[Predator]

The onboard video definitely shows promise, just a shame the camera moved out of position.

[Predator]

Hope they also bring back the Kelvedon Regatta. That was a great event that I attended for several years (usually with Ron Barrett) till Covid put an end to it.

[Predator]

That was definitely a classic Oops moment Mr Gadget, never seen anything like it. I think you should protest to the adjudicators that it was NOT included in the Frog’s “Oops” moments. Definitely worth a re edit methinks. Get to it Mr Frog !!!

[Predator]

Sorry I couldn’t join in the flying @ Sandford on Friday, looked like everyone that attended had a marvellous time (as per usual).

I did however get to fly on both Friday & Sunday (although it was very windy on Sunday morning) @ our campsite on the Henty River, West Coast, Tasmania.

There will be a camping video eventually but it generally takes around a week to sort through all the photos from multiple cameras & all the video clips so don’t hold your breath.

At least we didn’t get washed out or blown away at the new campsite so that was definitely a bonus & it meant we got four days & 3 nights away for the first time in several years.

 

[Predator]

Another fine video from the Toad Hall Productions mob. Even the head-cam footage was acceptable.

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Thanks for keeping me up to date on the Frog’s goings on Gerald.!

[Predator]

Well it’s not quite a big as the Fox & certainly quite a bit lighter.

[Predator]

I looked at the others yesterday, some very interesting models & none need much work to get them flying. I just wasn’t game to bring home more than one.

Can’t go wrong at the asking price.

Peter is slow to answer emails but he does definitely answer them.

[Predator]

Well done Mr Frog & worth the wait.

Even without footage from your Arch-Nemesis “the Gentle Giant” it was still a fair historical representation of the “goings on” at the field yesterday.

Thanks also for the excellent BBQ & to Bev “Mrs Seaside Mitch” for the excellent chutney.

[Predator]

Just expanding on the eagle situation yesterday, we missed you and your trusty camera Mr Frog. There were eagles galore yesterday, including Ralph & Mrs Ralph all enjoying the thermals that the glorious day brought with it.

There was also a newcomer, slightly smaller than Ralph (Sinker thought a falcon) and boy was he putting on a show with multiple loops and barrel rolls that would have put an aerobatic pilot to shame. I think he was trying to emulate FruitLoop’s biplane.

[Predator]

Prop repaired & balanced & 3D printed Vortex generators installed.

Now to see what happens !!

[Predator]

After this weeks mishap with BumbleBee, (is that the 5th or the 6th time I’ve stalled it recently) and after a comment by someone at the field (does it always stall in the same direction) I thought perhaps I had better do some research.

After all the repairs & CF strengthening at least there has been no damage of late (other than broken folding prop blades) so that at least is good. Also, after the repairs (including re working a lot of the original repairs) the BumbleBee is actually flying better than ever.

Now back to the issue at hand, the stalling (tip-stalling or whatever you wish to call it).

After reviewing a lot of the BumbleBee videos it appears to always drop the left wing as it goes into its death spiral. Chris (Hoppy) had already pointed out to me that the AutoPilot always give full up elevator as the plane stalls & that I need to disable the AP to be able to recover. I also noted in the earlier crash videos (before I started killing the AP to recover) it also gives full right aileron deflection (opposite to the spin). This has no effect what so ever on counteracting the spin.

With the AP OFF, I have been applying full down elevator (which works to increase air speed) and full right Aileron, which does nothing, and according to some reading I have been doing actually makes it worse.

Next time, and I’m sure there will be a next time I will kill the AP, apply full down elevator but leave the ailerons at neutral and then when airspeed picks up give a bit of up elevator (to get away from the hard) and apply power at the same time. With luck it may just recover.

I am also 3D printing some vortex generators to fit to the outward 1/3 of each wing which is supposed to greatly soften the tip-stall characteristics.

A lot of this is purely supposition on my part so feel free to correct me if I am wrong and you know far more about the subject than I.

By the way Tuesday looks like another nice flying day (as does next Saturday) so I’ll put up the calendar at least for Tuesday.

 

[Predator]

What’s this MPH you talk about, you need to stick to KPH or Knots to make sense to the younger folk (and 29kph sounds exciting).

[Predator]

Oh I don’t know. perhaps “Splatt”

[Predator]

Definitely captured the essence of the day however I believe that several of your supposed “Walk of Shame” clips were actually simply “long distance landings”, performed to give the pilot a bit of exercise !!

[Author]

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