The Jetstream is moving! (Or so they say.)

And Summer is just around the corner. Again. Anyway, let’s hope it gets here before Autumn does.

Just spent some time on the refurbishment of our latest acquisition, a third scale SE5A in the colours of the one flown by Maj James McCudden VC.
Not too much to do (considering my Fokker DVII is now two and a half years overdue),  just some tweaking with the rigging and bits and pieces. We put it all together in the kitchen today (on account of the rain outside), then realised it was too  big to get through the doors for some outdoor shots when the sun did come out (how we laughed).

All being well we’re up for some engine trials and maybe a test flight this weekend….

 

And yes, there is a pilot on the way, but I think he may have heard about Michael’s flying and is taking the scenic route…

 

Carlos’s Ansaldo SVA 5 – Maiden Flight

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Congratulations to Carlos Guerra whose magnificent Ansaldo SVA 5 had its maiden flight at Stow Maries aerodrome on Saturday 6th May.

At 33kg it’s firmly in the ‘Large Model’ category and Ian Redshaw took the sticks on this occasion to make it fly. A change of prop for the second flight the following day gave increased performance. Carlos took  this video of the first flight with barely a tremor evident as he grasped his camcorder:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMrTC8CNP58&feature=player_detailpage[/youtube]

Third Scale Fokker DVII

My Winter project has finally got enough bits to put together to resemble an aeroplane. (Don’t ask which Winter – it’s getting embarrassing.)
Built from a Balsa USA kit it’s going to have a 62cc Zenoah with a Mick Reeves reduction unit to swing the prop.
I maintain that progress would have been quicker if I’d been allowed to use my power tools in the lounge.

So, just the engine to strap in, some radio gear and linkages to sort out, a yard or two of covering, and off we go! (And some guns and a pilot of course – don’t want to be laughed at.)

 

Happy Days

John Bishop has rightly spotted that there are few ‘flying shots’ at the moment (I have a vast collection of action photos of bits of aeroplanes, but very few complete compositions worthy of posting) and has kindly sent over a few of Pat’s Pitts to remind us of warmer, sunnier times.

Note the bendy prop. And that presumably is only on tickover!

Can’t recall any useful technical details about it, other than the fantastic artwork and Pat’s usual build quality.
Oh, and the fact that he once confused the ‘Snap Roll’ switch with the ‘Smoke On’ one when we were watching and had a few exciting moments before landing successfully and walking somewhat uncomfortably back to the pits!