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The
Prez Sez
Folks,
As I write this column,
I'm asking myself two things - where has this year gone, and is anyone
reading this column. First, it seems if the year is rapidly disappearing,
and so much remains to be accomplished (like my retirement from Federal
Service after 39 years!). We still have club officer elections, the airport
open house, and the Christmas Party to complete. For my second subject,
I'm not sure that most of the members read this column; last month I asked
for your input on a club issue, and exactly one member responded!
How about the rest of the members?
For the tech issues
this month, my first article is from the MARC News in Bellevue Washington.
Avoiding Dead-sticks
by Bob Gilbert
Engine Failure After Takeoff
Cause 1: High-speed
needle is set too lean. (I see this almost every time I go to the field,
and it's avoidable 99 percent of the time.)
Cure: Open the needle
value a bit, then be sure to test by holding the nose straight up with
full throttle. The engine must not sag when this is done. Especially
with a new engine, or on any first flight, be sure the needle valve is
set a little on the rich side.
Cause 2: The fuel tank
clunk is on the front of the tank. This often happens on the flight following
a hard landing or crash.
Cure: Grip the aircraft
firmly, and thrust it forward. If the clunk wasn't audible before this
movement, but it is now, it has probably repositioned itself correctly.
Test by running the engine for a few minutes at full throttle with the
nose up.
Cause 3: The fuel tank
line came off in the tank, and the tank was only half full at takeoff.
Cure: Remove the tank
and install a new line.
Engine Leans Out and Quits
Cause 1: The high-speed
needle valve is too lean.
Cure: Open the needle
valve and test by holding the nose straight up with full throttle.
Cause 2: The muffler
pressure line came off.
Cure: Replace with a
new line.
Cause 3: The fuel filter
has opened up (the halves are loose).
Cure: Tighten the halves
firmly. Test run the engine on the ground.
Cause 4: There's a split
in the fuel line, usually at the fuel tank.
Cure: Remove the line
and replace it with a new one.
Cause 5: The fuel tank
is foaming, causing air bubbles in the fuel line.
Cure: Balance the prop
and wrap the tank in foam.
**Note from Editor**
Prior to raising nose of
aircraft, the throttle should be at full, and raising nose to 45 degrees
should be sufficient. Also the pinch test on the fuel line works great.
Page 44 in the October issue of RCM addresses idle problems and solutions.
The methods are in use by a number of us at the field, and they work fine.
***Will**
And last, but not least,
from The Flight Plan of Kalamazoo Michigan, a little humor:
Daffy-nitions
PLAIN LUCK - Very sparse on your
side, but plenty with your flying buddies only they refer to it as SKILL.
TOUGH LUCK- This is what you usually
have. Your flying buddies refer to it as lack of skill.
BAD LUCK - Same as TOUGH.
GOOD LUCK - What you need the most,
but rarely have.
CRASH - Quick method of removing
radio and engine from a model to fit them in your new one.
CRASH - Also: Synonym for "rekitting"
a model.
CENTER OF GRAVITY - Point in which
G-forces, dedicated to separating wing from fuselage, do their stuff.
CYANOACRYLATE - Special glue, designed
to instantly glue fingers to balsa structures.
DEAD STICK - Two of these can be
found on your transmitter after failing to properly charge your batteries.
Until next month, keep the wheels
toward the dirt when landing! Bill
Club Meeting
The next meeting of
the MMRCC is scheduled for September 4, 2003 at 7:00 P.M. The meeting will
be held at the Northrop Grumman facility (Same place, only the name changed
from TRW. Highway 90 Bypass). Personnel are required to sign-in and
sign out for security purposes. |
