Ordered a 1/2A Skyray kit

Nice try any hoo , thats funny Bob you say about Robins there were at least 10 in my backyard yesterday as i was outside suning in the 60 * weather . Actually planting some mator seed to get a jump on things Snow Snow go away so i can fly today

Got the Skyray in the air Friday evening. First flights of the year. I made an attempt on May 28th, but failed to get the plane in the air.

I was trying an elevated launch platform to get the plane out of the grass, and allow me to start it without having to get down on the ground. (Getting old sucks)

The first version of the platform was too short so the plane just dived into the ground on launch.
So here's version two.











It was a nice evening to fly, and I got several glitch-free flights in. Can't wait to do it again.

Good Fun TL ! Love that drop off landing gear Ya gettin down is getting off my list when trying to have some fun but can't get to the handle

Yeah Man! Great fun with a classic...and REALLY great drop-off landing gear mod !!!

roddie wrote:Just curious.. how it felt.. I mean flew.. with its' nuts hanging-out in the breeze..?

Those nuts might have had something to do with the plane diving into the ground back in May. They got cut off before the latest flights.

roddie wrote:

TLAnderson wrote:

roddie wrote:Just curious.. how it felt.. I mean flew.. with its' nuts hanging-out in the breeze..?

Those nuts might have had something to do with the plane diving into the ground back in May. They got cut off before the latest flights.

 oh.. I see. Maybe we can call that a castoration.

Sounds like a good name for it. The plane is much more docile and easier to handle now.

Got a bunch of good flights in on July 30. I swapped the engine from the PT-19 onto the Skyray just to see which one pulls it better.
Started heading for the handle, and realized I hadn't removed the battery leads.
The red ribbon is on the takeoff gear so I can find the gear in the grass after it drops off.



She's ready to go, stooge line is pulled tight.









Gotta get the flights in now. It's August already. Winter is coming

This plane didn't get much airtime last year. Finally got a somewhat calm day today so I decided to give it a try.









Got about six flights in before the wind came back up. Good start for the season.

Good to hear from you TL and that Ya got out to do some laps , Appears to bee plenty of cushion from the grass grown up . I still like the idea of the landing gear detaching it self after take off . Darn winter come early there at your place

Thanks Eric. Ya that field only gets mowed once a year. That tall grass saves the plane when it crashes though.
Winter comes early and stays late around here. Got to get the flights in when you can.

rsv1cox wrote:Nice photos TL, enjoyed all of them.  You make me jealous, I should be out there doing that.  

Thanks Bob. I just retired on June 4th, after working for 50 years. Hopefully I can get more flying time in now.

TLAnderson wrote:

rsv1cox wrote:Nice photos TL, enjoyed all of them.  You make me jealous, I should be out there doing that.  

Thanks Bob. I just retired on June 4th, after working for 50 years. Hopefully I can get more flying time in now.

Congratulations On your retirement, welcome to the club. I also retired just this past April 2nd, after 49 yrs. Enjoy.
Other Bob

rsv1cox wrote:

Are you going to build something new?  

I don't know. I have the Snip combat wing to play with also. I've been working on an engine mount for it that won't break off every time the plane crashes. Haven't flight tested it yet.

dckrsn wrote:
Congratulations On your retirement, welcome to the club. I also retired just this past April 2nd, after 49 yrs. Enjoy.
Other Bob

Thanks. Congratulations on your retirement also.

We don't get to fly CL in December very often up here. The temp hit 45f 7c today and light winds, so I got a few flights in.
Made for a nice afternoon.

Cool TL looks like you had some Fun Yeah Wisconsin in Dec. that was a Good Day !

This year has been bad for CL flying. Spring was rainy and windy. Summer has been hot and windy. Today was the first chance I've had to fly the Skyray.

I got set up, got the engine started without issue, and launched it. I didn't step back quite far enough for the plane to clear the launch platform, I guess. When it completed the first circle, it was just a little too low, and it hit the platform. Not good.



Bummer, but I got many more flights out of this plane than I expected to.

So ends the story of this Skyray.
Might have to build another one.

Damage looks pretty minor -- repairs should go quickly.