Inactive Period Ending (Feb
09, 2009)
Not much airplane activity either flying, building or repairs in
the past six months following the tree roosting of the Ultra Stick
Lite. It was a strange event initially blamed on new sun
glasses. They were
polorized glasses the kids got me for my birthday. I took off,
turned downwind doing three rolls and turned back up wind and shortly
thereafter roosted very close to the top of the closest tree to the
field... not even making a full circuit. Either my depth
perception was fouled by the color or shading differences or the motor
quit and I simply didn't know it... there were other planes
aloft that may have prevented me from realizing I was without power and
the plane was coming back straight at me. The fuselage suffered
only slight damage but the wing
sheered about a foot from one end. There seems to be no wing kit
for this plane. The plane is a favorite so I'd like to replace or
rebuild.
I've been really busy with work often working six days a week, which
leaves either inadequate time or energy to keep up home
chores. Today was a rain out day at work and I felt
industrious and got at home chores early and got the floors all swept
and mopped (my task). Finishing that I tackled cleaning and
organizing the ham/airplane shack mostly because Linda aquired a
computer desk leaving the table free that she used previous and it was
moved to
the shack.
I did fly a
couple of times a week ago and once this past week end but it was
terribly gusty and not a lot of fun. A large and complicated
project at work is coming to an end so there should once again be some
spare time for flying and building. A priority is to cycle
batteries on all planes to be certain a plane is not lost because of
poor battery condition, then tackle the repairs listed above and the
replacement of the USL.
Update... atempts to order a new USL found the plane discontinued so
the wing was stripped of covering to asses if it could be
repaired.
As can be seen, one of the tree limbs sheered the right wing section in
half totally destroying more than two rib bays including the leading
and trailing edges and all four spruce spars. But.... with no new
USL available, a decision to rebuild is
forced as the plane
is too nice to lose.