Super Constellation

[stuart knowles 1611]

Yay!! A massive well done to all involved. The first flight of many

[Keith Mitchell]

Thanks, Stuart.

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

[Dave Lowe]

Awesome! Well done and congratulations.

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

[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..........

[John Greenfield]

Well done Keith (and your team).
A magnificent model, I look forward to seeing her in the air.

John

[Keith Mitchell]

Thanks, John - a wonderful testimony to Peter's building skills.

Keith

[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.

[Alan Cantwell 1131]

Looks superb Doc, well done to all involved, wots next?

[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).

[Dave Parry]

Hi Keith, you could do with putting it on YouTube, otherwise everyone will have to have a Dropbox account to view it.

[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 ..........).

[Keith Mitchell]

Herewith the Youtube link, Dave:

https://youtu.be/9pKirBFkFGs

[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

[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.

[Alan Cantwell 1131]

Keith, if i can help with materials etc, let me know,

[Keith Mitchell]

Thanks, Alan, will do....

Keith

[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

[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

[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

[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)