decent base to learn on before it folded. Is the wing fairly durable? What is the contruction? The Soarus with the EPP core and that plastic skin was resistant to dings, and "less then perfect" landings. I look forward to your reply! Thanks!

Sep 18, 2001, 04:06 PM	#9
AndrewK Ready for a Vacation! Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 383	You can get an on-board mixer for around $15 to operate V-tails. Nothing really NEEDS flaps (well, maybe a few planes) , I've seen a lightly loaded F5B plane land w/o flaps. I think you would be ok w/o them. I know one guy at my club has one but I'm not sure about the flaps (or more likely spoilers) are necessary. I thought I had remebered some discussion about the all up weight of the aircraft, but again I'm not sure. Andrew

Sep 19, 2001, 12:16 AM	#10
tman1962 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 3	LAWN DART!!!!! Definitely a bummer. We had a guy fold up a v-tail on the winch during our regional contest back in March. It was a NEW full-house comp job (Big $$$ ARF job). It actually fluttered down and didn't score high on the splat scale.

Sep 19, 2001, 08:09 AM	#11
DaleM Dale Lindsay Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Mt Airy, Maryland, United States Posts: 649	Lawn dart it was and it's pretty amazing at how deep things can become embedded the the ground when traveling at speed! Well, I've done it - I think I took the middle road on planes. I purchased the Mytus 220 yesterday. Dymond was great because the bigger version (the 100" wing) was listed as a special. The guy on the phone gave me the same deal on the smaller plane. Now it's just a matter of time before I'll be back in air....HOPEFULLY!

Sep 19, 2001, 08:17 AM	#12
Bert Silent Majority Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Monrovia,MD,USA Posts: 201	DaleM, I have an Elipsoid and I'm nearby. I power it with an MM, 2.8:1 Graupner GB, and 12X10 folder. Does OK. I wasn't looking for vertical performance. Static draw is 20A on fresh 7 cell 2400 pack. The plane does not have flaps. I land without spoilerons because my radio doesn't do that mix either. The only complaint I have is the wing was warped (or had a built-in warp) and I have heard of at least one other that had the same problem. My all up weight is 64oz. Bert

Sep 19, 2001, 10:58 AM	#13
DaleM Dale Lindsay Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Mt Airy, Maryland, United States Posts: 649	Bert, Thanks for the info. Where do you fly?