Another type of flying

[elaw]

Did anyone else here have these when they were a kid? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIbmSJbFZTE

Yes when I was young that was considered "fun"! I actually had that exact model plane. I guess now they're all electric?

[Gabriel]

Yep. These are called "U-control" or "Control line" planes.

I had two, a balsa wood one that I designed and built, and a a Cox PT-19, both powered by a Cox 0.049 inch³ engine.

I don't have photos of the balsa one. Somewhere I must have photos of the PT-19, but thanks to the interwebs I have easy access to photos of many not_mine identical ones.

[Not_Karl]

Did anyone else here have these when they were a kid? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIbmSJbFZTE

Yes when I was young that was considered "fun"! I actually had that exact model plane. I guess now they're all electric?

I like the maple syrup jar full of fuel. Someone is going to have some very spicy pancakes (and that could or couldn't be considered fun, depending on if you're watching or the one eating said pancakes)...

Yep. These are called "U-control" or "Control line" planes.

Are you sure they're Not_"fly-by-wire"?

[elaw]

Yep. These are called "U-control" or "Control line" planes.

Or sarcastically by yours truly and friends, "an engine on a string".

[elaw]

I had two, a balsa wood one that I designed and built, and a a Cox PT-19, both powered by a Cox 0.049 inch³ engine.

I don't have photos of the balsa one. Somewhere I must have photos of the PT-19, but thanks to the interwebs I have easy access to photos of many not_mine identical ones.

I had a few, all of the (cheap crackerbox) plastic store-bought type.

I had a friend who would build the balsa ones, and invariably follow the same routine. Spend many hours building and painting airplane, take it to a field, fire it up, do a couple of revolutions, then attempt a loop and slam the thing into the ground. One time I gently tried suggesting that he learn loops first with a much lower-effort and probably more durable store-bought plane before moving on to the balsa ones but he did not like that idea.

[Gabriel]

Or sarcastically by yours truly and friends, "an engine on two strings".

Fixed.

I had a friend who would build the balsa ones, and invariably follow the same routine. Spend many hours building and painting airplane, take it to a field, fire it up, do a couple of revolutions, then attempt a loop and slam the thing into the ground.

That is absolutely NOT what happened with me and my balsa plane.

[elaw]

And to go with the old (and tiny) aeroplanie talk, an old video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFlr85bJ-kI

[elaw]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4AM6Zz44gE

[Gabriel]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4AM6Zz44gE

As an engineer, and someone who lost count of how many times I disassembled a Cox .049 to the last not and bolt (not that there are many), thoroughly cleaned and lubricated every part, and re-assembled it, I am astounded (in a good way) of the job this guy did. That is simply AMAZING!!!

All the work done is superb, and the result...

.049 x5 and let's do x2 due to the supercharging, we are talking 10 Cox 0.49's in one engine! (enough to comfortably fly a 6-pound plane)

[flyboy2548m]

Both Guillows and Cox are still around.

[3WE]

The objective here is a shit-eating grin from good humour from the truth.

Why did 3BS crash his string-controlled aeroplanie?

I will wait a few days for a response.

[elaw]

Was it made of cheap crackerbox composites?

MCAS* problem?

* Marginally-connected actuator strings.

[Not_Karl]

Why did 3BS crash his string-controlled aeroplanie?

He had a -200 version and expected the string to act like on the -236A?
Did he relentlessly pull-up?
Did he do some rudder hardovers?
Did he bank excessively on final?

[3WE]

Excellent answers, but not_correct.

[Not_Karl]

Excellent answers, but not_correct.

Go-around with underslung engines?
Contaminated wings?
Incorrect weight/power/CoG calculations?
Micro-meteorite?

[Gabriel]

Excellent answers, but not_correct.

Easy, the same reason that all control line planes crash. You misjudged the loop and eat the ground.

[elaw]

Excellent answers, but not_correct.

Okay... I'll toss out a few other theories:
* Inadvertent disconnection of autopilot, causing unnoticed slow descent into swamp
* "Pogo effect" of fluid in pipes caused by backed-up lav, resulting in in-flight structural breakup
* Failure of N1 turbine disk due to defect only detectible by people with eyes
* Whirl-mode engine oscillation, again resulting in in-flight structural breakup

Note that I have_not mentioned pulling up relentlessly, as I am confident you would never do so.

Edit to add one from my own experience: pilot distraction due to hearing Mom shout that it's time for dinner.

[Not_Karl]

You had the fish?
You tried to forty-one it?
You forgot the flaps?
You applied broad fundamentals instead of thread-system management?
You shut-down the wrong engine?
You didn't go to them www.internet.com forums for Evanie's advice?

[3WE]

More excellent answers, but still not_correct.

[3WE]

And now, for the answer:

(I hope flyboy gets a chuckle) but I was major out of phase on managing the phugoid behavior…

Oh shit, too high…oh shit too low…oh shit way too high…oh shit a dive…oh shit it’s straight over my head and diving…pull up!

Several cheap composites shatter and tumble about…

My shiny new “chrome” trainer had no nose cone, Penney’s instead of steel counterweights, and some missing engine cowlings.

It was an excellent landing as the aeroplanie flew again, after reassembly.

Years later, I was able to manage it better…after landing, I had awesome balance problems from slowly spinning around.

[elaw]

[Gabriel]

(I hope flyboy gets a chuckle) but I was major out of phase on managing the phugoid behavior…

Oh shit, too high…oh shit too low…oh shit way too high…oh shit a dive…oh shit it’s straight over my head and diving…pull up!

Phugoid me all you want, but that sounds more like PIO than phugoid.

[3WE]

*** more like PIO than phugoid.***

I don’t know.

Absolutely both are involved…

It was a long time ago and you weren’t there.

I don’t think I was THAT behind the airplane.

FWIW: Several years later, I re-rigged the plane (according to procedures) to get more elevator input and THEN the phugoid more manageable.

Anyway, so much for an attempt at humour.

[Not_Karl]

(I phugged it)

We still didn't ask you if you continued an unstabilized approach or blindly followed the FMA or if you did died...

I don’t think I was THAT behind the airplane.

With string-o-planies aren't you more likely to be beside it?

...to get more elevator input...

BUT WHAT DID THE FMA SAY?!

[3WE]

(I phugged it)

We still didn't ask you if you continued an unstabilized approach or blindly followed the FMA or if you did died...

I don’t think I was THAT behind the airplane.

With string-o-planies aren't you more likely to be beside it?

...to get more elevator input...

BUT WHAT DID THE FMA SAY?!

I learned where it was located just last week…my string plane stuff was 50+ years ago.