Reactor Bipe w/ DLE 20

[Doozer]

I think the problem is that every engine is different and trying to make one work like another is futile. I've read that a hundred times in many different gas forums. I guess I had to find out on my own.

With the DLE 30, I am able to open up the High needle quite a bit to keep it cooler @ WOT. Because the low needle regulates fuel throughout the whole throttle range, I was able to close or "lean" the low needle so my needle settings are set at 1 1/4 turns for the low, and 1 3/4 turns for the high. The engine runs perfect.

The factory settings for the DLE 20 are 1 1/2 turns out for both the high and low needles. As I was breaking the engine in I was playing with those settings quite a bit. Turns out that, for now, this engine likes both needles right at the factory settings.

I ran the engine for 2 hours, during which shutting down to make adjustments to the needles. Each time I made the adjustments, I closed the needles all the way then opened them to the desired settings. Too far in and the engine took forever to settle into an idle and the engine temps soared. To far out and I had idle issues. Even if I had the high needle rich, and the low needle lean, there was just too much fuel left over after I got on the high needle, for the engine to settle into a a decent idle. It sputtered and shook.... just really hated it.

After each "bad" adjustment, I always went back to the factory settings and the engine was very happy. So.... I'm all set to maiden it tomorrow. Though I think I'm going to run it in a little more at the field before I take it up.

[Doozer]

Video says it all.

[19000rpm]

That's a shame. I can imagine your disappointment. Good luck finding another field soon.

[Doozer]

Yeah, I think I'm going to have to cave and join the AMA and a local field. I already sent an email to the AMA renewal person requesting my old number so I can "renew" online. I'd just like to get this plane in the air without all of the field hierarchy and politics.

I know some of you guys think the AMA is great, and that's good, but I don't agree. Getting into why I feel that way is another thread all together, and one that I don't feel like tackling. I really pains me to have to do it. I mean, I guess I really don't have to, we all have choices, but if I want to fly planks close to where I live, it looks like I'll need to join. So yeah 19... I was really disappointed. The sad thing is, they probably locked the gate because people were using the land to dump their garbage. That's the shame.

[Doozer]

Joined AMA and have an appointment tomorrow to meet with a board member and fly at a local field. The field is about two miles, as the crow flies, from my house. I don't want to maiden on my first day at that club, so I'm going to look for a spot to maiden today. I've been using satellite images to look at spots I think are worth checking out. So we'll see. If I can't get a maiden in today I'll bring one of my foamies tomorrow... probably the Gee Bee.

[19000rpm]

I too have mixed feelings about the AMA. My story begins when I went to renew my membership from the 50's and the AMA said they couldn't because all of those records burned in a fire in the 70's. I had a number. I gave it to them. They said no. That really didn't make any sense to me. I was pissed. Since I wasn't using any club facilities, at that point, I flew for 3 years without joining and then needed to join a club so we could fly indoors in the winter. We joined, the wife and I, and have been members ever since; if some what reluctantly so.

As far as the value and the AMA mission goes: The only justifications I see for joining are safety, insurance and that they keep the FAA from categorizing us in the same light as potential terrorists that may use model aircraft to blow things up.

So, you've got to do what you've got to do. I'm not a big fan of the DMV either, but If I want to drive on the roads I need to keep my license going.

Good luck with finding a flying site for your maiden.

[Doozer]

OK... not too sure about this one. While the field is EXTREMELY close to my home and very beautiful....

• They have a strict 400 ft altitude restriction due to the fact that they are, depending on the wind, directly in the approach path for a municipal airport. This rules out many facets of the hobby.
  
• They have a strict 100 db from 3ft rule. I'm pretty sure this will limit what I can bring to the field and fly
  
• I would be the youngest member @ 48... a "whippersnapper." I felt like I was in the movie Cocoon. I have nothing against old people. I love 'em and they have great stories, but c'mon man... a few people my age would have been cool.
  
• While they claim to be helicopter friendly, they have many restrictions on what you're able to do including no hovering or "erratic" movements that distract other fliers. Though I don't think this is a club policy, but more the personal preference of the club president (who happened to be the one showing me around).
  

He seemed to be eager to have me though... he invited me to the pancake breakfast they're having this weekend. I'm working or I would probably go. However, before I plunk down $150 bucks, I think I'm going to look at other options.

[19000rpm]

That's only $146 if you deduct the $4 for the Grand Slam Pancake breakfast.

