WAR Corsair Progress report 12/25/2023 

I taught myself how to fly a powered Benson Gyro. I learned how the fly a towed gyro glider first. The club didn't have a powered trainer to learn in. So I used my own machine. Just like the Corsair, I did hours of taxi test until it flew. So thanks for the input.

G'day, Well said, Olde Bean... Last time I was sneaking up On the decision to Make the Maiden Fright of the New Prototype, which I'd Bought as a half-built Plans-up Scratch-build, Into the Process of which I'd already Advised the Scratch-Builder to adopt My Redesigned versions of both the Wing Surface's lower Trailing-Edge, adding a lower Skin from the Rear Spar aft...(!), And the Undercarriage - adding a Floating, Bungee-sprung Cross-Axle... And then, when I bought the Project, I deconstructed the Foam/Dacron Resin "1/2 Sandwich" Leading Edge, and Pop-rivetted my own notions into place, from Saucepan-grade Aluminium (Mineral Core-Sample Tray-Covers..., 42 cents/Kg in 1986 !). And, then I added a Facetted-Aerodynamic Fuselage, Fashioned from Core Sample Tray Covers & Dacron.... When I took it up for the Maiden FRIGHT... I Actually was the Planetary Expert Regarding what that thing was Expected to do In Real Life. Don is in that Position, Right Now. And, yes, being prepared to Fly around for an Hour or more, Checking the Stall Behaviour at a Safe Altitude.., In case the cure for a High-speed Taxi-tests Runway Diversion Is to take-off, and then Figure out How to land... I don't recall ever commencing any Taxi Tests with Less than Full Tanks... Last time I was Working up to a Maiden Fright in a New Prototype which I'd Modified Vastly beyond the original Designer's Instructions (Intentions...?). I would assume Don is doing the same. Always start the Engine on a Full Tank. Always commence the Take-off Roll with No Runway behind the Start-point.... Thus be Axiomatic when Levitating, normally, in well proven and time-tested Aeroplanes. When playing with anything Home-made, Plans-built...; One would Surely, always top off the Tanks, before embarking on any Fast Taxi Tests (Which might well Require sustained high-power to extract oneself from any Incipient Groundloop While Otherwise trying to Slow down...(!). I get the feeling that Don Knows what he's doing, But he likes doing it Anyway... Some people REALLY do get bitten HARD, by the Biggles Bug... It can work out Very well, if done Carefully. Chuck Yeager & Winkle Brown Do come to mind...(!) And, if you look in my "Personal Aeroplanology..." Playlist, for, "National Transportation Museum ; Visiting My First Aeroplane...!" And "The 22-Hp VJ-24w ; World's 1st Ultralight Motorglider...!". To have a giggle at what I used to use With which to Dispute the Gravity...., of the Earth. As a youngster, I had a lot of fun...; In my Biggles Phase (!). Such is life, Have a good one... Stay safe. ;-p Ciao !

Thank you for understanding, some people don't.

You have a WAR Sea Fury? I heard there was only a couple ever built. Is it still flying?

I'm pretty sure I have the worst problems sorted out now. Should be able to get it flying when the weather turns for the better.

Thanks for watching.

I am a huge fan of this project.. I’m rooting for Don, he’s got more talent in his pinkey toe than in my entire body. However, he’s going to crash and wreck this plane if he continues and attempts to fly it. He doesn’t have a tailwheel endorsement, and doesn’t know what he doesn’t know. I’ve basically begged him to take some lessons towards it, but he doesn’t want to. I’m a high time Tailwheel CFI., I know what I’m talking about. I’m afraid for him..

Going to crash is a very bold statement. Do you mean, I will get it in the air and somehow crash it while flying? It's just a plane. When it's in the air, it will fly just like any other plane. Yes, it will be a very maneuverable plane, but not as sensitive as my gyrochopter. They are the most maneuverable aircraft in the world. You fly it with your wrist only. I never said I wasn't going to get tailwheel time, I have to, to be legal to fly it. That type of training is not easy to find around here. You have to travel several hours to get to one close by. And your not going to find anything even close to this plane to get training in. So how much doe that type of training cost per hour? Around here, your talking over $200 an hour just for the plane rental. As I see it, I have already done over 7 hours of taxi testing. It can only help when I do find training. And it didn't cost me $1000. Taxiing this plane around now, is second nature. Very easy to control now with the improvements I've made. So as I see it, I am already ahead of the curve, before I even start training with someone else. @@thomasaltruda

I woulld hope Don takes your comments in the spirit of safety and prudence. I know the Coursair was not a docile aircraft in full size, ao even more so in a smaller size. @@thomasaltruda

