Rudi’s Fokker E-III ‘Eindecker’ Build

[RudiGreyling]

BEAUTIFUL Rudi, at the rate you're going, I'll see her soon in the sky's over my area in the East
By the way, I am NO PRO, but looking at the pics from the front, it does actually look like there is a bit more positive AOA on your right wing, may be the angle pf the pics or even the angle of my eyes

Good luck with further testing, look forward to the updates

He, He, you got better eyes than me!

[Ugly Duckling]

BEAUTIFUL Rudi, at the rate you're going, I'll see her soon in the sky's over my area in the East
By the way, I am NO PRO, but looking at the pics from the front, it does actually look like there is a bit more positive AOA on your right wing, may be the angle pf the pics or even the angle of my eyes

Good luck with further testing, look forward to the updates

He, He, you got better eyes than me!

I'm sure that the angel-ometer that Rudi uses can measure the angle of a mouse's whiskers in the dark at 103.725 meter

[jimdavis]

I had to go back to a photo on page 24 to see how the suspension works. It looks like a very neat idea. Rudi, does it work reasonably well?

jim

Hi Jim, They work great! Here is all the details of the construction of the suspension: viewtopic.php?p=1864180#p1864180

The trick, with experimenting during test flying, I have found is to have the bungi's tight enough to have the suspension at it's top position with the plane standing on empty weight on the stop, but just loose enough when the pilot gets in to ride away from the stops to actually get a suspension feel without hitting the stops.

Thanks Rudi - that's very neat. Does it run dry, or do you have to lubricate it?

jim

[Tomcat1]

BEAUTIFUL Rudi, at the rate you're going, I'll see her soon in the sky's over my area in the East
By the way, I am NO PRO, but looking at the pics from the front, it does actually look like there is a bit more positive AOA on your right wing, may be the angle pf the pics or even the angle of my eyes

Good luck with further testing, look forward to the updates

He, He, you got better eyes than me!

I very much doubt that Rudi Like I said, it could just be the angle of the front view photos or the angle of my eyes, but if I look at the Maltese crosses, they make it look like there is a slightly higher AOA on the right wing

[Tomcat1]

BEAUTIFUL Rudi, at the rate you're going, I'll see her soon in the sky's over my area in the East
By the way, I am NO PRO, but looking at the pics from the front, it does actually look like there is a bit more positive AOA on your right wing, may be the angle pf the pics or even the angle of my eyes

Good luck with further testing, look forward to the updates

He, He, you got better eyes than me!

I'm sure that the angel-ometer that Rudi uses can measure the angle of a mouse's whiskers in the dark at 103.725 meter

I most definitely won't argue with that, Rudi knows full size and I know models...BIG, HUGE, ATSRONOMICAL difference, Rudi plays with the REAL DEAL ...I play with toys
IS it called an Angle-Ometer in the full size world, if so, I just learned something new, in the modeling world we call it an Incidence meter

[ppakotze]

Rudi, jacket and goggles, spot on!

[RudiGreyling]

Build the Dream, Live the legend, Fly your Own Fighter!
Bare Bones, Grass Roots, Stick and Rudder Flying

Good Morning Avi8tors,

Unfortunately this pure FUN came to an abrupt end during Flight #5:

Short Version: 40 minutes into flight #5 the engine quit resulting in a forced landing and due to rough terrain the "Little Fokker" flipped over on its back sustaining damage.

Long Version:
1) It was perfect weather for flying and I took off +/- 7AM local for proving flight #5
2) As soon as we got airborne, I noticed the heavy left wing adjustments worked, and it was almost gone.
3) I stayed close to the airport for +/-20 minutes flying wide circuits testing the new found control harmony. (I also made some small adjustments to the pitch travel and the pitch sensitivity was also improved.)
4) CHTs EGTs tracked close, Oil Temp and Pressures all in range.
5) I decided to fly 5Mile wider radius around the airfield, cause everything is good, this is flight #5 already, and wanted to limit repetition noise over our estate.

