Show us what you are working on..

[Red]

Finally got the big E-Flight Blanik out for an aero tow session, flies pretty good. I’d like to toss it off the slope at Torrey at some point.

 

[Wayne]

You know it's upside down? They fly better the other way around.

Got to fly in a Blanik many years ago, winch launched! Pretty sweet. Oddly enough the pilot was an old 4x4 buddy, not one of my many aviation cohorts.

 

[Red]

You know it's upside down? They fly better the other way around.

Got to fly in a Blanik many years ago, winch launched! Pretty sweet. Oddly enough the pilot was an old 4x4 buddy, not one of my many aviation cohorts.

I looked at purchasing one a while back. They are really neat planes. Unfortunately there was a spar failure some years ago in the UK and they grounded the fleet in the US. Laster there was an AD and spar mod kit available, but that cost more than the plane was worth in flyable condition to complete. You can find nice examples now in the US for $5-10K, but they cost $60k to mod so essentially worthless. Bummer.

EDIT: Curiosity got me, looks like the factory will refurbish them now and be FAA compliant. https://blanikam.net/web/ba/exchange01.htm
Also, here is an ad from 2022 where you could buy TWO for $4500 https://wingsandwheels.com/let-l-13-blanik1309638470.html

 

[Wayne]

Yep - I started writing about the spar issue in my earlier post but removed it. One of the few gliders I could actually fit in.

I was about to join a soaring club to fly the Blanik but a pilot on his first solo wrecked it when he hit a fence on a short landing. They had no other trainers I could fit in. The end of my glider ambitions as I got into 4x4s.

 

[Yotaman1985]

Recently picked up this Ocelot and have the rough programming done. Its in great shape and looks like it will be a fun one. Anyone have experience with one of these? The CG I found online is 65mm but someone sharpie'd 65, 75, and 80mm on the wing

 

[Wayne]

I think I had one of those years ago.. Plug your ears... It was eaten by my garage door before it ever flew. The sound still haunts me.

 

[Yotaman1985]

Since our Falcon doesnt really need any work, we have decided to finally (after years...) do the Pinto engine swap in our Model A. We've had this engine for a long time but never seemed to have the time or space to do the swap. The current flathead engine has a knock and we have been babying it for a while. Looking forward to getting it on the road again and having it be reliable to drive so we can have fun with it.

 

[Wayne]

That will be nice. I appreciate the originals kept original, but if you have one of the babbitt engines, hard to argue against the swap, especially with the pinto motor sitting on the shelf.

 

[Yotaman1985]

That will be nice. I appreciate the originals kept original, but if you have one of the babbitt engines, hard to argue against the swap, especially with the pinto motor sitting on the shelf.

Yea that was our thinking. We cant afford a flathead rebuild at the shop we want as they are super pricey but they do really high quailty motors with insert bearings and all the modern upgrades. The nice thing about the swap is it uses everything stock Model A from the bellhousing back so super easy to go back to a flathead in the future. Just wanting to get it back on the road to have fun with instead of it sitting in the garage as a shelf... lol

 

[Wayne]

Totally agree! Love that it leaves the rest in tact. Just hang onto the old motor just in case you want it down the line. (doubt you will.)

Looks like a fun project to me.

 

[Wayne]

Flight testing a "new" old timer style wing on one of our Silly Stick fuselages. This worked out really well and was a lot of fun to sneak in some flights today. This flew far better than it should have. Been thinking we should offer a wood wing and tail for the Silly stick, and now I very much want to do that.

 

[Tmcfarland]

View attachment 24303
Flight testing a "new" old timer style wing on one of our Silly Stick fuselages. This worked out really well and was a lot of fun to sneak in some flights today. This flew far better than it should have. Been thinking we should offer a wood wing and tail for the Silly stick, and now I very much want to do that.

Excuse me.. but I believe I was the originator of this concept with my F5J Silly Stick

 

[Wayne]

Sorry, didn't mean to copy you.

Just another reason to keep some stick planes around.

 

[thenated0g]

Building a wowings booby and finally, finally writing on the on/off lid what i always mean to do when burying batteries lol

 

[thenated0g]

Funny, i have wanted one of these for like 10+ years and never bought one cause im not paying $200 for an foamy. Than realized the other day that its in AU lol

 

[jure]

Funny, i have wanted one of these for like 10+ years and never bought one cause im not paying $200 for an foamy. Than realized the other day that its in AU lol

So, did you pay full price in the end ?

 

[Tmcfarland]

View attachment 24303
Flight testing a "new" old timer style wing on one of our Silly Stick fuselages. This worked out really well and was a lot of fun to sneak in some flights today. This flew far better than it should have. Been thinking we should offer a wood wing and tail for the Silly stick, and now I very much want to do that.

I love it. Looks like a slow flying antique. But finish the AH-100 first. Lol

 

[thenated0g]

Yeah but usd it's $120

 

[thenated0g]

Also prepping for sunset

 

[Yotaman1985]

Nice Nate! Looks super fun and I want one now... lol


Just picked up this new to me Carf Kobuz 3m this weekend. Its a turbine glider good for 250+ mph running a Kingtech K65 turbine. Hoping to have it ready for a maiden in a couple weeks