All finished and ready for the big dance (above left). The clean lines that were so popular in 1965 are still fresh looking and translate to a great
Phoenix would be a perfect airplane for their Schedules or for VR/CS competition. At the forward c.g. setting, snap rolls
and spins start slowly and then really wind up. Spins are best entered using ailerons and rudder and then releasing the ailerons as soon as rotation starts. Snaps are more predictable at the more rearward c.g. set- ting.
This Phoenix slowed down better than I remember. Landings could be flown slowly with the nose slightly raised using 20% pow- er. Do not try to fly the Phoenix very slowly without some power on, especially in tight turns. Landing patterns are best flown in the 35 mph range with touchdowns around 25 mph.
Fuselage redux The Phoenix exhibited, as is common with
many aircraft kits produced very early in their production run, a difficulty with the fuselage. The bright paint scheme was at-
Pattern plane. Ready for the pattern, the Phoenix 7takes off, ready to pull up its electric landing gear (above right).
tractive and well done with a clear gloss that would have been the envy of every Pattern flyer back when Phoenixes ruled the skies. The colored paints were themselves fuel proof offering a second protection layer against the common problem of fuel getting inside a fiberglass fuselage; lifting the paint from the underside. But the clear gloss coat was not and it is supposed to be. Once informed, Horizon’s Customer Ser-
vice folks immediately sent a replacement fuselage. While the replacement fuselage had some crazing on the underside, most of these were in areas that had to be removed to provide clearance for the retractable nose gear. The very first engine run caused a 2-inch surface crack to open in the canopy seam area. The surface crack did not penetrate through the entire fuselage which remained intact underneath. This was a common fiberglass fuselage problem in early Pattern airplanes as the fiberglass has to be some-
what thin to save weight and could occa- sionally open a small seam section. While this is rare, if you encounter this
the fix is easy. Apply some thin CyA just in- side the crack to prevent further damage. Then mix up some micro-balloons and 12- minute epoxy to fill the opening. Sand it flush to the fuselage and lightly sand a small area around the repair. Mask off the repair area and spray it with a prime coat and then with white paint. Remove the masking tape immediately after each coat to prevent raised edges. Use 2–3 light coats in- stead of 1 thick coat. The repair will be very hard to see. Knowing Hangar 9’s great customer ser-
vice as I do, I am sure they have fixed these fuselage problems by the time you get your Phoenix 7. And you should get one. If you once flew these aircraft, come back to the precision and speed you once knew so well. If you have not yet had this unique piloting experience, what are you waiting for?
The traditional trim scheme of the Phoenix is bright and easy to see in any maneuver within the pattern (above left). Despite its high-speed performance,
FLYING MODELS
the Phoenixslows down nicely for a nose-high landing. This airplane is a delight to fly and easy to land (above right).
33
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76