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Re: Super Constellation

Posted: June 30th, 2016, 7:48 pm
by stuart knowles 1611
Yay!! A massive well done to all involved. The first flight of many

Re: Super Constellation

Posted: June 30th, 2016, 9:14 pm
by Keith Mitchell
Thanks, Stuart.

Now some low res' video frames (courtesy Peter Lummis)............

Re: Super Constellation

Posted: June 30th, 2016, 9:37 pm
by Dave Lowe
Awesome! Well done and congratulations.

After all that I thought you could have afforded a hi viz suit each

Re: Super Constellation

Posted: June 30th, 2016, 9:50 pm
by Keith Mitchell
Thanks, Dave. On the suits, we were scrabbling around to find some as the Airfield Manager insisted on such when using the main runway. Peter drew the short straw with the pants..........

Re: Super Constellation

Posted: July 1st, 2016, 7:51 am
by John Greenfield
Well done Keith (and your team).
A magnificent model, I look forward to seeing her in the air.

John

Re: Super Constellation

Posted: July 1st, 2016, 8:01 am
by Keith Mitchell
Thanks, John - a wonderful testimony to Peter's building skills.

Keith

Re: Super Constellation

Posted: July 1st, 2016, 10:44 am
by Dave Parry
Hi Keith, congratulations on your maiden flight of the Constellation I hope you post the video soon I have a lot of people on FaceBook waiting to see her fly including me. Can't wait to get some photos of her flying.

Re: Super Constellation

Posted: July 1st, 2016, 11:57 am
by Alan Cantwell 1131
Looks superb Doc, well done to all involved, wots next?

Re: Super Constellation

Posted: July 1st, 2016, 5:15 pm
by Keith Mitchell
Well, here's the video link and - yes - we did have some U/C issues.......

https://www.dropbox.com/s/73yde7ziavh3u ... n.mpg?dl=0

(With thanks to Peter Lummis).

Re: Super Constellation

Posted: July 2nd, 2016, 9:51 am
by Dave Parry
Hi Keith, you could do with putting it on YouTube, otherwise everyone will have to have a Dropbox account to view it.

Re: Super Constellation

Posted: July 2nd, 2016, 11:02 am
by Keith Mitchell
I will do, Dave, but it is possible to view without opening a DB account - when the page opens up, underneath the reg'/logon header there's a view only option (it's in small type, so it's easy to miss it ..........).

Re: Super Constellation

Posted: July 2nd, 2016, 1:44 pm
by Keith Mitchell
Herewith the Youtube link, Dave:

https://youtu.be/9pKirBFkFGs

Re: Super Constellation

Posted: July 2nd, 2016, 8:36 pm
by Dave Parry
Hi Keith, thanks I've posted on our FaceBook page an hour ago and it has had over 2000 hits already and 10 sharing it

Re: Super Constellation

Posted: July 5th, 2016, 6:59 pm
by Keith Mitchell
Update:

Sadly, following last week's successful test flights, the u/c issues we experienced are more serious than anticipated. Removing the retract units yesterday we found that not only were the legs bent, but the units themselves were damaged. These came with the original model and frankly we've had to concede they're not up to a model grossing 215lb.

Further repairs would not solve the basic problem and Peter feels a complete rebuild with stronger units is required, including new legs/oleo's, etc.. He's agreed to do this, but it's a lot of work and will take the best part of the winter............

C'est la vie.

Re: Super Constellation

Posted: July 5th, 2016, 8:51 pm
by Alan Cantwell 1131
Keith, if i can help with materials etc, let me know,

Re: Super Constellation

Posted: July 6th, 2016, 5:32 pm
by Keith Mitchell
Thanks, Alan, will do....

Keith

Re: Super Constellation

Posted: July 22nd, 2016, 10:16 pm
by GrahamKennedy
Congratulations Keith - as a scale judge, that speed looks pretty awesome.

Hope I get to see the aircraft in the flesh next season (if my schedule permits).

Very best wishes
Graham (and from Dad (Alex) too) Kennedy

Re: Super Constellation

Posted: July 25th, 2016, 6:42 pm
by Keith Mitchell
Thanks Graham/Alex,

Yes, the speed does look right and I never used more than half-throttle throughout. The sound, of course, reinforces the impression and having the engines burbling at around 4000rpm contributes to this.

Big prop's, the biggest engines you can get in the nacelles and good silencers (Pete's are particularly effective) has been the maxim on all my multi's.

Some years ago in one of my large model columns I coined the ditty:

'Too little power excersiseth the bowel a little and could get you in a fix,
Too much power excersiseth the thumb a little - and could get you out of a fix!'


Happy Flying,
Keith

Re: Super Constellation

Posted: July 8th, 2017, 10:00 pm
by Keith Mitchell
Another 3 successful test flights today. Just 7 to go...

(video by one of the airfield's microlight pilots):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Hq5lYM ... e=youtu.be

Re: Super Constellation

Posted: July 8th, 2017, 11:48 pm
by GrahamKennedy
Great to see this aircraft back in the air
Hopefully our paths shall cross soon

Graham ( best regards too from Dad, whom I sent this link to earlier)