Super Corsair Reno air racers

[akent]

I hope the tree damage wasn't too bad...
This is one awesome looking plane!
Kent

[19000rpm]

Amazingly, the damage was light. As usual, 99% of the damage was incurred during retrieval. ;D

[19000rpm]

I've flown the Super Corsair about 25 times since that little tree incident.

When I had her out yesterday afternoon a wing folded. I had reinforced the wing spars so I was completly caught off guard when she abruptly hesitated in flight and went into a death spiral.

The wing failure happened at 100 ft, or so. I couldn't see it when it hit, but I could sure hear it. I half expected it to be in the pond just beyond the rise. When I topped the rise I was surprised; there she was perfectly vertical in the grass. An oversized blue lawn dart.

The Monster 10 motor, past the Custom RC motor mount and firewall, was buried in soft soil. I had to pull on the fuse pretty hard to get it out. That CNC motor mount is plenty strong.

The Rx was still plugged into the battery so I knocked the the dirt off the motor and hit the throttle. The prop-less motor spun right up. Didn't even look like the shaft was bent.

The wing half still attached to the fuse had the the aileron ripped off and it was hanging from the clevis that was dangling from the servo control rod and servo wire that was still plugged into the Rx.

The other wing was hanging by the servo wire that was still in the fuse, but no longer plugged into the Rx.

The battery was jammed as far forward as it would go in the fuse. When I took it out a couple of the cells were a little wrinked.

How the whole mess made it down in one spot is a minor miracle.

I haven't fully assessed the damage. The servos seem to move smoothly when rotated manually. The firewall has one little crack in it. The wings, except for the break at the fuse and the aileron, seem to be OK and might even be repairable. The extended cowling and scoop are totally crushed. That would take some time to re-create. The hatch busted off right under the cowling so it will glue back together.

The battery charged up to 12.60. It never was over 12.59 before. ;D

I might have got off somewhat lucky with this wreck. The whole thing came down together and the ground was soft. The Super Corsair may yet fly again.

[Gabe]

Ah that whole situation sucks! Nothing brings Mencken more than spending hours on the aesthetics of the plane and then having a mishap like that on the post-maiden flights.

Sounds like it could have been worse though. At least you're optimistic about it!

[19000rpm]

Right, Gabe it could have been much worse.

On closer inspection today I found the fuse a bit compressed, but I can work that out.

I'll include a different spar system in the wing this time. I still can hardly believe the reinforced one failed. Must have been an unseen crack somewhere. I had hundereds of flight on the previous Corsair with the same reinforced wing arrangement.

A lot of cosmetic work, like you said, went into this plane, so if I'm going to rebuild it I want it like new.

I think I'll put it away for awhile and have it as a winter project.

[19000rpm]

I couldn't stand looking at the plane in such a condition any longer so I started the rebuild.

I included 2 6mm CF rods through the wing root extending 4" into each wing and gorilla glued the wing back on. It seems to be very strong.

I cut another stock cowling down to fit on the back piece to create the extended cowl. A miracle the back piece survived. I have just enough checker decal to finish that up.

Glued the fuse in 3 spots and reinforced.

I think I'll never get it quite back to the original condition paint wise. We'll see.

[Gabe]

A man after my own heart. CF rods and glue do wonders.

[19000rpm]

It's coming along quickly due to the high winds today. Can't fly; got to work on planes. ;D

Rebuilt the cowling and touched up the paint. It's going to be a little shabby around the edges, but it should be back in the air soon.

[19000rpm]

The rebuild is complete and the Super Corsair is ready to race again.

The only new parts are the cowl, prop and CF rods I added to the wings.

[Gabe]

It looks like nothing ever happened! Nice work. She'll probably be more responsive too with those cf rods in the wings.

[19000rpm]

Thanks, Gabe. She's showing a few wrinkles, but from a few feet away does look like new.

[akent]

That looks really good, 19k!!

I think from now on I'm just buying foamies. These are just too easy to fix. After the Evader crash, I am not sure I can even get that thing back together. I'm about ready to give up. It has a fiberglass fuse and built up wings. Too much of a PITA to fix!

I want FOAM!
Kent

[19000rpm]

I agree: Foam is the way to go if you want something that is repairable 90% time.

[19000rpm]

Oh, well, had another crash yesterday coming out of a relatively mild loop. ;D

When I got to the wreck the battery was still plugged in and neither LED was flashing on the Rx so I'm 99% sure it wasn't either a "Brown Out" or a signal loss. All the controls seemed to be functioning.

Along with one wing torn off, hatch busted, firewall crushed, the fuse was broken 2/3rds back as was the elevator.

My thinking is that the elevator, doubly reinforced at the narrowest point, failed inspite of the reinforcements.

Not so sure I'll rebuild it this time.

[akent]

Bummer deal.
Well, that has been a good plank for you!
I haven't looked at prices, but I wonder if a new airframe might make sense?