Sailplanes International Axle build/rebuild

[Konrad]

This assuming I can repair the wing to some form of functionality. The adhesive used to bond the skins to the core has proven to not stand the test of time. I've found two other areas of delamination. Although small it is an indication that the wings are not durable and may not be suitable for flight.

And as mentioned the fuselage isn't worth the effort to re-wing. So while I'm willing to try to build the model as supplied. I'm not going to try to make a silk purse out of this sow's ear. Some designs are fundamentally flawed and aren't worth the effort to try to rehabilitate. This is one of those such designs: its only merits is in trying to relive ones youth.

 

[Wayne]

Back in the day I remember thinking the Axle was a cool exotic. Then I opened up the kit and saw the fiberglass. At the time I was laying up my own fiberglass parts from my own molds. I also looked at the wing and thought it couldn't be very good with such a thick section, but the weight of the thing would help in the arena.

I agree with Konrad, a CR Turbo will fly circles around the axle. Turbo being one of the best twisty planes of all time IMHO. Hold the presses, the Jester is darn impressive!! I think I must give that one the nod to best of all time.

 

[Mucksmear]

If nostalgia and/or authenticity is not a consideration, what about doing the axle up as a fixed wing with ailerons? Either way, IMO It’s a good looking ship

 

[Konrad]

If nostalgia and/or authenticity is not a consideration, what about doing the axle up as a fixed wing with ailerons? Either way, IMO It’s a good looking ship

To my eye there are much better looking aileron ships. If going to go through the effort of building one of these I would want to try to save/use the one feature that does differentiate the model from most others: and that's the twisty wing. Now that egg shell fuselage and those delaminating wings does make any other configuration/use superfluous, IMO.

 

[tic]

But SO sexy!

 

[Konrad]

Not to my eye were Form follows Function. Poor materials as part of form. Function again materials fail, shatter on most landing sites. And then there the total lack of any attempt to seal the wings against the fuselage: again a function requirement.

But what do I know I don't have an artist's eye. And at my age sexy has lost a lot of its meaning. They tend to now label me a dirty old man. I've got a long way to go before I fall into the cute old man category.

Tic, Is that yours?

 

[tic]

No it's not mine. I thought you might object to the pointy nose

 

[Doc J]

Off with that terrifying, needle sharp, lethally dangerous Nose!

Snip that schnozz!

Doc.

 

[Konrad]

No it's not mine. I thought you might object to the pointy nose

I do. But it is easy enough to rectify that design deficiency. It is the other design and manufacturing flaws that actually concern me. I can still make an FAI legal nose with a 10.6mm diameter arrow shaft. That should be sharp enough for any sane flier and still address any esthetic concern. But then there often is no accounting for taste!

Why would anybody think there is a need for an RC glider to have a more lethal pointer nose?

 

[Konrad]

Off with that terrifying, needle sharp, lethally dangerous Nose!

Snip that schnozz!

Doc.

I think I now understand why the regulatory body felt it must put some limits on the insanity they saw with, and I quote “needle sharp, lethally dangerous noses” coming from some designers.

 

[Doc J]

I think I now understand why the regulatory body felt it must put some limits on the insanity they saw with, and I quote “needle sharp, lethally dangerous noses” coming from some designers.

I agree - did anyone ever see those incredible needle-honed multiplex kits or even some of the other ones from Sailplanes International. Completely irresponsible I call it and obvously specifically designed to do the maxiumum amount of damage per flying kilogram.

FAI Rules? Personally I think the FAI is lethally dangerous for allowing, no CONDONING, nay PROMOTING those killer razor-tipped spinners.
How could any responsible governing body make such a mistake? Not only that, the FAI has STILL done nothing abut the razor sharp "F" model wings across all the classes.

And as for scale models? Well, we dont want to go there, but suffice it to say that anyone flying a scale model in popular daylight hours is negligent in the extreme.

To alleviate this problem, the word is that local clubs are trying to establish thier own damage assessments by flying fully ballasted F3f models into corpses in order to test the relationship between nose radius and tissue/bone damage. Obviously this clear and present danger calls for a total ban on daytime model glider flying, worldwide. Night flying might be permitted.

Ridiculous right? FAI legality was ridiculous to start with, its ridiculous now, and will certainly be endlessly ridiculous in the future. So lets not apply it to anything that does not stipulate its use shall we?

But seriously at the same time lets really pay attention to safety in our FLYING, because like a gun, its not the model that kills.

Doc.