@@Dynodon64 Good Morning! A couple of yeas ago I flew around our county in a buddy's Citabria (quite squirrelly on the ground, and with Heel Brakes, no less!) every time he'd come into town with it. Did a handful of flights with a bunch of touch-n-goes, wheel landings, etc. Little did I know that this was a scheme concocted by my father's good friend and crop-dusting outfit owner to entice this retired Navy helicopter driver into becoming Dusty Crophopper! Anyway, I went down to the town south of us, wherein resided our area CFI, for more actual taildragger lessons in his beautiful Super Decathlon. He signed my endorsement after less than an hour on that first flight. Cost me about $300 bucks (I'd forgotten my checkbook, so I had to run to their local grocery store to use the ATM. Oh, and pick up a couple cases of LaCroix for my wife). Don, two things that helped me that you have already, or can easily achieve: Prior experience in the relatively more difficult to handle Citabria (your taxi testing is the equivalent, I would assert!) LOTS of time spent in Virtual Reality flying Digital Combat Simulator's WW2 aircraft (if you can successfully take a Spitfire around the pattern and land it on the computer, you'll have a great sight picture built for when you're in the real thing) I completed my 2nd season of crop dusting this autumn, having moved up from last year's Cessna C188 Ag Wagon to this year's Air Tractor 402. We're part owners in a 172, but after becoming a certified tail-dragger, I've nearly lost interest in anything tricycle gear! On my bucket-list, a home-built WW2 replica... Thanks for the inspiration!

Thank you.

Thanks

I appreciate that, thanks.

You bought the W.A.R. P-47 Thunderbolt plans? What are they like? I thought about buying them until I saw all the paperwork Don had to do after he built his W.A.R. CORSAIR. I looked the price up for the plans in 2020. They cost about $986.00 last time I looked.

No, I was just 15 at the time and purchased the information package because I liked the - 47. More dreams than brains at the time. In the early 90's I tracked down a couple of projects but wasn't able to make a deal.

@@TerraCruzer Tough break. Some dreams stay dreams. My dream of building a W.A.R. P-47 is just like yours. Ain't gonna do it!

Sounds good to me, Thanks

What type of plane?

@@Dynodon64 hi there Dyno, you’re not gonna believe this, but it’s a large model Corsair! This one is probably half the size of yours. It has a three piece wing which I’m still building. The plans call for a one piece wing. The engine will be a DA 85 cc engine two stroke. The wingspan is 93 inches. It will have a Fiberglass fuselage, which you cannot get anymore with a laser cut Balsa and plywood kit designed For the one piece wing. I have 68 hours in a PA 28 full scale did my 300 mile cross-country, then decided not to continue because I was making too many dumb mistakes when I was by myself. So to save myself and others I went back to model airplanes I raced Quickie 500 quarter midget contest planes. All up and down the east coast and as far as LaSalle Michigan and rough river Kentucky. As I got older and my eyes got a little weaker, I knew I would be getting into the giant scale models and this Corsair is exactly that. Retracts gear doors, choke, and flaps. Estimated airspeed should be somewheres about 130 MPH. I am really into giant scale Warbirds. With a large P 47, P 39, a P 51 and this new corsair. I also own a 100 inch PA 18. I love flying, and I do love General aviation. What you’re doing with your Corsair is a labor of love just like mine.

I'm in no hurry. The pedals need adjusted before I continue.

The prop diameter is scale, just not the width of the blades. It's the largest one ever put on one of these replicas to date.

This plane doesn't have rudder trim. The rudder is your torque compensation at high enough speeds.

I have plenty of adjustment to the pedals. Will be easy to set, but a little time consuming to get the fuel tank out of the way.

Haven't got the tail up yet. Should be getting close. Takeoff should be over 60 mph.

I push it in backwards with the stabilizer. It rolls very easy on pavement, not so much on grass.

It's actually a bucket of wood, foam, fiberglass, metal, and Bolts. Just for your information!

I can adjust the heat or cool air into the plane. It gets warmer with the canopy closed.

That's why I need to adjust the pedals.

Tailwheel planes to train in are hard to find around here. Not going to find much more than a Cub likely.

Might be worth it to travel a bit. Makes it more expensive, but should add to piece of mind. Even the cub would help if that’s all you can make happen. I’ve got the Corsair that the Fort Worth EAA chapter was working on. Projects in front of it, but following your work makes me want to get to it faster.

The speed controller has to go in front of the relays. The two wires going to the tailwheel motor, changes polarity to do the reversing.

@@Dynodon64 reversing the polarity is not the problem, it is the pulsed voltage/ current being run down the wires that can cause the RF interference (regardless of polarity). The Speed controller pulses the power (PWM) to control the speed. Without the speed controller there would probably be no issue. Try to twist the long motor wires around each other. or if you are using a twin cable, put a twist in it down the full length, rather than laying it flat. Especially since the fuselage is fabric rather than metal, which would have provided some screening. If interference is bad, then some ferrite suppresion rings may be useful, (as seen near the end of computer screen cables, RF chokes etc).