If they say they are heli friendly and you don't see a lot of heli guys hanging around...Well, IMO, it's just a ploy to get your membership dues.

Being an old guy myself: I appreciate being around "some" old guys, but I'd rather be in a mixed age group. It's a lot more fun and you get different perspectives.

Those rules do sound like they may be too restrictive. It's one thing to be in a flight path, with altitude restrictions, and another to have sound restrictions too. I think you're smart to keep looking. But, in reality, when you're close to a larger metro area there are going to be some restrictions. That's probably the biggest advantage to electrics. Communities don't find them invasive. I think you'll need to go further out of town to find less restrictions for your type of aircraft and flying.

[Doozer]

Oct 16, 2012 16:19:09 GMT -6 19000rpm said:

That's only $146 if you deduct the $4 for the Grand Slam Pancake breakfast.
LoL!

If they say they are heli friendly and you don't see a lot of heli guys hanging around...Well, IMO, it's just a ploy to get your membership dues.

Agreed. There were ZERO heli pilots there, and when describing those who do fly them he said "we have a couple of guys that fly 'em."

Being an old guy myself: I appreciate being around "some" old guys, but I'd rather be in a mixed age group. It's a lot more fun and you get different perspectives.
Old is a state of mind you haven't given in to yet. These guys have much to offer I'm sure, but it just would have seen someone close to my age....

Those rules do sound like they may be too restrictive. It's one thing to be in a flight path, with altitude restrictions, and another to have sound restrictions too. I think you're smart to keep looking. But, in reality, when you're close to a larger metro area there are going to be some restrictions. That's probably the biggest advantage to electrics. Communities don't find them invasive. I think you'll need to go further out of town to find less restrictions for your type of aircraft and flying.

I've found a place after an extensive Google maps satellite seach. It's seven miles away on an abandoned road in the desert. I plan to maiden tomorrow. I'll shoot some video. I'm pretty happy right now. ;D

[19000rpm]

Hey, that sounds like a great location. We'll keep our fingers crossed it works out for you!

I spent a bunch of time looking on google for flying sites too. Drove out to a bunch of potential sites. Finally located a couple not 10 mins away. I never would have found them without google.

[Doozer]

maps.google.com/maps?q=33.72241,-112.325389&ll=33.721935,-112.324873&spn=0.004212,0.008256&num=1&t=h&gl=us&z=18

I went out there yesterday evening. If you look around you see that again, it's a subdivision project that got abandoned. The roads are there but that's it. The street "El Mirage" dead ends into the desert. I plan to use El Mirage as my runway.

Up early rechecking CG, and rates on all planes. Mixing up a batch of fresh Coleman too. Gonna try to take all my planes. ;D

[Doozer]

Maiden Video up in the build post. Every thing went well except that after I landed, I chipped the prop on the curb trying to taxi it back to me. In hindsight I could have just killed the engine, but I panicked a little I had another prop for it... just not with me. I was eager to get out there and it was on my mind, because I was already worried about the curbs... I just forgot it at the last second.

I put 9.5 oz of fuel in and got 7.5 out. 6 minutes on 2oz. of fuel. I was running it a bit rich so you can hear a little missing every now and then. When I yelled to my son I said "that didn't sound good," and was a little worried about a flame out from that point on. I never got past half throttle.

I had another issue. I put the stick on lead weights in the tail and the sticky didn't hold. About 4 minutes in you can see it get nose heavy all of a sudden. The weight was shifting around. I'm going to pull it tonight and epoxy it in.

Other than that... I've got a huge smile on my face right now. ;D

[Doozer]

I made the mistake of using Youtube's shake and light fixes. They made it worse. So I had them undo it. If it's still going black let me know.

[Doozer]

Fixed the weight in the tail. I scuffed it then epoxied it into the tail. I had pull a tail servo out to glue the weight in. It doesn't move now ;D

Since I chipped the tip off the 14X10 prop I maidened with, I decided to try a 16 X 8 prop. I bought a 15 X 8 too, but I wanted to see what would happen with the 16 X 8 first. They were out of 14X10 at my LHS anyway. All of those props are engine manufacturer recommended props. I never opened it up to WOT anyway.

I'm going to fly it again Tuesday and Wednesday. As long as they don't open up the street, I think I'm going to skip joining the club and put that money toward a trailer and hitch. Thank you Google earth.

[19000rpm]

What an ideal location. Looks like you have some nice alternative streets to use when the winds change.

Congrats on the Maiden! It doesn't get much better than that.