 

[Konrad]

The FAI class F3K has a nose radius limit of 5mm. And FAI class F3Q is the only glider class that does not have a nose radius limit. But it needs to have a clear canopy and shall have an appearance similare to full size gliders.
Even FAI F3G Mulit Task Gliders with Electric Motors calls out a Nose/spinner radius of 7.5mm. ( I don't see any comment to razor sharp noses).

These are all listed under the Charactoristics data of Radio Controlled Gliders. The paragraphs addressing Safety Rules adresses the area where the event is held and the penalties for violating this area.

Rest asured the nose radius is a safety related requierment along with the total mass of the aircraft.

This comes from the FAI Sporting code Volume F3 effective 1st January 2021.

I see that spinners are required in FAI F3G to meet the FAI nose radius. Every Multiplex glider I've ever owned, sold from 1990 onward, has again meet the FAI sporting code.
Only one Aeroic design that I have owned has meet the FAI nose limit. At that one looks like it is pushing around a beach ball!

Now as Tic has mentioned this Axel doesn't come close to meeting any FAI nose reg for gliders.

But seriously at the same time lets really pay attention to safety in our FLYING, because like a gun, its not the model that kills.

Doc.

 

[tic]

I flew an F5B contest once and a spectator said "hey, your wing looks like a ginsu knife blade!". He was right, I'd hate to get hit with it at speed. Of course much thinner wings exist and are buzzing around people all the time going really fast. I believe the pilot of the model that was lost and hit and killed the woman carrying her baby had his passport taken and was not allowed to return to the US. IIRC, he was a corporate pilot. I don't recall how that situation was resolved, if he was fined, or jailed. Does anyone know?

 

[Konrad]

You fly with the TE forward? Nice trick!

Tic, that is off topic. I'll be asking that the post regarding the legal international issues be removed. I'm trying to control topic creep.

 

[Konrad]

A problem with building these dinosaurs is that the material often isn't stable. The polyester used is still shrinking, so much so that the OEM canopy is too distorted to use. Some previous owner had done me a favor and started to make a balsa replacement.

Take note of the matted glass work of the OEM canopy.

 

[Doc J]

I do. But it is easy enough to rectify that design deficiency. It is the other design and manufacturing flaws that actually concern me. I can still make an FAI legal nose with a 10.6mm diameter arrow shaft. That should be sharp enough for any sane flier and still address any esthetic concern.

And what on earth use would that be for safety?

But then there often is no accounting for taste!

Why would anybody think there is a need for an RC glider to have a more lethal pointer nose?

My word - this is so ridiculous its hard to believe. A 4-year old can see the flaws in that kind of argument.

Unbelieveable.

Doc.

I flew an F5B contest once and a spectator said "hey, your wing looks like a ginsu knife blade!". He was right, I'd hate to get hit with it at speed. Of course much thinner wings exist and are buzzing around people all the time going really fast. I believe the pilot of the model that was lost and hit and killed the woman carrying her baby had his passport taken and was not allowed to return to the US. IIRC, he was a corporate pilot. I don't recall how that situation was resolved, if he was fined, or jailed. Does anyone know?

The matter was resolved and settled by comensation and the flyer allowed to return t the USA.

Doc

 

[Doc J]

I see that spinners are required in FAI F3G to meet the FAI nose radius. Every Multiplex glider I've ever owned, sold from 1990 onward, has again meet the FAI sporting code.

Damn, look at that FAI legal nose...Good thing its an Alpina and not a flamingo or an acro - they had REALLY sharp noses.

hohoho.

Only one Aeroic design that I have owned has meet the FAI nose limit. At that one looks like it is pushing around a beach ball!

Now as Tic has mentioned this Axel doesn't come close to meeting any FAI nose reg for gliders.

 

[Konrad]

Like I said it is easy to get a 10.6mm diameter arrow shaft to be FAI compliant. Without placing an FAI nose radius gage on the nose I wouldn't be able to make any claims as to the nose be legal or not.

When was the Alpine designed? It or its brethren may have been one of those designs that drove the FAI rule.

 

[Wayne]

Please stop talking about noses. That horse is now dead.

Lets talk about helicopters instead.. Can't imagine anyone has any safety concerns about them! Oh wait..

 

[Doc J]

Please stop talking about noses. That horse is now dead.

Lets talk about helicopters instead.. Can't imagine anyone has any safety concerns about them! Oh wait..

Yeah! Damn helicopters...what have they ever done for us?

Can you believe that the FAI is condoning and even promoting these lethally-dangerous machete-rotored hell machines?

Of course the rotors need to have a leading edge radius of 7.5mm at least. I mean lets be consistent!

Dooohhhh.

Doc.