Speaking of lessons learned (was are you looking for something)

[Del K. Rykert]

After reading that answer Dave I can tell I would never hesitate going
flying full scale with you. Attention to details makes for old pilots. Bold
pilots are the ones you normally read about having mishaps.

          del
               NSRCA - 473

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Lockhart" <DaveL322 at comcast.net>
To: <discussion at nsrca.org>
Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2004 2:03 PM
Subject: Re: Speaking of lessons learned (was are you looking for something)


> Side benefit of the stand-off I use is that it covers the switch.  And, as
> the switch is actuated with vertical motion, the neck strap is attached to
> the stand-off with a horizontal motion.
>
> Dangling neck straps, bumping the sticks, and dropping the TX prior to
> attaching the neck strap can still be issues.  At my local fields, I am
well
> known for being very specific and ritualistic about where my field
equipment
> is placed relative to the plane, the exact starting procedure I follow,
and
> exactly how/when I click the neckstrap to the TX, extend the TX antenna,
> etc.....
>
> Regards,
>
> Dave
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ed Miller" <edbon85 at optonline.net>
> To: <discussion at nsrca.org>
> Sent: Monday, January 19, 2004 6:19 PM
> Subject: Re: Speaking of lessons learned (was are you looking for
something)
>
>
> > I remember seeing the standoff on Dave Lockhart's JR radios for almost a
> > decade now.
> > Ed M.
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Henderson,Eric" <Eric.Henderson at gartner.com>
> > To: <discussion at nsrca.org>
> > Sent: Monday, January 19, 2004 3:38 PM
> > Subject: RE: Speaking of lessons learned (was are you looking for
> something)
> >
> >
> > > Keith,
> > >        I read your note while holding my breath. I was so relieved
when
> > you got it down safely. How much weight did you lose during the
flight???
> > >
> > > I have a bunch of 10X's and I noted that they tend to balance a bit
tail
> > heavy with the shorter 72 meg antenna. All mine now have a small 3/4"
> > stand-off and use a 5/8" key ring that can't touch any thing, even the
> > switch.
> > >
> > > Also I always use the lowest trim option so the effect of accidental
> > beep-bumping is minimized.  I appreciate that you probably wanted max
> effect
> > on a test flight.
> > >
> > > I would advise taping the battery flap shut with some clear packing
tape
> > to prevent the battery dislodging from heavy use.
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > >
> > > Eric.
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: discussion-request at nsrca.org
> > > [mailto:discussion-request at nsrca.org]On Behalf Of Keith Black
> > > Sent: Monday, January 19, 2004 2:08 PM
> > > To: discussion at nsrca.org
> > > Subject: Re: Speaking of lessons learned (was are you looking for
> > > something)
> > >
> > >
> > > Speaking of lessons learned!
> > >
> > > Saturday I went flying in a brief window of good weather. I was
anxious
> to
> > > go not only because I'm always anxious to go but I was also anxious to
> try
> > > out my new 10X.
> > >
> > > I'd spent a lot of time making 100% sure that everything on the 10X
> > behaved
> > > exactly as my old 8103. As the plane reaches lift-off speed I gently
> > pulled
> > > back on the elevator and the plane pulled up hard going straight up. I
> > > thought to myself "that wasn't very smooth". I apply a slight bit of
> down
> > to
> > > level it out but still it's going straight up, and beginning loop
> > backwards.
> > > Now I push a lot of down to keep it from coming over. I'm thinking "I
> > can't
> > > believe I missed the setup that bad, there's no way... fix the trim
and
> > see
> > > what's wrong on the ground". I feed in down trim, barley any effect,
now
> I
> > > feed in a lot of down and finally get it leveled out, then suddenly
> vroom
> > > straight up again. I think "OH NO, CHECK THE ANTENNA", but it's up.
> Shove
> > in
> > > down, get it level, hit trims more, plane levels then surges up again.
> > Back
> > > off the throttle, hold down, plane levels but is so slow it's mushy
and
> I
> > > think maybe the ailerons are also gone. Wait, no it's turning now.
Level
> > the
> > > elevator trim again. Then I hear that beep, beep, beep, beeeep of the
> > trims
> > > moving BY THEMSELVES! "Oh NO the radio's flaking out! Did I spill
water
> or
> > > my cleaner on it? It wasn't having any problems before!"  Now the
plane
> is
> > > doing a wild porpoise routine all around. I think to myself that
there's
> > no
> > > way this things getting on the ground without being destroyed. I call
> for
> > > help, no pattern fliers there, mainly newbies, finally one seasoned
> pilot
> > > comes to my side. I tell him the radios got problems, the trims are
> going
> > > nuts. He encourages me to just get it down the best I can. I make a
long
> > > slow porpoising circle to line up for landing. He says, " the field's
> wet
> > > and soft just set it down out there and maybe it won't get damaged too
> > bad."
> > > I pull up the retracts, try to level it out, it's coming at the runway
> at
> > a
> > > 45 deg angle, I've got to get it down before it gets too close! Kill
the
> > > engine, forget the trims now just hold down, it's pretty sensitive,
just
> > > easing off the elevator slightly makes it porpoise up again. It's
level
> > now,
> > > gentle, gentle...  I can't believe it, it's on the ground smooth as
> silk!
> > >
> > > Now I look down at the radio and see what the problem is! The ring
> that's
> > on
> > > the end of my neck strap was caught behind the elevator trim. The
weight
> > > from the radio on the strap was pulling the trim back to full up trim!
>


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