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Post by chuckerf14 on Apr 7, 2018 20:08:01 GMT -6
Ed et. al.,
I am still here. I am still in the fight. Sorry for my lack of contributions of late. However, I am here and willing to help fight the good fight.
I finished building my engine....and should be making noise with it before the week is out. I also need to drill my spar carry throughs and build my canopy. That done, I will be asking my EAA Technical Advisor to give my completed machine a once over. Then I will strip, paint, and cover. The final step will be registration (NX1226M) and certification. As I am now retired, I have no excuse not finishing this year.
Fuselage (on gear), tail feathers, and complete engine (with carb and exhaust) weigh 331.5 pounds. I believe the wings will add another 80 lbs. That takes me to 411.5. I estimate the canopy at 12 pounds and the cowling in the same ballpark. The Oratex won't weigh more than 12-15 pounds. Where does that leave me? I'm still under 450lbs.? Either I am going to be very light....or I am missing a significant component. Whatever the case....I'm am willing to go anywhere and race anyone....just for the Halibut.
I'll post some pictures and a video of the first start. Activity begets activity.
All the best, Chucker
OBTW... Thanks for everything, Ed. You have every right to pack up. We just hope you don't. I'm more than happy to cover the costs of your newsletter and I promise to make every effort to contribute as much as possible. I will also talk up Supervee (Affordable) Air Racing at every opportunity.
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Post by dmar836 on Apr 8, 2018 5:40:28 GMT -6
It's funny how the sum of the parts always end up weighing more. My fingers are crossed. It's a major pain but are you going to strip it all down before covering to epoxy prime? Nobody says you have to but it sure is recommended. I used a simple bucket type sand blaster(but huge compressor that never ran out of air), rinsed/wiped well with enamel thinner, and sprayed white epoxy primer. White is easier to inspect IMO. Great progress! Dave
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Post by chuckerf14 on Apr 8, 2018 9:15:17 GMT -6
How much material did you use to blast everything?
Sand? Shells?
I think I may be getting off topic....oops!
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Post by dmar836 on Apr 9, 2018 6:22:50 GMT -6
No problem. I used blasting "sand" a friend had barrels of that used to be available from a local supplier(maybe a quarry?). He got it in bulk so... If you put down a large tarp, say 16' X 16' ish you can collect a lot of it for reuse. I put the fuse on two 55gal drums. If it were bags of play sand(and I know it isn't) I'd say I used about 15-20 bags. I did have an old frame with old paint and some light rust as well as ailerons and flaps which took quite a bit. I have one of the large pressurized blasters from HF but years ago couldn't never get it refined. Having now used a simple Craftsman gravity bucket style I can't imagine using anything else. It's quite simple and easy to trouble shoot with no adjustments and super easy to reload with an open top. In fact I might cut the top off my pressure style and make a large gravity feed. I have heard guys getting them to work but overall I think those styles are an answer to a question never asked. Also anything you can do to dry the air will help immensely. I have been warned that farming it out to a blasting shop could be catastrophic for thin aircraft tubing but I know many have done it. They can be pretty aggressive and rushed. I wore goggles, a charcoal respirator, a full face shield, and ear covers(plugs would work but don't keep the sand out). More is better and keeps fatigue at bay. Dave
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Post by smutny on Apr 17, 2018 22:27:08 GMT -6
I organized the Great Northwest Air Race for five years, finally in 2016 when only four aircraft showed up, I suspended the race for a while. I could no longer justify the expense if people wouldn't make an effort to show up.
First Person View (FPV) drone racing is a rapidly growing sport, I know that's not what we want to hear, but the reality is simply that right now that kind of competition has the attention of the younger generations.
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kyleb
New Member
Posts: 5
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Post by kyleb on Jun 3, 2018 21:49:30 GMT -6
I have been interested in the Aero V association for about 18 years. Myself, just getting an airplane to race would be a major undertaking for myself, at this time of my life. Also, my physical size might be a deterrent to any degree of competition. I'm 6-3 @ 235, I know I can lose more weight but would I be able to fit in a aero V airframe? Also, I'm located in Washington and it seems that most of the interest is in the Mid west and the east coast, that also creates a dilemma for myself. I know Ed has been fighting the good fight but maybe he needs some additional support in the way of regional managers? Each one could have a territory and Ed would be the CEO of the group. Let each manager create an airplane, visit and talk at airshows, EAA chapters and any other place they can think of. Then have "mini" races, they could be a dash type in the beginning, but the name of the game is to get the ball moving. Ed has the experience to manage the whole show, but he needs some "boots on the ground" to be his eyes & ears, he cannot be everywhere! If I sound stupid, just tell me and I will not bother you guys again. As I was told by a past president, Aero V is the working man's air racing.
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Post by Supervee on Jun 4, 2018 5:25:07 GMT -6
Kyle, thanks for your input. I don't know what 'Aero V' is, I assume you are talking about 'Formula V' ?? In the old Formula V days we had a setup very similar to what you are describing. We had 'Regional Representatives'..and I was one of them. The Regional representative approach further spread out the influence and Ideas of Formula V, and was pretty effective in my opinion. It's up to you guys.... Formula V was, and Supervee can, be the 'affordable air racing' class that we so strive....but we need people who are willing to donate time, and people who are willing to build and re-build airplanes that fit the class.
