Asterix and Cobra- the bonding has begun(Some Help?)

[Asterix]

Well, I am back from Beginsel having spent some time with my Cobra in the air. After the initial problem of almost NO roll control - the problem was corrected 80% on Thursday afternoon, when Jenya flattened the camber on the left wing's last three battens, and bent the trailing edge on these battens up. (More about this later..)

Friday morning saw me taking of ,Microland, pointing South-East, to Standerton, and settling at an airspeed of 70 mph. At 6000ft, a big northwesterly started pushing right on my ass, and my groundspeed went to 110 mph.! Smooth as glass though, and I set a new record of 38 minutes!

I spent 2 1/2 hours on Saturday just flying, and another hour on Monday morning, "bonding"!

This morning, after take-off, that same mother of a northwesterly was right on my nose, and I flew 1 1/2 hour, airspeed kept around 70 mph, groundspeed dipping between 48 - 55 mph. (If this was GeelKerneels I would have turned around!)

I have a few observations / questions, and I hope some Cobra owners can help.

1. This plane loves to fly between 65 - 75 mph airspeed. Anything under 65, the roll becomes more heavy, though not uncomfortable. Flying at 75 - 80, again , the roll becomes heavier - and you must be VERY careful of oscilation!

2. My wing still dips left: - however - this was so bad when we collected her that there was veeeery heavy roll resistance - (ask ZU-NEL) After Jenya bent the battens, it is quite flyable, but I have to give constant pressure input to keep her from rolling left. Not unflyable, but uncomfortable after a while. Like a little workout on the arms. This is evident from on the ground as the wing starts flying, but it becomes better above 65 mph. 65 - 75 is the butterzone, with light counter- roll input constantly needed to remain level (even while using frontwheel as rudder). Under 65 and above 75, more input is needed, and when a gust is encountered and the airspeed suddenly increases, you have to "catch" her from a sudden left turn.

3. My wing needs more tuning - but I don't want to go and bent stuff further and end up out of spect. (And I am not taking it back to Jenya, he testflew it (yah right ) after finishing the new sail, and it flew like a brick when Marius ferried her to Springs.

Nothing personal - but I need some other Spirit 15 wing specialists to help me with the fine-tuning - anybody have suggestions?

All in all - I am very satisfied so far - I wanted more speed - and I have it, (pitch input is very light and over a wide range - anything between 55 - 75 depending on your mood / headwind-situation!) Despite the little problem with the straight and level - I'm sure this will be sorted out with the wealth of knowledge and goodwill on this forum!

Just a few points on the wing's tendency to dip left - it is not bushes etc. All these "wearable" parts were replaced by Rainbow - it is definitely only a tuning issue.

So - Cobra clan people - please help a little bit?

[Asterix]

After arriving this morning @ Microland, there was an episode of personal sadness. I have secured hangarspace at Microland for the Cobra, not as nice as my normal hangar - and this morning - I shunted trikes. ......

Geel Kerneels had an air of sadness around him on Friday morning as he saw me, and subsequently understood that he would remain hangared over the long weekend. I could hear him asking: "WHY? What did I do wrong?" as I took the Cobra out of the temporary hangar, preflighted, and took of. I could just imagine the sadness that overwhelmed him - always being the Faithful Steed, always stepping up to the plate - as I left him hangared.

This morning, after arriving back from Standerton in the Cobra - I pushed him out of his spot, took him to the "other" hangar, and parked the Cobra on his spot. As I put his mags on, pulled the choke up and turned the key, he jumped into live - thinking that We are gonna Spread Our Wings - instead to find himself being taxi'd and demoted to a lesser hangar. I ALMOST CRIED, as I watched him, parked in this new unknown hangar , "forgotten" in his own mind, rolling his wing gently from side to side, BEGGING me to fly him. I would have, on the spot - I was yearning to do it - but he needs a new throttle cable first. (Ordered and paid for - to be installed tomorrow.) And his Airmagic helmets were at my house...)

Anyway, I have decided: Once I have moved to Polokwane, my first order of business will be to fly "The Yellow Cobra" there. My initial idea with Geel Kerneels was to keep him on Beginsel / Microland. But after this morning - short of selling him, which I will NEVER do, I have decided that there will be ANOTHER ferry - trip, and I will bring my trusty companion up north as well.

