Runtoeat

Nice report. The new rods are really improved. Did you re-balance the stabilator assembly? Thanks David.

Got it Tom. I have had both SB's done.

Midwest Skysports here in Michigan does composite repair. A high quality shop. They are approved to repair Sirus and Flight Design. They currently build and sell Slingsport aircraft. Very expensive but they are beautiful aircraft. Regarding the stab balancing, I had to replace my trim tab which is full length of my elevator on my 2006 CTSW. This required new hinges and reinforcement at all of the hinges. I had to balance the elevator assembly, as shown in the picture. Tom Baker is probably right about not needing to balance if you are only doing the reinforcement at the trim tab control rods attachment to the trim tab. Best to call FD in Connecticut and ask about this. If you have any questions about Stab repair I will try to help. Send email or call me. Dick Harrison reh3335@yahoo.com 734.512.3467 https://mwskysports.com/

I also had my stab reinforcement done. This was done at me local shop which obtained repair authorizion from FD. I made a bench fixture to hold the stab with offsetting balance arm and weight attached. Also, a "tool" to press the spring to release the stab rod. Pictures attached.

Interestingly, a friend talked to Tom P. at Oshkosh about the new F2 This aircraft's published weight is 832 pounds, the same or even less than the CTLS but the F2 is much larger in all dimensions, including a rear seat area that is sans seats and reserved for storage. When asked how this weight could be same as CTLS? the answer given was FD has improved the forming method of the composite which allows highly efficient removal of excess resin during the molding process. I may have heard this was in the 300 pound range?

ct9000, Exactly. Takeoffs with tailwinds can be SOP provided there's sufficient runway length. The pilot should keep the nose light with some back-pressure on the stick. This results is the pilot letting the plane rise off the runway - the plane lets the pilot know when it's time to fly. USE DUE DILIGENCE FOR REQUIRED RUNWAY LENGTH! As Andy says, a small trailing wind greatly increases the length of runway needed. Add to this required runway length if taking off with any or all of the conditions: high altitudes, low pressure altitudes and loading of the aircraft. I occasionally do trailing wind takeoffs to remain proficient doing this should the need arise. For landing with tail winds, I also practice doing this with different flap settings. First, I determine what airspeed I need to provide a good sink to the runway during low wind conditions. This gives me a target airspeed to trim for during the tailwind landing. Do not use external sight when landing but use the target airspeed to provide a base for landing. Practicing tail wind landings the first few times, it is alarming how fast the ground is going by. Prevent this surprise from happening if a tailwind landing is needed by practicing this procedure.

Extremely glad to know you are safe and sound. Like all here, we are most concerned about your physical condition, hoping you're going to be back flying as soon as you get another aircraft. Secondly, we all are sitting on the edge of our seats hoping for details that will be invaluable for us to stay safe.

He does get blown off the runway to the left by Xwind but if you look at the video both from the cockpit and from the vacitioner's video, you see the nose is high due to his response as I probably would have done which is to try keep from sinking by pulling his nose up. This only makes matters worse due to his low airspeed. He also is trying to get back to the runway. He was off the ground sufficient to not crash with nothing but sagebrush. If he would have kept the nose low to the ground and not attempted to get back to the runway, he might have allowed the speed to build and might have eventually gained enough speed to keep flying. Elevated altitude and low density altitude. The runway was going by probably above 60kts or better but his airspeed would have been below this and too low to provide lift needed for taking off so soon into his departure at this density altitude.

Good info. I like your "pinch fixture"!

Ugly and scary. Wow. Lucky to get back to the ground!

I installed Whelen Hi intensity strobes and added a Grote flashing unit for my LED landing light. I obtained a MRA from Flight Design to do this. I leave the flashing LED landing light and strobes on during the day to get max visibility possible.

Yeah, the crosswind was a big factor and he needed to correct for this. He immediately begins to sink after drifting off the runway. He just didn't have enough speed to give his tail needed authority to fight the Xwind and didn't have enough speed to remain in the air.

An excellent example of pulling a CT off the runway before it's ready to fly can be seen in the video of the crash at Monument Valley airport during the last Fly-in. A trailing Xwind, moderately high altitude, elevated temperature. If one is a "Flatlander" flier, this video provides a great lesson for "not flying before it's time". Due to the altitude and trailing Xwind, and maybe due to the pilot not used to flying in these conditions, he was fooled by the rapid movement of the runway going by as he accelerated. Although the runway was telling him his CT was ready to fly, the plane didn't have enough airspeed to generate enough lift to do so. He pulled the CT off the runway before it was ready to fly. Here, Ed's comment applies: "In conclusion I contend.......my CT can't fly before its ready but it sure can climb before its ready." IMO, the general consensus of those posting here, and mine too, is to accelerate with just enough back pressure on the stick to allow the nose to lift. Continue to allow the CT to build speed in this attitude until the plane lifts from the runway on it's own. Release back pressure and allow the speed to build while in ground effect until achieving 60+ kts or until application of back pressure shows the plane is ready to climb. Note: I do not fault the pilot who crashed. "But for the grace of God go I", on numerous occasions during my relatively short history of being a pilot. MonumentValley.mp4

Hi Doug. I've put about 1100 hours on my CTSW. The last time I looked, I had over 3,500 landings and luckily I've walked away after all of them. 😲

Hi Jacques. I followed the directions that Roger gave in his post which you show above. I installed the Schottky between the #3 post and the "charge" post on the Ducatti. I put two female blade connectors on the Schottky diode wires and this replaces the small white wire that used to run between these two posts. Does this answer your question?