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Post by dmar836 on Jun 11, 2018 9:24:59 GMT -6
A lot of great ideas! Looks like it will take a lot more time yet and that can get discouraging. Ed has done a good job keeping track of, looking for, and rehoming older FV qualifying builds. Once we have some flying representatives they could spread the word if available planes and partial builds out there that resurface. Dave
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Post by Supervee on Jun 12, 2018 10:32:40 GMT -6
Thanks for the comments, Dave. it is discouraging. I will, however, continue to work on my two racers when time and $$ permit. Recently I started fitting the cowl to #14.. This summer I will be sending out a questionnaire to Supervee Update members. We will then see how many true participants we have....ED
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Post by smutny on Jul 1, 2018 12:01:28 GMT -6
This thread is so completely typical of almost every hangar bull session that happens around the aviation world on a daily basis.
"We need more young people." "Let's build a race series and they will come." Hate to break it to you, they won't. There just ain't the interest in wrenching on a 70+ year old car engine design modified for airplanes.
By the way, why build a whole new series when SARL exists and has a class for these aircraft?
Anyway, if you want a snowball's chance in hell of getting an upswell of younger participants, start looking at ways to integrate electric motors into these light weight racers. Air Race 1 has already announced a new electric series is being developed, that is going to be the new frontier of small aircraft.
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Post by dmar836 on Jul 1, 2018 19:05:50 GMT -6
Smutny, Reading some of your past posts I see you were still advertising your race on here in 2016 and now it’s shut down. I guess we are just a couple years behind your learning curve. I guess my SV build just isn’t suited to drone racing, e-motors, and whatever else you see in the future. It does make me wonder though how, with all this foresight, you were unable to drum up interest in your own race series? I have learned that life is about people, not machines. I have also learned it’s about the journey and, even more so, hope. Without these futile dreams let’s just cash in right now. Thanks for he encouragement. Dave SV81
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Post by Supervee on Jul 1, 2018 19:42:29 GMT -6
I like, and I think many others do, the 70 year old VW engine. And, I have made many friendships thru VW powered competition, and that is really more important than the actual hardware. I compare Supervee to the original Goodyear Racers, in performance. What we had from 1977 thru 1997 with Formula Vee is still exciting to me today. I will forge ahead hoping that we will eventually have VW based competitions again, regardless if young people want to get involved.
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Post by smutny on Jul 1, 2018 22:41:56 GMT -6
It does make me wonder though how, with all this foresight, you were unable to drum up interest in your own race series? It was not my own race series. The Sport Air Racing League originated in Texas. I participated in the Great Northwest Air Race in 2011, the second running. The organizer didn't want to continue, and since I have a bit of aerial event experience I took over and organized the race as part of the SARL series from 2012 through 2016. If you are not familiar with SARL, I suggest you visit: sportairrace.org/sarl/node/1I have learned that life is about people, not machines. I have also learned it’s about the journey and, even more so, hope. Without these futile dreams let’s just cash in right now. I like, and I think many others do, the 70 year old VW engine. And, I have made many friendships thru VW powered competition, and that is really more important than the actual hardware. You two completely missed my point. I'm not saying anything opposite from that. Simply stating if you want to bring in NEW blood, you will need to spool up to modern technologies. If you choose not to, that's fine, but don't expect anything more that what you have now.
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Post by dmar836 on Jul 2, 2018 18:45:09 GMT -6
Smutny, Your points are well taken. The topic of this thread is only one of many so isn't currently our focus - building some representative racers is the current goal. There are car clubs, motorcycle clubs, clothing clubs, etc. all based on "the way things were". There are an equal number touting the newest of all those things. I wish the youth were interested in quality vintage air racing, vintage-style home building, motorcycles, flight gear, tools, knives, guns, fountain pens, lighters, you name it(I have many hobbies). I like nostalgia and so do others. But I digress. It's not just the class of racers we all like but the history, what they represent historically and creatively, and fact that they don't come in a Snap-tite kit. People today are too myopic to envision completion unless the challenges are all figured out for them. The classic trades of welding, fabric work, wood and aluminum work, etc. is just too much to ask of this generation. JMO and I accept that. Though it is understood and accepted as fact(i.e. Mike Rowe commentaries). The same could be said of the Goodyear class as of SV but that doesn't mean those planes too are to be offered up in lieu of RVs. There are a few of us who see the value in keeping track of this class I cannot speak for Ed but if I was interested in bringing new blood into SV at the expense of abandoning what it is I would just build an RV and instantly have 10,000 buddies. If the trade skills return to the US, as many predict, perhaps we holdouts will see some renewed interest. If not, I'm still having fun! Keep the input coming! Dave
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Post by smutny on Jul 2, 2018 23:26:15 GMT -6
We look at vintage and nostalgic items with a familiarity, often because when we were young, those items were not so vintage. People today look at a Game Boy with the same pang of nostalgia you look at a fountain pen with. The feelings are still there, the subject matter is different.
The title of this board is "Affordable Air Racing" and this thread is titled "How do you motivate people to race?". Neither of which state that the subject matter was for Formula V only. So excuse me for looking at it in a broad sense of promoting all of air racing, not just one class.
And if you honestly think there is no innovation happening at the grassroots level in aviation, I strongly suggest grabbing a beverage of your choice and spending a couple hours on YouTube. While yes, a lot of it is rooted in new sUAS technology, that is quickly becoming integrated into the people carrying world.
Humans will always be fascinated with flight. It's just getting them to make that leap from the ease of sUAS & EVTOL flying into taking the controls as the PIC.
There are whole new generations of aircraft developing. And as Americans, we'll want to see who's the fastest. That is in our blood. So Affordable Air Racing can be a broad spectrum, or it can be a euphemism for Formula V racing. If the consensus here it's the latter, fine, I'll not muddy up the waters and allow the nostalgia to flow.
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