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Post by Bruce on Sept 10, 2016 19:19:20 GMT 12
The Trislander is actually quite an interesting machine. It also came with an extended nose to make it look really weird! I've actually flown one, being test flight observer on an Air Tungaru example (from Kiribati) rebuilt at Aeromotive at Hamilton. The test flight had to be at max weight so we had the ferry fuel tanks full, plus half a pallet of cement bags borrowed from Mitre 10! The first take of attempt we realised we had misloaded the nose compartment when it wouldnt rotate! after reshuffling some of the cement back into the cabin it flew OK, seemed really unharmonised - very sensitive in pitch and heavy on the ailerons. Should be an interesting build - what colour scheme will you use?
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Post by Bruce on Sept 9, 2016 20:55:41 GMT 12
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Post by Bruce on Aug 30, 2016 18:42:45 GMT 12
Warbirds should whip up an Open Day to fit around the availability of TV959 - good opportunity to raise some more funds for that new hangar! I'm sure the team could pull one together pretty quickly. Um... I'm not sure you realise how much work is involved in organising even a simple aviation event. Its not something you just "whip up". For a start CAA rules require a minimum of 90 day's notice of such an aviation event. That doesnt include such things as organising traffic management, parking, risk management plans and even getting enough portaloos. this is the 21st Century, that is the way things are done. It also puts undue pressure on Avspecs to meet the deadline and have the machine flying at a set date - let the guys work to the projects own schedule so they can be satisfied it is the best it can possibly be, without stressing everyone out.
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Post by Bruce on Aug 30, 2016 12:42:32 GMT 12
I'll have to download Blazing Saddles to watch as a tribute....
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Post by Bruce on Aug 25, 2016 10:26:10 GMT 12
It looks like the "Flying Bum" has had an oopsie... BBC
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Post by Bruce on Aug 20, 2016 14:37:15 GMT 12
Wicked. I really hope it'll be possible to watch a launch or three from some nearby viewing area. That would be cool. If you can find your way to the end of the Mahia Peninsular, you'll probably see something, but its incredibly remote - that was the whole idea!
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Post by Bruce on Aug 16, 2016 10:27:58 GMT 12
Cool! The Thunderbirds are coming!
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Post by Bruce on Aug 13, 2016 20:06:13 GMT 12
Slightly off topic but related to shared wing designs, did you know the early -100 series Armstromg Whitworth Argosy had wings from an Avro Shackleton? By the -200 series they had a new wing design that was lighter, stronger and removed fatigue life restrictions, but also allowed a wider engine spacing. They had problems on the -100s getting propellers of the right diameter to fit the Darts, but would fit in the spaces for smaller contraprops... Useless fact of the day!
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Post by Bruce on Aug 13, 2016 18:47:28 GMT 12
The engines sit a lot further forward on the Hastings (C of G will be quite different), the thrust lines are lower and the nacelles are a completely different shape. The Engines themselves are a later model with fan cooling and the exhaust systems are completely different. The Hastings also has leading edge oil cooler ducts and different wing tips. I considered using Airfix Halifax wings on my Hastings, but the amount of lopping and chopping involved, plus removing the infamous Airfix rivets, and the fact they wouldnt have solved the wing root, centre section issues (Much wider fuselage on the Hastings, so the attachments on the model would need bodging) meant it was just as easy to use the Vacform bits with some extra internal structure.
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Post by Bruce on Aug 13, 2016 16:49:11 GMT 12
Wings, Yes, Nacelles, very different...
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Post by Bruce on Aug 13, 2016 8:54:36 GMT 12
Governance in New Zealand is not just about high-profile subjects, there are lots of little bits of "Nuts and Bolts" legislation essential to the smooth running of a country. Every sitting of parliament deals with these and in most instances it never gets anyones attention. things like allocating funding for roading renewals and local projects etc, changes to industrial legislation infrastructure etc. These are the core of our government process. The "big issues" get special places on the agenda, so these things dont take anything away from them. Nothing wrong with this Bill, its one of those nuts and bolts items that needs addressing, and it should be a pretty quick and easy one providing it isn't stretched out by unneccessary politicing.
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Post by Bruce on Aug 12, 2016 19:41:59 GMT 12
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Post by Bruce on Aug 12, 2016 19:32:41 GMT 12
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Post by Bruce on Aug 12, 2016 19:15:39 GMT 12
Bruce where did you get the windscreen made? Its a flat sheet of 3mm Polycarbonate, this is actually the second screen, the first one was just cold bent into place but ended up cracking a few months into service since the curves at the wing root were too tight. The new one was pre-bent into the approximate shape using careful application of heat from heat guns, and bent over a large diameter steel pipe! the natural springiness of polycarbonate takes up the rest of the shape, and since the prebending has relieved most of the stresses, its behaved perfectly since.
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Post by Bruce on Aug 12, 2016 8:29:01 GMT 12
If you watch the fire trucks in the practice emergency sequence, one comes up and starts it foam monitor, but the best it can manage is a big blob of foam down the windscreen!
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Post by Bruce on Aug 11, 2016 19:43:18 GMT 12
G meter or Accelerometer. - one needle is "live" G Forces on the aircraft, it goes up and down depending on what cool stuff you are doing. The other two needles will "stick" at the maximum positive and maximum negative G encountered (since you may only touch that for a fraction of a second). there should be a little button or knob for resetting everything to 1 G at the start of a flight.
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Post by Bruce on Aug 10, 2016 15:26:52 GMT 12
No worms required! It does indeed have an Auster influence, along with Piper Cub, Cessna Bird Dog and the RANS S6. Not many Tecnams around when I started designing it though, so any similarity to any Tecnam is purely coincidental...
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Post by Bruce on Aug 8, 2016 21:26:02 GMT 12
I've done the Formaplane 1/72 Hastings and it wasnt bad. (theres a thread about it somewhere here on the forum) I decided not to change the tailplane though since it didnt shout that it wasnt right.There was a bit of internal structural work to do around the wing roots as with any large Vacform, but its not hard. I used Airfix Halifax parts for the undercarriage, engines, ADF fairings etc, and used white metal props (For the Bristol freighter). I dont think the wings (and particularly the Nacelles) of a Halifax are that close a match, and the vacform bits were pretty good anyway (I built mine with drooping flaps, since thats how Hastings always seem to be parked).
That Welsh Models Hastings is looking Nice there Harrysone - keep posting progress shots!
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Post by Bruce on Aug 8, 2016 21:17:49 GMT 12
Weather Radar. Handy thing to have on a pressurised IFR turbine...
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Post by Bruce on Aug 7, 2016 16:10:20 GMT 12
Many Brazilians embrace the myth of Santos Dumont flying first the way many kiwis embrace the Richard Pearse myth. In this case they deny that the Wright Brothers claim to flight as well. It was an interesting touch in a frankly boring and uninspiring opening ceremony. I really cant handle 4 hours of Samba music... and "save the planet" preaching from the country that is deforesting the Amazon and hosts sailing in a cesspit... (No offence intended to our Brazilian forumites.. but my opinion on the Olympic organisers...)
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