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Post by baz62 on Jan 4, 2009 10:48:11 GMT 12
Was looking at another Australian website www.rotecradialengines.com and noticed a link to this!!!  She certainly looks great and that engine certainly looks and sounds right! Anyone know anything more? And its here in New Zealand! |
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Post by sleemanj on Jan 4, 2009 11:22:57 GMT 12
The rotecs are certainly things of beauty, but not that common unfortunately - many aircraft would look much better with a round engine.
This aircraft looks a bit too Gee Bee-ish for my liking, stubby little wings, looks like quite small aileron surfaces. Rudder looks substantial though so might not be too bad.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 4, 2009 11:40:37 GMT 12
That is really cool, but he must be a midget, the I-16 is tiny to start with.
Apparently this Heydecke I-16 is registered to Heydecke Volker, Auckland Gliding Club, P O Box 297 Drury AUCKLAND 2247. Is that Drury in the film?
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Post by ZacYates on Jan 4, 2009 12:03:30 GMT 12
I remember seeing the vids a couple of weeks back - what a cool little project! Emphasis on the second-to-last word.
The real thing's tiny enough.....certainly would be a cool wee toy. And nice to see another project with a Rotec up front!
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Post by flyjoe180 on Jan 4, 2009 12:38:24 GMT 12
I saw that little Polikarpov replica down the north western end of Ardmore in early December. Unfortunately, again, I did not have my camera handy.
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Post by fletcherfu24 on Jan 4, 2009 13:59:19 GMT 12
It looks like the proverbial brick with wings on.I'd rather take me chances with the Jetpack.
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shane
Squadron Leader
Posts: 117
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Post by shane on Jan 5, 2009 10:22:24 GMT 12
Hi guys
I was reading the builders webpage and unfortunately the aircraft has suffered damage after its undercarriage collapsed during a test run.
Shane
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Post by Bruce on Jan 5, 2009 12:22:10 GMT 12
I'm wondering about the technique used in the fast taxi runs - long, high speed runs with the tail down that will put a bit of a strain on the various bits. I couldnt see if it had a tailwheel, or a skid as on the original, but I would have thought getting the tail up nice and early would give more directional control, and the mainwheel brakes wouldnt have to be used to maintain control.
Its a very interesting project though, hopefully it will be back on its feet soon. I would love to build something to go behind one of those Rotec Radials (a Scale Grumman Hellcat would be nice). Well Known warbird Pilot Keith Skilling is using one on his Highlander bushplane kit - must like round engines!.
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Post by conman on Jan 8, 2009 13:32:35 GMT 12
Saw this aircraft at Drury recently it does seem very squished, the fuselage seems ridiculously short, looks like very solid construction however. (Yes the location in the video is the Auckland Gliding Club airfield at Drury)
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Post by FlyingKiwi on Jan 8, 2009 19:48:14 GMT 12
I saw it on the back of a trailer at Ardmore a few weeks ago - it was the same day it suffered the gear collapse so I'm not sure if when I saw it was pre or post incident.
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Post by Radialicious on Jan 8, 2009 20:50:51 GMT 12
I'm very impressed! A few photos from the Rotec website...  Did a Bristol engineer help with the wing attach points?    Fingers crossed for the man. What next? I did like the idea of the scaled P-38 that someone was rumoured to have built a few years ago. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 8, 2009 22:59:24 GMT 12
It looks just like a big r/c model!
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shane
Squadron Leader
Posts: 117
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Post by shane on Jun 22, 2009 8:33:51 GMT 12
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Post by Radialicious on Jun 23, 2009 19:44:45 GMT 12
Well done!!! Hopefully the test flying phase proves her to be safe and reliable. I suspect that if that is the case, we may see a few more of these as she looks like she would be a whole lot of fun. Good stuff!
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Post by agalbraith on Jun 23, 2009 21:44:52 GMT 12
I saw this beauty take off on Monday arvo on her test flight.
Hats off to the guy, he has done a great job.....she sounds quite the biz too!
Well done to all involved
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Post by slackie on Jun 26, 2009 10:05:04 GMT 12
First takeoff
First landing...go Richard!
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Post by stu on Jun 26, 2009 19:21:58 GMT 12
Nice  Well done. |
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Post by FlyingKiwi on Jun 26, 2009 23:11:14 GMT 12
Very nice - I saw it flying a short while ago and it sounded really beautiful - once it's in flight it just about passes for a real one.  |
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Post by hardyakka on Jun 27, 2009 16:42:27 GMT 12
Does anyone know if the gear retracts? Looking at the construction photos, I would suspect not, but that would really complete the illusion if it did.
It doesn't look like it has flaps either. I wonder what the approach speed over the fence is? It looked like it was still hurtling along at a cracking pace when Richard put it on the ground. No wonder it doesn't operate from Drury...
Good on ya' Volker. That is one cool looking machine. I hope to see it for real one of these days. Roll on the summer fly-in season I say!...
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Post by Bruce on Jun 27, 2009 17:54:30 GMT 12
The original I-16 doesnt have flaps either.
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