Wine Country Flyers Model Aircraft Club Forum

     I've had a request to start a new Obituary page. So Start posting those crashes. George doesn't want to win again. ;D

Adam

Many of you know that my beloved Pilot Sbach 30cc met an untimely end (well sort of) on January 1st.  I was talking to folks and not watching carefully and oops - the spar got left out of it.  I was surprised it flew pretty well until I came out of the bottom of a loop and the wings folded!  Fortunately, I killed the motor before it hit (thanks Adam),and it missed the grape vines and wires completely.  The motor was buried about 10" into soft mud and the fuse from the nose to the rear canopy former was in very tiny pieces. 

The motor and electronics survived.  The rudder servo had a stripped gear but that has already been replaced.  Tony Tran, the president of Pilot RC has a free wood guarantee.  If you crash your Pilot RC plane, send him pictures and he will send you free wood to repair it (you pay shipping from China - $40).  I was skeptical that it could be repaired but I went ahead and contacted him.  Nice guy.  He truly loves the hobby and was super supportive.  I received the wood and was amazed at the detail in the "repair" kit.  Pretty much will be rebuilding the plane from the nose to the rear canopy former.  However, all the parts are there to do it.  I've purchased a 2nd 25% Sbach and will use it for a pattern to assemble with.  I can't say enough good things about Pilot RC. 

I expect to see it fly again.  When I start the rebuild, I'll post some pictures of the progress.

 >:(  Well it was not a good day at the field. I'm now back down to three planes for the "paintball shoot down". My last creation wanted to climb even after I did a few changes. Doug Moore figured that the red bird with wings spread sitting back on the tail was pushing the tail down making it climb. So, I took him off and balanced it where it should be. It still wanted to climb, so again Doug had the idea of raising the back of the wing in the saddle to give less angle of attack. Low & behold - that worked like a charm.  ;D It just needed a little more under the back on the wing. But it was flying great - Sooooo-full throttle I go. Let's see what it will do. First a roll to the left, then right. Still doin' great.  :) OK now a big loop. Still full throttle on the bottom of the loop a little elevator to level out. The horn ripped out and down she went! Right in the middle of the dirt road! She's toast  :( . That's the way it goes sometimes, eh? But I still have three to shoot down. And I will only put one at a time in the air. It's a frequency thing, ya know !!

Got together with Tony at the end of the third race. New wing and she should be good as new. Tony was able to land but I was not as lucky. I don't know what's better, crashing in the dirt or getting sliced by the wires. D'oh!!!!!

Well, here is mine from the same race day as Adam's above.  I have only myself t blame for this one!  Second race 4th lap or so, turning around the South Pylon I rolled inverted :o.  Started heading down so I pulled back and then realized I was upside down.  Full speed and power into the ground.....  New one ready to go!

 :( Well, hell, I guess I have to add a picture to this thread. It was a little thing called depth perception. I thought I was past those trees at the north end of the runway---NOT !! Thanks Paul K for the picture.

I glad to say that the pilot walked away from this one without a scratch. Who said you can't crash an Eflite Apprentice? Actually, the wing separated from the fuselage in midair. Hmmm... maybe that's why they give you eight rubber bands.
Mike Bolger