Well December of 2003 turned out to be more than the usual festive rush, the traditional “up the chimney “Santa letter, (No Mexico city is not a smokeless zone) clearly identified that Michael had decided that 3D aerobatics were going to figure big on his agenda for 2004. Unfortunately none of the model shops in Mexico City had suitable aircraft in stock so once Madam was convinced that she would be able to buy yards of material (quilting is as addictive as modeling !) we loaded up the sleigh and Santa headed north for the American border. Two days later we arrived in San Antonio Texas and as Holmes said to Dr Watson “the game was afoot!!!!!” Michael and I had found a model shop “Rebel Hobbies” on the internet and following no more hits had assumed this to be the only model store in the area. Before we could set out on our “Hobby Bonanza we had to go through the ritual visit, to a couple of quilting shops smiling and nodding in agreement at madams obvious delight to discover walking feet and Batting (Don't worry if you do not know what these are, We don't either but nodding and smiling is advisable if we want to get away with some large purchases), after a couple days at this madam felt sufficiently guilty to let us loose. Previously we had consulted a street map and knew exactly where we were going, we nearly had to fight to decide who was going to be first into the shop (Bloody kids) But then disaster!! The owner of the store turned out to be one of the most arrogant individuals I have ever met and the two day drive to San Antonio did not prove sufficient motivation for money to be parted with, (See the Bumpygreen shop does have some advantages!!) Disappointment was deep and Michael was convinced that Santa was not going to come up with the goods. A chance conversation in the hotel reception that night identified a second store not too far away so again off we set, SUCCESS!! Friendly helpful staff and more models than you could shake a stick at. In fact the staff invited us into their workshop to show off, their own on the go project a very nice ¼ scale Cessna, Robart custom front undercarriage leg, Saito gold knight engine and a very expensive looking digital servo set up. Michael in the meantime had located a Carl Goldberg ARF 3D called the MATRIX, the box stated the model need a “good .46 size 2 stroke" we read Irvine .53 so that was sorted “Santa was back in the good books” following a trip to the Alamo and various Texan steak restaurants we headed south of the border with thoughts of how the Matrix would go together and fly. Once at home Michael and I retired to the model room to decide on our plan of action, in no time the Irvine 53 residing in his World Models T34 was out and into the Matrix we also whipped out the radio and set up Matrix as per the manual, build up time is VERY quick the wing is one piece in the box so really it's servos, engine, balance and fly!! Down to the field and range checks were carried out both with engine dead and running, no probs there so we fuelled up and had a little taxi around to get some sort of a feel for it. Michael decided that I should conduct the first flight “just in case” . Lining up into wind I slowly rolled the engine up to ¾, the Matrix tracked straight down the strip engine up to full power and slight tap of up elevator and we were flying!!! But not flying well, struggling to gain height the Matrix barely cleared the trees at the end of the strip, so a slow circuit and return to ground was called for. Safely back on the ground we checked things over, “Wrong size Prop” what worked on the T34 was not working on the Matrix, a quick change was undertaken and in no time the Matrix was again off down the strip, this time things were much better , this time lifting off at ¾ throttle, but this time she was up and away, climbing out smoothly and with a much sharper response from the control inputs, no trim corrections needed (we did take time to balance the model laterally). Michael was now impressed sufficiently to take over piloting duties. In fact he embarrassed dad by performing loops, rolls, knife edge and just to rub a bit more salt on he put the Matrix in to a nice little hover!! Closing insult was the lovely smooth 3 point landing (everyone hates a smart arse,, especially when he's 13 years old) so in short any one interested in 3D flight, the Carl Goldberg Matrix is a good option. Next up was the maiden flight of my Top flite ¼ Cessna; now I have been building this for over 6 months, mostly due to work being the priority and reducing my available building time. My version is fitted with a Zenoah 23cc petrol engine, Futaba radio and needs 7 servo's (flaps are fitted). I do not believe there is in existence a modeller who doesn't suffer from first flight nerves. When I air out a new model, I like to stand at the end of the runway facing into the wind so when the model heads off I feel more in control. So with the aid of my New Mexican club members, we range checked and prepped the Cessna. One thing I have noticed with the Zenoah is that you can not just “wack” the throttle open, it tends to kill the motor, but a smooth fast transition form idle to full power seems to cause no problems at all, (if any LMA pilots read this, feed back would be appreciated, remember we are at 7500 feet but we run with factory settings. Anyway the Zenoah was happily putt, putting, and everything seemed to be OK we cleared the runway “OH! At our club if you do not shout PISTA!!! Prior to taxing from the pits you get a $50.00 Peso fine that's 5 of the queens own pounds to you)!! So after duly paying up and shouting Pista I taxied out lined up wiggled all the fluttery bits, took a very deep breath and eased up the throttle ( I hate this part !!) At half throttle she lifted and climbed smoothly, GREAT!!!. All the Butterflies in my stomach found somewhere to sit down and I remembered to start breathing again!! Flying large models really is great, the Cessna looks almost real during low passes, throttling back the Zenoah the flying speed is very scale with a very distinctive sound. I ran the circuit for 5 laps getting a feel and as everything was going good we decided to drop the flaps and see what happened. Now if you have your first model with flaps, let me give you a clue what is going to happen, In few words, as soon as the flaps come down the aircraft goes up, in my case very quickly so you need to input down elevator to keep things level, now if your piggy bank is full and you can get one of these snazzy PCM radios, you can actual mix the flaps and rudder together if not as in my case exercise caution until you know what the effect of the flaps will be on the aircrafts flying characteristics. Ulysses, my Mexican flight assistant recommended we did a landing approach with the flaps down but maintain an altitude no lower than 5 meters. Lining up the Cessna was no problem turns are smooth and easily controlled, once the aircraft was on a heading to run up the centre of the runway, I adjusted engine to get my 5 meter altitude tracking down the runway smoothly in fact it was easier than flying a trainer Ulysses suggested I climbed out to the left resumed the circuit and go for a touch and go. Here is where I must tell you all, I am as big an amateur as the rest of you!! , what Ulysses failed to tell me, was throttle up I failed to register that more speed was required and that really I should have pulled the flaps up , SO suddenly Isaac Newton took control of the aircraft. Well Old Isaac might have been a very clever man but he knows bugger all about flying so the Cessna sort of climbed , turned , Knife edged and crashed from about 150 feet into a tree. Fortunately I have learnt to curse fluently in Spanish now a days, but I still felt pretty damn stupid instead of Pilot error read pilot cock up! Trying to look jovial, I sauntered over to the crash site and peered through the undergrowth, our young grounds man pointing in the direction of the guilty tree indicating a pile of debris a little further back form the tree, “Bugger it's a write off” I thought… “No Senior Dave,, its there up the tree”!! Looking up there she was perched in the V of a large branch, amazingly it seemed to be pretty much intact, “ Don't worry “ he shouted and scampered off up the tree (Must be related to one of them Brazilian monkeys) anyway within a couple of minutes he was level with the Cessna “Its not damaged” He shouted “Bugger off” was my reply but we threw up a rope and down came the Cessna and Bugger me all there was were a couple of scratches on the wing leading edge. SO off to the flight line and a quick spin with the starter and the Zenoah immediately fired up all control services worked fine, but I decide to return the aircraft home for a full check before flying it again (Just in case!!) anyway I striped all the radio gear out checked all servos and nothing had sustained any damage so I am glad to say at time of writing my “Big Cessna “is still going strong!! |
