pilot727

I put five gallons of oil through mine then went to Klotz and mine runs so nice, turns up 7800 with XOAR 22-8

JeffH

My Feedback: (43)

Quite frankly I don't even want a precedent set where engine manufacturers are liable for airframes. We will not be able to afford engines if that happens. What if the fuel nipple blew out of the carb and caused the engine to quit, and thereby destroying the airframe. DA didn't make it. Who do we go after now, Walbro? Well Walbro didn't make the nipple, they bought it from a vendor, we now have to go after them....it goes on. I know things are expensive, but there is an assumed risk, especially when 3-D flying. DA could always put a warning on the box, "Warranty is Void if flown in a 3-D type manor." Of course they could not prove anything, but you see where this could go? If the engine had quit 100 ft up flying the pattern, the plane would have dead sticked into a normal landing.
We had a big block chrysler in our race car years ago. The pin that was pressed into the camshaft tore out, not broke mind you, but actually ripped of the cam itself. We had about 3 seasons on the motor, which was proabably around 300 runs. In the grand scheme of things, it was still new for an engine part made to last 100K miles. This might have been able to be traced to a cam that was too soft, hole bored off, etc. Should Comp Cams buy us a new motor because when the cam stopped, it took out valves, pushrods etc? Some would say yes, we simply bought new parts and continued on. We assumed the risk when we unloaded it off the trailer. We bought another Comp Cams just for the record, of course it was a little hotter cam.
My point is that there will always be risk with just about anything. I always tell new students, do not spend more than you can afford to flush down the toilet. That is not meant to insult, p_ss off or otherwise anger anyone. It just a simple blunt saying to let the student know that at anytime the plane could be destroyed. Whether through failure, pilot error, or just place bad luck....
Jeff

eagledancer

crashes are a part of this hobby, engines quiting for unknown reasions are also part of this hobby, anytime you do your flying close to terra firma its just a matter of time before you boink an aircraft. you cant expect an engine manufacturer to replace the airframe, its out of thier control as to how you assemble it, maintain it, fly that airframe. the bottom line is once you build a aircraft the only person responsible for it is the one behind the sticks. i have lost many aircraft over the 20 some years i have been flying. the last one on the 6th flight ailerons locked up and no chance for recovery. i have thousands of dollars and thousands of man hours in this aircraft. did i call the manufacturer and demand they replace it? no i did NOT. i bought another kit and started again but i will do something different when it comes to the aileron controls.
it is too bad you had the exact same problem with both engines, just leads me to beleave it had to be something you were doing that caused it

Jezmo

I have been a risk taker my whole life. We can always just walk away and find something a little safer or less risky but where's the fun in that. I accept responsibility when things go wrong when I am pushing the limits. When I push those limits I use the absolute BEST equipment I can find and if it fails I know I did my personal best to keep from getting hurt be it physically or financially. That's all we can do. I feel for people who suffer losses but the simple truth is don't dance if ya can't pay the fiddler.

pilot727

Not everyone flys that way, i just love to fly and i fly it like a real airplane, but when things go wrong it is not always the pilots fault and not everyone has money to throw away, that is why we buy the DA

JUGFLIER

Blw,
The engine has been run for months on a Nitro Models yak 54. Probably most of its runtime, about 4 or 5 gallons. That plane was never crashed.

Jezmo

Sir you are quite correct in your observation. Not everyone flies like I do. Some go up and fly normal patterns and truly enjoy doing so. However, with all due respect, 3D flying is not normal flying and places much greater heat and stress loads on the engine as there is so little cooling air moving over the engine when hovering and doing slow flying like harriers, elevators, and such. This causes abnormal expansion rates in the piston/cylinder area and could cause this type of damage. I am quite sure DA will make the engines good for him however they probably will NOT buy him new planes nor will any of the "overseas manufacturers" if their respective engines cause a crash. If a plane is being flown in a normal pattern like a real plane the engine quitting in flight is far less likely to cause a crash than when flying 3D type patterns. That is my point from the earlier post and that is what the engines are designed to do. We choose to use them in a non-standard way (3D) we should accordingly be willing to accept that engine failures are more likely and if that happens we share some responsibility for that failure. Hence DA makes the engine good and we rebuild or replace the plane. As you stated, not everyone has money to throw away and that is why they buy the DA. If one doesn't have the money to pay the fiddler then don't dance (hard/abusive 3D flying, pylon racing etc). Just fly normal patterns and that ole DA will probably last a lifetime. At least if it quits you can glide her back around without destroying an airplane. I will now bow out this conversation as my "Humble Opinion" is on record. Have a wonderful day all.

BTerry

My Feedback: (8)

This is one of the final things that killed the light aircraft industry in the US. Engine manufacturers were being held liable for 20+ year old engines, without regard to who performed the actual maintenance. If model engine manufacturers are held to the same standard they will suffer the same fate. If I had a few million to invest in a company I can guarantee you it absolutely would NOT be RC-related because the return/risk ratio is just too high.

F.Imbriaco

My Feedback: (56)

AMEN, Brother !!!

In over 47 years of this hobby (free-flight, Ukie, R/C ) , I've rarely heard these words muttered after a crash : "It was my fault"
(NOT saying this applies to the thread starter)

JUGFLIER

Guys i appreciate your input even though it may disagree with mine. I don't think 3d flying is extreme flying when you are using products that are designed for it. On the Desert Aircraft web page they advertise that they are the sponsor of the Tuscon aerobatic Shootout. This is a major 3d event. If the engines are not designed for this then they are misleading people. i don't think they are misleading anyone. I think they had some bad rings.