RE: What does A.M.A. really stand for......
American Medical Association. Arrogant Mean (and) Annoying [;)]
Posted on: 5/13/2004 5:53 PM by Author "FHHuber" in the forum "RC Humor"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1812447

RE: Can the poor opinion of AMA be changed and how??
[quote]ORIGINAL: staggerwing To Jim: Well said. I too have been in AMA for years and years and years... They have made our passtime possible. It may not be perfect, but it's better than any other option we have. [/quote] Definitely not as restrictive as the British have to deal with... http://www.bmfa.org/achievement/ Anyone for OFICIAL AMA certification requirements on that level? I can hear the screams already.
Posted on: 5/13/2004 5:03 PM by Author "FHHuber" in the forum "AMA Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1812301

RE: Coating before covering
pre-treating the wood which will be covered is not necessary with the most commonly used heat-shrink coverings. You can apply a coat of "Model Aircraft Dope" thinned 50-50 with acetone or the approriate thinner (caution some brand thinners have problems with other brand dopes) This sealant helps reduce damage incase fuel seeps under the covering. There are also "Balsa-Rite and other covering adhesives which can improve how the covering sticks and will give similar protection. The areas that won't be covered (like the firewall) should be "painted" with 2 hour epoxy. Some say to use thinnned epoxy with a faster cure time... improper mixing with the alcohol thinner and other things make this a less than reliable thing to do... and the cure time ends up nearly the same anyway. I also like to paint the fuel tank area with 2 coats of model aircraft dope or epoxy in case of a fuel leak...
Posted on: 5/13/2004 4:48 PM by Author "FHHuber" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1812256

RE: Hows my wing look?
[8D]Looking VERY good![8D] Its all straight. As long as the glue is appropriately applied (not necessarilly perfectly...) Its going to be a VERY good model when you are done if you keep goiing like that.
Posted on: 5/13/2004 3:37 PM by Author "FHHuber" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1812079

RE: Gas trainer
Cost... well... I spend more on gasoline driving to the field than I do on fuel putting in 4 flights with a .91 4-stroke glow powered model that has a 12 oz fuel tank. Cost is relative... The mess of the glow engine can be minimized... proper application of a tube type exhaust deflector system... you can run the tube all the way to the tail of the model. (its all in the tube sizing and minimizing any bending needed) Makes the model quieter too if done right. ;) I don't know of any trainers (models designed as trainers) that are that huge. There is the Telemaster series... but I don't think the largest in the series is big enough to need the US 35. The plans could be scaled up.... There are some Piper Cub models large enough... and Cubs are good as trainers if you understand they need to be "flown like a Cub." A design that was standard for training full scale pilots for as long as the Cub was used for just that purpose has to have some reason for having been such a success. If you want to avoid the high cost which you WILL run into with the large model... and want to avoid the glow engines. Have you considered the electric power Great Planes Electric version in the PT series? Then there's the Wingo and Soarstar and a lot of others. Inexpensive and large don't tend to get along well in the same model.
Posted on: 5/13/2004 3:33 PM by Author "FHHuber" in the forum "Scratch Building, Aircraft Design, 3D/CAD"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1812073

RE: Nexstar or NOT
OOOoooo K.....[&:] *************** 4 Channel basic system (TX, RX, 4 basic servos, TX and RX nicds, charger...) appx $100 to $120 (sometimes with aileron extension sometimes not[&:]) Flight pack with RX, 4 basic servos, Battery and swithc (sometimes an aileron extension cord.) Appx $100. Hmmm... *************** By the time the 6 ch would be desireable for extra functions... you often have 2 to 4 airplanes maintained ready to fly at any given time. Might want to have the second flight pack... it'll be handy. Add a buddy box cord and having started with the 4 ch, then bought the better radio... you have a trainer rig available any time you want it. (and a spare TX battery... just in case. That's a $30 value...) *************** By the time you want the 6 ch radio... maybe the prices will drop or more functions will be available for the same price... You will also know more about what YOU want from a radio... and be able to make a better informed decision about which to buy. *************** Some people NEVER outgrow the 4 ch... if its all they ever need... the 6 ch is kind of a waste. *************** Logically... you can't lose by starting with the 4 ch system. ************** OK... rip it up.[&:]
Posted on: 5/13/2004 3:02 PM by Author "FHHuber" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1812001