You need to remember, that this motor only runs for a few seconds. Then there is no power going out of the controller, no current.@@kwilliamsnz

The wheels were bought a long time ago. They are no longer available. The tires for the Corsair are not the same size as the FW-190. I got my new tires from Aircraft Spruce. What size tires do you need? I'll see what I can find. I'll look into the wheels also.

HI again Don and thanks for your rapid response. @@Dynodon64 The tires to fit in should be max 12 inch in dia and 4 inch in width. There could be an option to use German glider tires with 4 inc wheels. Those are approved for aviation use. Cheers, Ari

The tire size for the FW 190 are 3.50 - 4.10 x 6". The 3.50 means the side wall height of the tire from the rim seat to the tread face. Times that by two you get 7" of side wall, then add the rim diameter to that 6", you get a outside diameter of 13 inches. The 4.10 is the width of the tire at the widest point. So you need a 13" tire @ 4.10 inches wide. It's a common size for Karts and mini bikes. Just get a 4 ply minimum rating. Look for Go kart rims. @@arisaarinen8752

Don. Thanks again. The size is the same as in wheelbarrows that I have tried for fit. This size is not easy to find for aircraft use as the strength is just not there. I also have the Lamb tires here, but they look a bit too small for the "looks". I will keep searching. Thanks again. Brg Ari@@Dynodon64

Aircraft Spruce sells tires that size@@arisaarinen8752

Not yet.

The work on it part is vital. The plane is not safe to fly with the latest problems. The wheel alignment is crucial for taking off straight, and not running off the runway. It will fly when it is ready, not when your ready.

Subaru EJ22

Is this GMC from VAF? I am a huge fan of this project.. I’m rooting for Don, he’s got more talent in his pinkey toe than in my entire body. However, he’s going to crash and wreck this plane if he continues and attempts to fly it. He doesn’t have a tailwheel endorsement, and doesn’t know what he doesn’t know. I’ve basically begged him to take some lessons towards it, but he doesn’t want to. I’m a high time Tailwheel CFI., I know what I’m talking about. I’m afraid for him..

Agreed, this is a high performance tail dragger, and more training is always a good thing. I'd like to see him get some time in a Pitts if he can find one. It is encouraging that he is focusing on ground handling too.

@@thomasaltruda Yes. I am also a CFI, +2500 hrs TW time alone. First flight accidents of EAB's, TW or no TW, is a thing, has been for decades and to be avoided. Guy locks himself up in basement/garage 6 yrs building, does fly, then tries to fly an unforgiving handling plane unlike anything they have experience with, not current, results are typically bad. I have no idea of this builder experience or skill. I do transition training in RV's. I can't give TW training in my RV7, because the student MUST already be tailwheel endorsed (FAA rule), before doing transition training. I want them to have the TW experience anyway. I could do their TW endorsement, but access to a standard certified TW plane remotely suitable for TW training: Aeronca Champion, Citabria, Cub, PA-20 Pacer, C140/C170 is not hard to find, TW birds to rent or borrow locally just arre not around. There are destination schools out of town for TW endorsement I would recommend for any pilot. In my opinion in this case, a test pilot should be considered for the first few flights. This flight test pilot should be experienced in this make and model EAB plane.

I will be the test pilot,period.

​@@Dynodon64 Good Luck. Be safe and legal. Have Happy New Year.

When it's ready, it will let me know.

Are you watching the videos with the sound off? I explain what I am doing and have to do!

Gross is 1150 pounds.

That's not what my log book says. Check out my earliest videos of flying my Custom designed and built gyro copter, from my point of view in the air.

Where I'm from, we call that a false binary

WAR AIRCRAFT REPLICAS (WAR) is the company that did the design and sells the plans.

Like already stated, War Aircraft Replica, (WAR)

Why would you say that?

@@OttoByOgraffey because it is. He probably won't ever fly that thing. I hope he is careful if he does.

He is taking the correct approach when dealing with preparation for a first flight. Remember this is a kit-built, EXPERIMENTAL aircraft. It is not an FAA certified aircraft like any Cessna or Piper. On top of this this aircraft includes a first of a kind engine installation for this airframe. Just because he passed the FAA mandated inspections during construction and the airworthiness inspection does not make the plane safe to fly. It just means it is legal to fly now (still with certain restrictions). His safety is pretty much entirely in his own hands so a cautious step by step process is entirely appropriate.

@@johnjensen2217 you basically just said it's a death trap genius.

@@jacobdebrular8597 First flight prep is a big deal, and most folks don't video the process. This is the sausage being made, but statements like "it looks cool, but is a death trap" make me wonder what your experience level is with this sort of thing. Are you a member of the EAA? FAA? Are you a pilot, mechanic, hobbyist?

My videos are more of an update of the project and not meant to be a RU-vid money making channel. More pointed to any potential builders. Thanks for the offer though.