Some pictures as promised

After a bit of household maintenance this morning I managed to get out to the machine shop to do some work on my KT 120fst engine. I've been looking at the Cylinder Block and thinking that it probably won't make as the design is at the moment due to the large size of the big ends. So I'm thinking about making the Crank Shaft in three pieces to enable attachment of one piece Conrods. Anyway, enough of that, today I set up the mill with an angle plate and a fixture to cut the fins in the Cylinder Heads. Take a look at the photos, they can explain far more than I.

Angle plate & fixture mounted on the machine bed

Close up of Starboard Cylinder Head prior to finning

Cylinder & Crank Case with Sleeves fitted

Cylinder & Crank Case with Port Head & two Pistons

1.5mm slitting saw used to create the cooling fins

A late session

Went flying today, though I didn't go until late in the day, had some jobs at home to do first. Arrived at Westonzoyland Airfield at around 16:30hrs. Light winds from the West and glorious sunshine - and there's no-one here. Only brought along the yellow/red Sunbeam and the Pico-Jet. The replacement li-po charger arrived this week, and I'm now about to test it out having had a flight late this afternoon. Oh! yes, and the bearing fell out of the motor again. The Super Tigre engine in the Sunbeam ran well today although it was a bit difficult to start. It seemed I couldn't get enough fuel through by choking so I primed some fuel directly into the carburettor, and then I flooded it, but once it was running it was quite reliable in the air.
As the sun went down the wind dropped and my last flight was dead smooth, even at very low height. Flights like this are rare and are the most satisfying.
I intend to do some work on the engine I'm building tomorrow (Oh! did I not mention that?), so I'll try to include some pictures.
The weather forecast for tomorrow is crap (light rain and sixteen mile an hour winds) and I have to work on Sunday, so that's it for this week as the clocks change early Sunday morning. Winter has arrived.

Early Morning was Best

Yes, the weather took its toll on todays flying. I arrived at the airfield at 09:15hrs and it was dead calm. By 10:00hrs it was getting windy and by 12:00 it was rough. Took both trainers again and flew both and I flew the Pico Jet but there is a problem with the motor, there is excessive "slackness" in the bearings so I only had the one flight. The Super Tigre engine in the trainer is behaving better so I wonder if the problems were related to running in. I'm still a bit disappointed with the power output so I might experiment with some different glow plugs, fuel and propeller combinations. By 12:30hrs I'd had enough, the wind was cutting through me and I could feel my core temperature was beginning to fall so I packed it all back in the car and went home. At least I've had my fix for the week.

A Good Sunday

Probably one of the best flying Sundays this year. The weather has been amazing for Autumn, today starting off foggy but by 11:00hrs the sun burned through and resulted in a hot day. Took both trainers, the Pico Jet and the Yak 54 to Westonzoyland. A lot of pilots turned out to fly although I suspect the early fog put some off. I meant to have covered the slots in the red and white wing this week, but I've been too busy with other things. Thinking on (careful), perhaps I should try covering just the white section. Maybe all the sections are too much - hmmm. Worth a try.
The Yak was a bit unnerving today, my fault, there were a lot of other aircraft flying at the time and I was trying to fly Knife Edge. Got myself in a disoriented state, and near panicked when I wasn't certain which way up the aircraft was after I leveled the wings. Upright - phew! that was close. Time to land, too many other aircraft flying lead me to distraction. Or should that be destruction?.
The Pico Jet performed well, but is a bit lively on the controls and the motor is continuing to resonate at certain revs. Still not sure whats causing it. I'll check the propeller balance and also see if the motor does it without a propeller. With regard to the "lively" bit I think I need a little weight removed from the tail end of the aircraft. I always reckon to do it this way rather than take the easy option and add weight to the nose. I can't remember the last time I added weight to the nose of an aircraft. The need for this change is as a result of the use of Li-po batteries replacing the much heavier Ni-Mh.
The Super Tigre engine in the other Sunbeam is still playing up, I've been experimenting with the carburettor, but with little success. The spray bar position is adjustable, and its important (allegedly) to get it right, and I've found it does make a difference when its adjusted, but it doesn't seem to stop the revs from surging at the top end. I've found to stop it, I need to richen it up a lot but on closing the throttle and opening up again the engine runs extremely rich and needs to be leaned. There is nearly a happy medium I can use but it ain't quite right yet.


Its not likely there will be any mid week flying from now on untill the clocks change again next Spring, although I might be able to get the odd Monday in as shift work and weather allows.

Last of the Summer Flying - Revisited

I lied about the previous entry. Who would have thought the weather would have been some of the finest of the season at this time of the year. Wall to wall sunshine this evening. Last week I was on holiday and it rained every day, sometimes horizontally. This week there's hardly been any rain at all. Just my luck! Never mind, had a few flights with the Sunbeam trainers and I'm not happy with the slots and flaps on the red and white wing, so I'm going to cover them over. Thought I'd try inverted flight, and it was hopeless. Full down elevator required and still the aircraft decended. Those slots have got to go.
Two flights with the Pico Jet and as always good entertainment. Motor is making some strange resonating noises at certain revs. Don't know what this is all about, may need investigating.
19:00hrs., and its too dark to fly. Clocks change soon, Winter's on its way!