RE: can i use an os 40-50 drive washer on tt 40?
If the "keying" to the shaft is the same... and it does not cause binding... its OK. If the little notch(es) in the crankshaft and the flat(s) on the thrust washer don't match... don't do it. You'll know as soon as you tighten the prop if it causes binding. The prop will either turn freely when not in compression... or it basicly won't turn at all. There are many parts that cross-over from engine to engine without problems.... but you do have to be a lot more careful with some than others. The thrust washer is one of the easier ones to "get away with." For example a different maker's piston may fit the bore perfectly... but most times, the wrist pin distance to the top of the piston and the piston skirt size and shapes vary enough that you can NOT interchange them.
Posted on: 5/13/2004 2:05 PM by Author "FHHuber" in the forum "Questions and Answers"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1811854

RE: Aileron Trim
Of couse... if you pull too hard in the high speed loop... you can do a high speed stall and snap-roll out of the loop (usually near the top of the loop) even if the airplane is straight... Some experience with seeing which is in-flight warp vs the high speed stall may be required for the test. (test works.. just need to know the catch to it.)
Posted on: 5/13/2004 1:45 PM by Author "FHHuber" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1811790

RE: HELP PLEASE
Up near the top of the page, under the little circular symbols for different forum areas you will find a bar. Click "Settings" on that bar. In the Forum section (middle) of the settings pages, you will find a place where it says "Avitar" You can select a "Stock" avitar... or upload a JPG picture (look at the size limit for the JPG as an avitar)
Posted on: 5/13/2004 1:39 PM by Author "FHHuber" in the forum "Forum questions or problems"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1811777

RE: Transmitter Strap
[quote]ORIGINAL: Scar ........... I even handlaunch a couple of my planes, with the neckstrap attached to the transmitter. Works for me. Dave Olson [/quote] Prevents that one type accident I saw... Guy launched his TX instead of the airplane in the other hand. [X(] Good launch... about 20 yards.[&:]
Posted on: 5/13/2004 1:28 PM by Author "FHHuber" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1811756

RE: Help me slow down.
It is not uncommon for the aircraft to have a problem slowing down to land and stick to the runway with the engine at idle when you have a light aircraft. The thrust of the engine at idle (especially with some of the high power-weight ratio combinations we fly) can exceed the aircraft's minimum poer to maintain altitude. Add in ground effect and you can have aircraft flying in "the backside of the power curve" (where you point the nose down slightly and the plane accelerates and climbs with no throttle change) that just won't settle. Lower prop pitch is often the only way to allow the aircraft to land while the engine is still running. With the lower pitch, at the same idle rpm, you don't create as much thrust. Increasing pitch and reducing diameter can sometimes help... but there are other tradeoffs when doing that, which may be a disadvantage, especially on a Cub or a design such as the Four Star which won't bennefit in (or from) top airspeed. Being able to hold the nose higher due to a further aft CG can put you further into the backside of the power curve... and that does help sometimes. Being able to maintain pitch control at a lower speed (all kinds of explainations as to why... all add up to less downforce from the tailplanes needed with the CG change) and have the aircraft "wasting" more power due to higher AOA giving more induced drag. Caution here though... you can get in a place where the added power needed to prevent slowing to stall at that higher AOA makes the aircraft exhibit the above nose-down = accellerate+climb phenomenon more clearly... ******** A book I recently found (well... given to me by my mother out of some of my father's old books...) explains why this stuff happens pretty clearly. It doesn't address being unable to slow down specificly... because the book is intended for full scale, and at idle, they never have more power than needed to stay aloft. "The Proficient Pilot" AOPA 1980 (Author listed in a dfferent topic here... "Great Book!"... its in the car at the moment.)
Posted on: 5/13/2004 1:26 PM by Author "FHHuber" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1811749

