Wright Stuff B

[jander14indoor]

Yes, the quality of the plane matters, but not to the point that you should give up on the first plane you build. It's amazing what you can make fly with trimming and how well.
And you can't expect your first plane will be as good as your second, third, whatever. Use it as a learning experience, get some flying experience NOW while you build your second plane better from what you learned on the first.

I say this based on experience. One of the first teams I mentored over 15 years ago now included a young freshman by the name of Brett Sanborn. His first plan was UGLY, but it flew. By the time he graduated HS, his planes were works of art and flew like a dream. He's gone on to fly F1Ds in international competition, a member of the winning US team multiple times.

So finish that plane and get flying! I hope its the first of many you build.

Jeff Anderson
Livonia, MI

[calgoddard]

Bernard and Jeff -

You gave great advice in the last two posts on this thread.

The longest flight in the WS event wins, assuming the competitor is not assessed with any penalties.

However, when I see excellent craftsmanship in a WS model at check-in, I naturally expect, and typically thereafter see, that the model has been built to near minimum weight and has been well-trimmed. Proper winding and a long flight usually follow. Experience is the best teacher.

Friesareties - don't give up. Building the 2017 FFM kit airplane is quite a challenge. The fact that you accepted the challenge says a lot, positive, about you. Progress is not made by satisfied people.

[friesareties]

Thanks for all the encouragement! I'm finding myself reading the instructions a lot more carefully and freaking out a lot less while building today. My goal is to finish the first plane by next week and find some time to test it at the school gym. Around how many uses with one rubber motor should you cut and lubricate a new one? If not overly winded/stretched should one be sufficient for many flights?

[bernard]

Thanks for all the encouragement! I'm finding myself reading the instructions a lot more carefully and freaking out a lot less while building today. My goal is to finish the first plane by next week and find some time to test it at the school gym. Around how many uses with one rubber motor should you cut and lubricate a new one? If not overly winded/stretched should one be sufficient for many flights?

Depends on how much you stretch it. Note that first winds on a new motor are not characteristic of later winds; the motors properties diminish as it is wound and unwound, so "break in" your motor by stretching it a couple of times. If you only run trim flights on a motor (medium winds to find optimal cruise settings), your motor may last very long. But if you try to maximize energy obtained from your rubber (i.e. close to max winds before dewinds), your motor may last only a couple flights. Stretch motors before winding and check for small tears.

[calgoddard]

In writing my reply on January 14, I referred to the site administrator by his actual name and to Jeff.

As posted, it now says "butterfly and Jeff." When I try to use the edit function to fix this problem, it says his actual name.

In fact, when I type his actual name in this post, it comes out as butterfly when it is posted.

Very strange.

[Unome]

In writing my reply on January 14, I referred to the site administrator by his actual name and to Jeff.

As posted, it now says "butterfly and Jeff." When I try to use the edit function to fix this problem, it says his actual name.

In fact, when I type his actual name in this post, it comes out as butterfly when it is posted.

Very strange.

Did bernard apply the censor to his name?

Edit: Yes he did

[bernard]

In writing my reply on January 14, I referred to the site administrator by his actual name and to Jeff.

As posted, it now says "butterfly and Jeff." When I try to use the edit function to fix this problem, it says his actual name.

In fact, when I type his actual name in this post, it comes out as butterfly when it is posted.

Very strange.

Did bernard apply the censor to his name?

Edit: Yes he did

It may have been around all along and changing settings that re-enabled attachments triggered it. I've deleted the censor.

[JasperKota]

In writing my reply on January 14, I referred to the site administrator by his actual name and to Jeff.

As posted, it now says "butterfly and Jeff." When I try to use the edit function to fix this problem, it says his actual name.

In fact, when I type his actual name in this post, it comes out as butterfly when it is posted.

Very strange.

I think "bernard" was censored for a short period of time (along with swear words and whatnot) due to some spamming of the name on the IRC

[friesareties]

How do people transport their plane? I'm mostly worried about the wing+wing mount breaking, when unassembled I feel like just a jostle on a car could snap a rib.

[smrt1337]

How do people transport their plane? I'm mostly worried about the wing+wing mount breaking, when unassembled I feel like just a jostle on a car could snap a rib.

i use a slab of styrfoam and put pins in all around the components to prevent them from moving.