6) 40 minutes into the flight, the RPM dropped. I thought I inadvertently bumped the throttle, and reached and pushed the throttle further open to regain RPM.
7) The Engine ran rougher and 3 seconds later quit.
8 ) I lowered the aircraft nose into a glide, she is now a BAD glider.
9) I deliberately flew high and routed over open areas and just flew seconds ago over an open cultivated pivot. A quick look back over my right shoulder confirmed that is where I am going, since it is better than what is right in front of me.
11) No more panic or disbelieve, I got an open safe space, now fly the aircraft.
12) I did a slow 180 degree turn to the right, committed to a glide speed and nose down attitude
13) In the turn I switched on the fuel pump and tried a restart. Nothing
14) Pulled the choke tried another restart. Nothing

15) Now I commited to focus on executing the forced landing.
16) I re-evaluated my height and options. Open field with long grass after all the rain we had vs open cultivated farm pivot.
17) I decided I don't know what dangers lurked in the long grass and chose the open cultivated farm pivot.
18) I made a small directional adjustment and lined up with the direction of the furrows in cultivated farm pivot.
19) I noticed the power lines close to the edge of the field, and planned accordingly to land deeper.
20) I noticed a small 2 track service road the farmer uses to drive between his fields in the same direction I am committed to.
21) I decided the 2 track should be harder than the soft ground, for better roll out after wheels touching down and made a small directional adjustment.
22) I bleed the airspeed down to 45MPH just above the ground and commit to the flare and landing.
23) She touched down, and the wheels rolled for about 15Meters, then hit rough terrain and the fokker flipped over onto its back landing on its rudder. It turned out the little service road was badly eroded due to all the rain we had, and I could not see that from up high.

24) I loosened the seatbelt and crawled out, standing up and checking myself for injury and only found a little bit of blood running down my face below my eye. Jacket off, t-shirt off and used the t-shirt against the face wound.
25) I saw a bakkie approaching, someone saw the incident.
26) Good thing I had my phone physically on me and not somewhere in the airplane otherwise I would be looking for it...So I quickly phoned my wife and sent her a location pin. I took 4 photos from every angle for CAA / Insurance
27) I met up with my wife a couple of minutes later and she was insistent we go to the GP to have a look at the cut.
28) On the way to the GP I reported it to CAA and the Insurance.
29) GP put 2 stitches on a small cut below my eye.

What I know so far.
The insurance recovered the airplane and said initial view is the damage is not too bad, they may be able to repair it. Pending detail investigation.
I have no clue what caused the engine to quit on the 5th flight, after running for 40 mins, and not showcasing any prior problems. I know I had enough fuel on board for the flight, so it did not run out of fuel.

Given the engine warning in the manual, we all typical take as liability disclaimers. We might never know why it quit. We will see if the insurer appointed company finds something.


It is too early to know the future of The Little Fokker.
I also need to reflect on this a bit, so excuse me if I don't answer all your questions you might have. I just don't have many answers.
So for now it is a PAUSE to the "Little Fokker" story.

Groete
Rudi

[Bearcat]

Sad to hear Rudi, glad you are ok though

[Jan]

Sorry to hear about this Rudi. Glad it seems to be minor damage to both man and machine

[cage]

Sorry to hear Rudi. It must be disappointing after all the work you put in.
You have a good story to share now and a war wound.
Sterkte!

[jimdavis]

Thanks Rudi for your VERY comprehensive account.

Of course carb icing is the first thing that springs to mind. Is it a possibility?

Do you have two totally separate ignition systems?

Strongs Rudi. This is not a time for making big decisions - it takes a while after an accident for things to come into focus.

jim

[Tomcat1]

This is so sad Rudi, so sorry to hear Glad to hear you are OK though and hope for the best with the insurance so you can have her flying again

[Jan]

On a lighter note - please tell if the first word you have said started with an F

[Ugly Duckling]

On a lighter note - please tell if the first word you have said started with an F

Fine

[Ugly Duckling]

Rudi I'm pleased that you are "fine" and the Fokker may get a new start.
I have the t-shirt, May 2009, so know how the movie plays over and over. You walked away is the important thing