Ziroli P-38
06-18-2004, 03:40 PM
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Ziroli P-38
A friend of mine and I are in the process of building a Ziroli P-38 with a 114" wingspan. Obviously the first flight is going to be white knuckled with a lot of anticipation. After all, after many months of production, hate to see it all end on the first flight. As long as we get the W&B and CG correct, is there anything else we might be missing? Does anyone have any input to their Ziroli they would like to share? Any input concerning your test flight would be much appreciated! Just trying to look ahead at anything we may be missing.
Thanks,
Chris.
Thanks,
Chris.
06-21-2004, 09:57 AM
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RE: Ziroli P-38
Chris,
As long as you keep both engines running, The Z P-38 has no particular vices. I find that mine is a bit less than crisp on roll response, but I atribute that to the inertial mass of the engines. It flies well with the CG set as per plans. If you are comfortable and confident flying single engined warbirds with similar wing loading, than the '38 will present no problems. As far as single engined flight goes in the P-38, I'm happy to say that in the past six years, I haven't had the "pleasure" of experiencing that situation, so I leave it to others to provide you insights in that regard.
As long as you keep both engines running, The Z P-38 has no particular vices. I find that mine is a bit less than crisp on roll response, but I atribute that to the inertial mass of the engines. It flies well with the CG set as per plans. If you are comfortable and confident flying single engined warbirds with similar wing loading, than the '38 will present no problems. As far as single engined flight goes in the P-38, I'm happy to say that in the past six years, I haven't had the "pleasure" of experiencing that situation, so I leave it to others to provide you insights in that regard.
06-21-2004, 02:22 PM
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RE: Ziroli P-38
Chris:
The best advice I or anyone else can give you about single engine operation on a scale P-38, is don't.
The only insurance policy anyone will write on the plane is your check for two rate gyros, as strongly and repeatedly recommended by Twinman. One on the rudders, and one on the ailerons.
With the engines running adjust the sensitivity until the surface starts to jitter, then back it off a little. At this setting the gyros will fight you in flight, but in the direction of more stability. You can back them off a little at a time until you have the control authority you want, but remember less sensitivity also means less assistance when/if an engine quits. And they wont save the plane, they will just give you more time to save it.
And the first step, regardless of altitude, is cut the throttle. Then nose down to maintain or regain airspeed, and get the plane right side up again if it went inverted.
But still the best advice about single engine flying on the P-38 is don't do it.
Bill.
The best advice I or anyone else can give you about single engine operation on a scale P-38, is don't.
The only insurance policy anyone will write on the plane is your check for two rate gyros, as strongly and repeatedly recommended by Twinman. One on the rudders, and one on the ailerons.
With the engines running adjust the sensitivity until the surface starts to jitter, then back it off a little. At this setting the gyros will fight you in flight, but in the direction of more stability. You can back them off a little at a time until you have the control authority you want, but remember less sensitivity also means less assistance when/if an engine quits. And they wont save the plane, they will just give you more time to save it.
And the first step, regardless of altitude, is cut the throttle. Then nose down to maintain or regain airspeed, and get the plane right side up again if it went inverted.
But still the best advice about single engine flying on the P-38 is don't do it.
Bill.
