The perils if flying from asphalt...

Oh my, that's terrible. Glad the Yakking Clown got to show itself off on SH the other day before its demise. I lost my concentration and busted a prop today, but thank god for sod. Wet sod.
Rusty

The fuselage was actually busted in half twice before, so it's still in one piece due to fiberglass reinforcements. It's still fixable but certainly not on top of the project list. I think after the twister I will get back to work on the twin mustang with an eye on the 1/2a twin scale meet in Tucson.

Jim

Jim I know the feeling , use to fly a lot at church parking lots man that stuff just don't give ! much rather clean mud off than a rebuild , sorry to see that   

The Speed Contest planes will most likely all be flying off/over asphalt... I've always flown over grass, and believe me; I'm nervous about pavement. Granted.. we won't be doing any planned stunting...  but it's the unexpected that worries me. My 1st test flight of the "Rare Bear" is planned to be at a site where pavement transitions smoothly to grass. I'll try pinning-down my stooge at the edge on the grass, with gear wheels on the pavement.. and running my lines to the left, so that I have a split 180 degrees of pavement/grass circle. If I can get the plane airborne before it reaches the grass, I'll move back totally over the grass ASAP. Hopefully this will be "safer".. along with fuel enough for maybe a minute, in case  the plane has any bad habits.

Roddie:

The above has become standard practice for anyone with much CL experience.

If your flying location isn't large enough accomodate moving back a pace or so find one that is.

No sense tempting fate!      

SD

Most if not all of our contests are held over asphalt for stunt. It's no different. One thing though that I feel is very important is to not use socket head bolts to retain your engine when flying over asphalt. If you use standard steel machine screws, the engine will usually break  right out of the beams doing very little damage. Socket heads retain the engine which usually results in the cylinder or case being broken. I've had my share of those. Ken

My first contest...flying on pavement and really windy, I didn't know enough to lead it into the loops and it really wound up fast, second loop was like a combat ship, third loop was a figure '9' with my Banshee smacking the asphalt at a shallow angle sending my beloved Fox .35 (the one I had since 6th grade) skipping across the parking lot like a flat stone on a calm lake, must traveled 40-50 yards!

Ken Cook wrote:Most if not all of our contests are held over asphalt for stunt. It's no different. One thing though that I feel is very important is to not use socket head bolts to retain your engine when flying over asphalt. If you use standard steel machine screws, the engine will usually break  right out of the beams doing very little damage. Socket heads retain the engine which usually results in the cylinder or case being broken. I've had my share of those. Ken

Excellent tip Ken, thank you.

Jim

Mark Boesen wrote:My first contest...flying on pavement and really windy, I didn't know enough to lead it into the loops and it really wound up fast, second loop was like a combat ship, third loop was a figure '9' with my Banshee smacking the asphalt at a shallow angle sending my beloved Fox .35 (the one I had since 6th grade) skipping across the parking lot like a flat stone on a calm lake, must traveled 40-50 yards!

That's sad and funny at the same time Mark!

yep, it was pretty amazing how much energy the wind can develop and how far that sucker went...I still got the Banshee parts above the garage in the attic...the final resting place for all my crashed planes, I never have the heart to throw away. The Fox saw action again on a Skyray for a Foxy/Sig Racer (control line racing with Fox .35's)...minus a slight chip on the venture and dinged up head.