RE: Flutter.....
[quote]ORIGINAL: blwblw FHuber, You are wrong about gear tooth harmonics. I think that I know more about scale rotary wing aerodynamics than you. From what you just wrote, there is a whole world of rotary wing aerodynamics that you don't know a thing about. You may find a good starting point in learning about some of this by doing a search for "tailboom dynamic modes". Reading about "ground resonance in fully articulated rotor systems with oleo struts" will give you a few nights of pondering too. Then, you can come back and try to argue rotary wing aerodynamics with me. Your tuning fork analogy is about as appropriate as using $1 balsa gliders to explain everything you know about rc flying. [/quote] There is a whole world of mechanical enginering you have no idea about. U.S. Navy Nuclear Power Machinist, trained in WHY they build the gearboxes for the ship propulsion system the way they do... and I darn near quoted the book.
Posted on: 5/13/2004 12:53 PM by Author "FHHuber" in the forum "Questions and Answers"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1811679

RE: Can the poor opinion of AMA be changed and how??
As someone else said... I don't think there is a poor opinion of the AMA that prevails. There are some with poor opinions of one or more of the current AMA leadership "cadre" (can't think of a better word...) If enough people shared that opinion, considering the extremely low vote turnout in AMA elections, it would b easy to get a change in that group IF you could get someone, who meets the requrements for being elected, to volunteer to run against them. Its kind of hard to get someone voted out if you don't get a replacement onto the ballot. (but that's reality...[8|])
Posted on: 5/13/2004 12:46 PM by Author "FHHuber" in the forum "AMA Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1811663

RE: Buying Hawk sport and humming bird
Given the choice... I'd skip the hummingbird and get the Hawk. I would not buy a micro-heli as a first heli. The larger one will be much easier to learn to fly. The small one might simply be a mound of frustration without the experience from the larger machine. (My opinion...) I would recommend something the others may say is odd... get Microsoft Flight simulator and a cheap joystick. Try to fly the Jetranger from tower view using the cheap joystick for "cyclic" and the keyboard for throttle and rudder. That's going to pretty well simulate how hard it is to fly the micro. (good luck... you'll need it.) Now get a TX interface and plug a compuuter TX into the same sim, same heli same tower view and have the TX set on the correct heli mix. That'll simulate the Hawk fairly well. (you might actually be able to fly the thing.)
Posted on: 5/13/2004 5:41 AM by Author "FHHuber" in the forum "RC Helicopter General Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1811000

RE: Strongest, most heavy duty 60 size mechanical retracts?
I have been happy with my Dave Brown retracts. I got the size intended for Pattern Aerobatics competition aircraft. These are rated at 15 lbs max aircraft weight I personally wouldn't put them on anything heavier than 12 lbs... But my landings sometimes go into the grass and that's hard on retracts. Mine survived a full-power touch-n-go mounted in a 4*60 with a O.S. .91 FS-II turning an APC 14X6. (it was cooking[:D]) that ran off the runway into 3 inch grass (with 2.5 inch wheels) for about 50 ft before I pulled the gear up. (still full power.. gear up was the only way to get the nose up and I didn't dare reduce power... I was trapped at about 50 to 60 knots.) Gear did just fine. The instant vertical ascent and dead-stick (from running out of fuel[8|]) didn't do the fuselage any good though.[&:]
Posted on: 5/13/2004 5:03 AM by Author "FHHuber" in the forum "Questions and Answers"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1810980

RE: The most durable cheap trainer????
[quote]ORIGINAL: Uncle_lijah How would you guys rate a Great Planes TR 40? I got it used as a gift and I have yet to fly it. I'm still at the simulator stage. [/quote] The Trainer 40 is a good airplane. Depending on which version kit... the one labeled "Trainer 40" (I think there was only one with that label[&:]) has a semisymetrical wing and turns out very similar in appearance to the Avistar. (this is an older version kit...) This is actually BETTER than the newer PT-40 kits which have the flat bottom airfoil and really are not as good an aircraft. (but they are good aircraft... just not as good as the old one.) This is not one of the easiest to build models (one reason it got discontinued...) And there is no longer any support for building hints via Great Planes for the kit. (they'll remember they made it... but its been too long ago) discontinuing it was a mistake...
Posted on: 5/13/2004 4:43 AM by Author "FHHuber" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1810961