We have been through too much together, from first flight after licence, right down to the thousands of miles covered together over the country, flying far out to sea @ Sodwana, surviving moerse storms on the ground, landing short on ANYTHING when the weather turns, keeping me alive in IMC, etc, etc,...)

I already LOVE the Cobra from the perspective of x country. I'll see what she does on my trip down to Hartswater (NC) later this month for the Eagle Flight Fly-inn. She beats Geel Kerneels hands down for this kind of flying..

BUT - on those mellow late afternoons, or those perfectly glass-aired mornings, when you want to fly without worrying about a destination, and just PLAY and enjoy the magic carpet flying - NOTHING beats Geel Kerneels. He comes up short on long x countries - but if you wanna land in a mielieland, or skim the tops of the kosmos, or wanna do extreme short field work and just throw the wing around - nothing beats an Aquilla!

THUS - Geel Kerneels will join me in Pietersburg - to be utilised for "playtime" Nothing beats an Aquilla for playing! The Cobra will take on the more serious long x countries I am planning. Like "Groot Okavango!" ( On my radar, July 2013 )

NS: Any member of the VS who visits us in Pietersburg for a fishing trip, 4x4 trip, visiting Asterix, etc, (Paul, Alan) - I will let you fly Geel Kerneels in formation with me in the Cobra - just bring along your paperwork!

[Bundy]

A very kind gesture James, I thank you. There will be accomodation booked for you whenever I go up to Ebenezer. Attendence is compulsory, Closest Runways are Stevensons Lumbermill (hanger avalable) and a PVT strip deep in the mountains (will send you the co ords at some stage). Fly in and I will collect you etc etc.

The Cammeraderie in Microlighting is unlike any other type of flying. I am honoured that you would allow me to fly GK, however, in the event, I would graciously decline. To me... flying another man's plane is like borrowing his wife.... probably a lot of fun...but just not ethical. I would gratefully sit in the back and we can explore your new flying area extensively chom

....just not Magoebaskloof! Ek is KAK BANG vir daai berge! (the weather is completely unpredictable in those mountains )

I cant give you any practical advice on the Cobra (having very little knoweledge of them myself) Surely the very helpfull chaps at Rainbow are the logical choice seeing as though you have had such great service from Mike and the boy's?

Hoop jy kom gou reg ou maat

One just has to look at the passion displayed by yourself and others towards our planes to realise how special this form of flight is. Yes, we are often delayed or hindered in our progress by weather. We cannot cover immense distances quickly. But to understand why we do what we do, those who question our sanity need only sit in the back once...then they will understand. Geel Kerneels is a legend of the sky, just like The Pink Lady, The Red Rover and others....Why are they legends? Well, it has nothing to do with accolades or hours, they are legends because they are instantly recognisable and their owners love them. They are legends because they are cared for, and are kept flying by people who know that the only place for a trike is the sky.... I sincerly hope The Dark Blue Princess will become a legend as well....time will tell.

[Jetman]

Asterix my broer. If I can give you some good advise,....get yourself some proper girl. Someone that you can really bond with and one with proper estrogen. Try it ....!!!

[Air Hog]

I also like my Aerie but I do have girlfriend.

[Asterix]

Asterix my broer. If I can give you some good advise,....get yourself some proper girl. Someone that you can really bond with and one with proper estrogen. Try it ....!!!

Been there, done that, bought the T-shirt. Overrated...

Back to the topic - anybody with some advice on my little problem with the straight and level?

[LDV]

Asterix

When will you be arriving in Polokwane ?

Leon
082 9003167

[Asterix]

A lack of input here from the Cobra clan - but - I have spoken to Jenya earlier this afternoon, informing him that I am not happy with the wing. I have dubbed it: " The Wing of Death", for the time being. Small mistakes in gusty weather is gonna kill me..

We have a date on Saturday morning, tuning the wing untill I am happy. (I am already 80% happy, but the last 20% makes me tired, and scares me a bit.. I have never before encountered a situation where the wing unloads at speed, and the nose tucks.. quite a sound..)