P-38 Maiden Flight
11-18-2002, 03:57 PM
#1
P-38 Maiden Flight
I'm finally ready for the maiden flight of my third, yes third Ziroli p-38, the other two lead short lives, the first lasted five wonderful flights and one not so wonderful one. But that was enough to get me hooked, it was lost to radio interference. it went into failsafe and stayed there. second one was lost shortly after take off to engine failure, can you say inverted flat spin in the blink of an eye. I started this one some time around the end of march 2001 and finally finished it this weekend.
It's a built from ziroli plans, has two Zenoah G-45's one running counter clockwise (pilots view) with zinger 3 bladed 18-10 props,
Glennis wheels and brakes, fowler flaps, Robart retracts, finish is .5 oz glass and epoxy with latex paint and dynamic balsa cockpit. I'll post more pictures later, here are a few before paint.
It's a built from ziroli plans, has two Zenoah G-45's one running counter clockwise (pilots view) with zinger 3 bladed 18-10 props,
Glennis wheels and brakes, fowler flaps, Robart retracts, finish is .5 oz glass and epoxy with latex paint and dynamic balsa cockpit. I'll post more pictures later, here are a few before paint.
11-18-2002, 10:13 PM
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P-38....
P38J...".Very" nice job...you should be commended for your persistance( 3rd one).....Just to take some preesure off Zirlolis P-38 will fly on one engine quite nicely....if case arises dont panic...One of the guys in our warbird group has the Z..P-38 and has had 3 engine outs and all three times flew around fine on one....Can't say the same for the B-25...found out the hard way......now finishing B-25 #2....I suppose I'm persistent myself..Good Luck....Bill.... 
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11-24-2002, 12:10 AM
#9
Successful Maiden Flight
After much tinkering and adjustments to get both engines idling and transitioning well, I finally completed the first flight of my P-38 this afternoon. Very short flight just climbed to altitude, did a few laps in the pattern before retracting the gear. only needed a few clicks of right aileron and two clicks of down trim to fly hands off landing was without flaps so it was a little fast but no problems. Pictures coming shortly.
11-24-2002, 01:20 AM
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P-38 Maiden Flight
P38J
awsome ----- The P38 is on my Christmas list. Where do you fly at down there?. I have a couple good friends that fly at the field in Apache Junction or east Mesa . It is where they hold the 1/8 air force fly in. Thanks Rich
awsome ----- The P38 is on my Christmas list. Where do you fly at down there?. I have a couple good friends that fly at the field in Apache Junction or east Mesa . It is where they hold the 1/8 air force fly in. Thanks Rich
11-25-2002, 02:46 AM
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Maiden flight
Congrats Wayne! The pictures show excellent craftsmanship. I've finally pretty much finished mine - it will fly next Spring. I did a new web site.
New P-38 construction site
New P-38 construction site
12-07-2002, 04:18 AM
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P-38 Maiden Flight
Hey, could you post a pic of the flaps extended? I'd love to know how you did them. I've tried lots of methods for the fowler flaps. Just curious to see how somebody else did them.
Chipmunk flyer
Chipmunk flyer
12-07-2002, 07:15 AM
#20
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P-38 Maiden Flight
Whoa there!!! If I see the props correctly (and I may not....), you may have contra-rotating props instead of counter-rotating props. To take advantage of better engine-out performance, you need to have the engines set up so that the side of the prop coming down is closer to the fuselage. You now have two critical engines instead of zero. If you want I can go into a more detailed explanation.
12-07-2002, 06:31 PM
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P-38
To P-38 nut.
Your propellors are turning the correct direction for any P-38 excuding the prototype XP-38 or the Model P-322
( which did not have counter rotating props and only 23 with same direction propellors were built, and the remainder built with counterrotating props.)
The original XP-38 did have props coming down toward the fuse, but was reversed on the second plane( YP-122) and all production ( Except the P-322).
The props were reversed for the buffeting created near the fuse and not for any engine our situation.
The Props are supposed to turn out at the top toward the wing tips and not toward the fuse.
This was not done for single engine operation, but for improved flight characteristics.
There are more than one P-38 nut in the world.
Twinman
Your propellors are turning the correct direction for any P-38 excuding the prototype XP-38 or the Model P-322
( which did not have counter rotating props and only 23 with same direction propellors were built, and the remainder built with counterrotating props.)
The original XP-38 did have props coming down toward the fuse, but was reversed on the second plane( YP-122) and all production ( Except the P-322).
The props were reversed for the buffeting created near the fuse and not for any engine our situation.
The Props are supposed to turn out at the top toward the wing tips and not toward the fuse.
This was not done for single engine operation, but for improved flight characteristics.
There are more than one P-38 nut in the world.
Twinman
01-23-2003, 02:19 AM
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reverse rotation
If it's a 2 stroke (I assume on a Royal probably .40's) you have to have a different ("reverse") crank shaft.
The answer is the timing has to change - done with the crank on a 2 stroke - camshaft on a 4 stroke. Contact the engine manufacturer to see if a different crank is available
Dennis
The answer is the timing has to change - done with the crank on a 2 stroke - camshaft on a 4 stroke. Contact the engine manufacturer to see if a different crank is available
Dennis
01-25-2003, 01:03 AM
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Reverse rotation
Reference the reversing of two strokes.
If you have the older K versions of the Super Tigre, you can reverse by unbolting the front bearing cover and rotating 90 degrees. Have this on one of my P-38's.
This will not work if the crankcase is one piece.
Good Luck
If you have the older K versions of the Super Tigre, you can reverse by unbolting the front bearing cover and rotating 90 degrees. Have this on one of my P-38's.
This will not work if the crankcase is one piece.
Good Luck
