Flew the 1/4 Fokker D.VII Sunday the 9th

[Madman]

Well, finally flew the D.VII last weekend. It was at the Keswick Model Aircraft Club corn roast and fun fly. I chickened out as the entire club was there. So I had the best pilot in the club, Dave Woon, do the honours while I stood by and kept a running comentary. The only pic was by a visitor of the plane on the ground.

Also my 12 year old son Benjamin got his wings after the event. He has been flying since he was 5 but only got serious this year.

Stephen Madjanovich

[bfeist]

Congrats Stephen! I can't believe Benjamin got his wings. I remember him when he was 2!

Ben

[Gregor77]

That is great!   

Please upload an image if you can!  We would love to see it!

[Gregor77]

Any images yet?

[bfeist]

I saw it at the Keswick funfly. It's beautiful.

[Papa]

Me too. congratulations Stephen, so how did it fly?

Also great news about Ben, Karl gave me a heads up earlier in the morning
that it would happen. You must be a very proud Dad!

Jack.

[Madman]

Well it hasn't flown since. We had a big show the next weekend, the 15th (I think that was when Ben and, I am sorry but missed the other TEMAC guy's name, were there) and I was going to fly it after, all the guys in my support staff were there... But Ben strained the trainer through the trees showing off and it dampened my mood. We have been going guns getting his replacement a Matt Chapman 50" Eagle 580 ready.

The only pics I have were shot digitally then printed out. Have to try and contact the guy and get the files or scan what he printed. It is little more complete than at the EMFSO AGM from a couple years ago. Just enough for flight. Details like the guns, pilot and dummy engine are being held off mainly as a time issue.

In flight it was a big kite. How a 25 lb airplane can look so slow is beyond me. Even on approach and landing it just fluffed in. I don't remember every detail but it couldn't have been on the ground more than 50 feet before it was airborn. More like 20 if my memory is correct. Full throttle and it climbed steadily but no rocket ship. Hovered at just over 1/2 throttle. Didn't check the batteries so no idea about power use but I think it was down in under 5 mins. Just wanted to get it up. Elevator has to be adjusted, flew with the LE balance points about 3/32" above the already positive incidence tailplane (read as down elevator). Needed a bit of aileron but it was a little windy at altitude so will leave them and try a few flights first. Landing was a float in affair and was stopped in at most 50 feet. Very easy ground handling. It has a non scale steerable tailskid. Don't know if that is why or the big rudder.

Stephen