Cool with a North Wind Today

[davidk]

A bit cool, but bundled up the flying was fun.  Two Corsairs at the field today... nice to see them together.

The 2nd last original Raven ended it's days today.  First flight was good, although the take-off was the usual mess for me.  This plane is teeter-totter balanced.  As soon as any little bump comes along the nose goes up and any steering goes out the window.  Flight was good, landing was good.  Second flight I tried for a slower take-off... trying to keep that front wheel down.  Once I got it airborne there just wasn't enough speed and it stalled, winged over, and a wing ripped off.  I'm usually a bit bummed when a plane does this... but honestly I'm relieved I know longer have to deal with this plane.  I'll pull the electronics out and put them into something I can trust.  The build was fraught with manual errors (30+), front wheel (according to the manual) was way too high resulting in squirrelly take-offs, landings usually so-so, and you have to put a 4S 5000 in it to balance... but it was well behaved in the air... if you can get it there... and back down again.  Over all, not worth the effort.  Michael has been the only one to master this plane although not without it's issues.  Farewell Raven, we tried.

[Michael]

It's an easy repair, if you want....

[davidk]

Thanks, but for me it's just not worth it... too much of an irritation.  Best part of that plane was the covering which you did... and the tail lights.  For some reason, OSMW put two holes in the tail piece.  They weren't for airflow since there was no air intake.  As soon as I saw the holes I knew it had to have tail lights.  I found some car headlights on Amazon and they fit perfectly.  I created a hatch in the back for access.

[octagon]

Sorry about that Davie. Just like mine and Mark's wing, the main spar cracked. It is a serious design flaw that OSMW will not awknolege. My new one has the soft laminated stock main dihedral brace replaced with aircraft grade plywood.

[davidk]

Well, I put my Raven in the basement for a time out.  I kept having to walk past it and it seemed... well... remorseful.  So... off it went to the Raven Repair & Restoration Residence.  I hope this will be one of those cases where a repaired aircraft flies better.  I remember a box kite I built when I was 7.  Could not get the damn thing in the air... running, running, running... the kite always going up about 10 feet and then down again.  On my last attempt I ran past the school yard goal post and the box kite whacked the crossbar... hard... and it went soaring into the air.

Anyway... thank you Michael... she's beautiful again.

[Michael]

Now we know a raven can be a phoenix.

RRRR