RE: Should the AMA Forum Have the Same Guidelines as the Rest of RCU?
If you look at the closed threads... there's one that centerd on defending ME... agreeing that J_R asked for trouble... and got it. http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_1805165/anchors_1805165/mpage_1/key_/anchor/tm.htm#1805165 That one didn't last long. J_R: "WAAAH! Mommy, I was being a bully and got stomped!" http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_1804312/anchors_1804504/mpage_1/key_/anchor/tm.htm#1804504 J_R's cronies can't have that... THAT is when I got put on moderated status. ************ edit add: It wasn't for the threads that J_R is claiming were why I got put on the status. It wasn't for the sig change. (which I changed and went to bed for a few hours To let it sit a while... came back to a message that a moderator had changed it for me) You want me to post that message too? I'll gladly post ALL the PM's in my box.... Bunches that J_R would want moderated.
Posted on: 5/13/2004 3:10 AM by Author "FHHuber" in the forum "The Clubhouse"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1810871

RE: Should the AMA Forum Have the Same Guidelines as the Rest of RCU?
You will also find that Since it is FCC CFR that is being violated... and repeted violations ARE a felony... I was corect. You can be charged with a felony. But J_R would rather focus on the minutia of the first offence PROBABLY being handled as a misdomener (with up to 2 year jail term and some nifty fines...) rather than the FACT that it is ILLEGAL. J_R likes to pick at minutia... rather than admit that something he advocates doing is illegal, unsafe and appropriate for the average resident of San Quentin.
Posted on: 5/13/2004 2:47 AM by Author "FHHuber" in the forum "The Clubhouse"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1810848

RE: 3 Mistakes - How High
The definition of 3 mistakes high is "nebulous" at best... What kind of mistakes? If its a maneuver that can get you into an attitude that you have problems recovering from... you need MUCH more room than it its a maneuver that may simply have you need to make a controlled correction. Doing stalls, if you are not familiar with stall recovery... you need the room to recover from a 3 turn spin (about 150 ft for a typical .40 trainer) TWICE! (total of close to 400 ft.) Generally, you won't be stuck in the spin for 3 turns with a trainer... because balanced by the instructions, if you let go of the controls, it will recover itself into a dive in less than 1 turn. However... the beginner tends to not let go.[8|] If you FIGHT the spin... you can spin all the way to the ground for 1000 ft or more.
Posted on: 5/13/2004 2:24 AM by Author "FHHuber" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1810813

RE: Another Lost Muffler
I have resorted to "Spiking" the threads behind the nut on the muffler's long screw. You just deform an exposed thread a LITTLE and the nut can't vibrate past, but with a screwdriver and wrench you can remove the nut if needed. If you spike a thread a turn or so from the nut when its tight, you can losen the nut and screw enough to rotate the back section of a round muffler without having to turn the nut onto the spiked thread. If it vibrates loose in flight.. you will hear it but you won't loose half the muffler.
Posted on: 5/13/2004 1:55 AM by Author "FHHuber" in the forum "Questions and Answers"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1810785

RE: Bi plane on center of gravity machine
[quote]ORIGINAL: combatpigg HI GB FAN, If you look at the plane in the overhead view, you go from the forward most point of the forward wing to the rearward most point, [which ever wing that is] to determine the average chord. Then all you have to do is shoot a line 25% back from the L.E. to which ever wing you like to use as your reference point. Hope this makes sense. Your fine tuning will come from inflight experience. [/quote] Methinks you misunderstood the question...[&:] He knos the recommended CG... but method of holding the aircraft to determine if the plane balanced correctly or not was the question ("blarsted" Awaiting aproval...[8|] I think you'd have known if you'd seen my other post first.)[&:]
Posted on: 5/13/2004 1:41 AM by Author "FHHuber" in the forum "Aerodynamics"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1810770

RE: Bi plane on center of gravity machine
If you are balancing it by a measurement on the lower wing... you do it inverted with the CG machine "legs" supporting the lower wing. If the measurement is from the LE of the upper wing... then you do it upright and support by the upper wing. Its possible to transfer the measurement from one wing to the other... But you have to be careful to have the aircraft in normal level flight attitude and move it vertically (this is not necessarrilly perpendicular to the 0-0-0 centerline of the aircraft... as that is not necessarilly the level flight attitude line).
Posted on: 5/13/2004 1:17 AM by Author "FHHuber" in the forum "Aerodynamics"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1810739

RE: 25 size trainer
[quote]ORIGINAL: DTB [quote]ORIGINAL: FHHuber The .25 FX has enough power to fly a Tower Trainer 40... (not very aerobatic... but it will fly just fine.) That engine has more power than some of the cheaper .40 ci engines. [/quote] I'm actually thinking of putting my 25FX on my old Superstar 40 trainer. Think it would work. I understand it would not be very acrobatic, but I just want
Posted on: 5/13/2004 1:12 AM by Author "FHHuber" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1810735

RE: RPM Gains
the 200-300 rpm gain is about right for a .40 power trainer or sport aerobatic type... the faster the aircraft can fly, and the higher the pitch of the prop, the more it can potentially unload the engine allowing the rpm to increase. There are ways to measure the rpm of the engine while the airplane is flying. Extreme high speed photography for one. Take enough frames per second.. you can watch the prop move one frame at a time and calculate the rpm from the frame rate and angular change between frames. (not exactly a cheap way to do it...) There is a way to very closely estimate the increased rpm from the frequecy of the engine noise. ********** http://www.ymec.com/hp/signal2/motor1.htm for one sound analysis that gives an electric motor's rpm. Same will work for a glow engine doing a high speed pass. (average the approach and retreat to eliminate the doppler shift effect)
Posted on: 5/13/2004 12:42 AM by Author "FHHuber" in the forum "Questions and Answers"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1810682

RE: Why do you fly airplanes?
Because they are there. [;)] (just as Sir E. Hillary said about climbing mountains.) Its a combination of things... the challenge of making a model and then making it perform in the desired manner. The comaradarie of th group I fly with. Enjoyment of the outdoors on a bright sunny day... Its kind of like asking a fisherman why he stands in a stream when he could just go to the store and buy some fish. He can't really explain it... Its just something he enjoys doing. ********** In RC. I fly fixed wing models from .020 ci to .91 ci glow power. A .32 glow power heli, assorted small electric power models, and the occasional glider. (At one time, I flew RC gliders almost exclusively) I still fly some FF rubber power models and gliders. I haven't flown a control line model in about 20 years now.
Posted on: 5/13/2004 12:36 AM by Author "FHHuber" in the forum "Questions and Answers"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1810674

Awaiting approval
When a post is awaiting approval... have the poster that is awaiting have some little notation in his post that no one can see it yet. Being able to see the posts with no notation.... you don't know if the others have been able to read it or not.[&:] That could lead to some confusion....
Posted on: 5/13/2004 12:18 AM by Author "FHHuber" in the forum "Suggestions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1810645

RE: Transparent coverings?
My experience has been that the MonoKote transparents seem heavire and stiffer than the opaques. I have covered several large sailplanes in transparangts partly for the increased rigidity that was given to the wings, partly for the spectacular appearance of a multi-color, transparent sailplane in a blue sky. ;)
Posted on: 5/12/2004 11:46 PM by Author "FHHuber" in the forum "Questions and Answers"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1810570

RE: Three Blade Prop Sizing >
At a .40 size engine... you drop one inch dia to allow a 1 inch pitch increase... Dropping one inch dia, increasing pitch 2 inches and adding a blade will put one heck of an extra load on the engine.
Posted on: 5/12/2004 11:39 PM by Author "FHHuber" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1810546

RE: My WINGS in 6 flights!!!
Great job![image]http://utopia.rcuniverse.com/micons/m6.gif[/image] Now... watch out for the 2 biggest problems of the freshly soloed: 1) Overconfidence (Hey! Watch this!) 2) Too much fun. Combine the two... you get toothpicks.
Posted on: 5/12/2004 11:35 PM by Author "FHHuber" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1810538

RE: Flights To Solo
There's a difference between your first solo flight and the end of the need to get help from an instructor... The typical private pilot (full scale) solos in rather short order. MANY hours of flying practice and instruction before he is capable of passing the flying test to get his/her licence. You can "solo" with as simple a requirement as just barely being able to take off, do one lap around the field and land without breaking the airplane. That's a LONG way from being ready to quit getting help from the instructor in how to properly handle the aircraft. Most beginners have some problems getting prepared to do thier first landing.. and that is one reason why it takes so long before most instructors let them do an entire flight without taking control of the airplane to save it at least once. When landing the airplane is essentially pointed at you... and an error can mean you hit yourself (or someone else on the flight line...) That is a bit scary, and makes the beginner nervous and being nervous means you are more likely to make that error. (what we call a viscious circle... it can spiral into severe anxiety)
Posted on: 5/12/2004 11:29 PM by Author "FHHuber" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1810519