Great Videos!! I grew up right down the road on Bush Garden Dr. it's awesome to watch your videos and recognize a bunch of landmarks. Hope your in the air soon!
while you're at it, check your cables where the wire goes into the clevis ends. If you see any broken wires "replace them too". The vibration from the cable wiggling back and forth causes this.
I thought about that, however, I think the grommet would add a bit of friction, throwing off the test if only by a few ounces. Probably negligible, but I figured a slow motion video would be even better than relying on the grommet position!
That looks scary . It also looks like a slow deterioration. You just flew it like that . I wouldn't fly it now . It seems like it would take a lot of load on the wings in that state for a complete failure. I would do that test if the plane has been sitting for extended period of time and maybe every six months on brand new fabric , every month after 2 years and every time you take it up after 3 . If I noticed a run and I'm not at "home" I think I might fly it back and be easy on the wings.
You will probably have to replace all the an hardware bolts on the wing wires as well as get a test done on the wing bracing wires. Due to having to remove the wing fabric this is a very good time to check alloy as well. Used to own a 2 seat Thruster with wing struts etc a few years ago. Anyway get some help with checking the airframe for piece of mind. Nice to see you are actually flying now. M
Yes pull test would be ideal but also take a very close look at where the wires go round the former before crimp . .. not sure of exact name. Can be a lot of wear at those points and the internal wire structure could show faults at those points too. (Unusual coloring etc) I am guessing your Pioneer is probably due for an inspection and maintenance because you have highlighted to fact that the sails need replacing. Don't rush it .. take real care and triple check things taking notes as you go .. plus log all your work. M
Love watching your videos! Maybe it's just me, but that seems like a pretty harsh test to put that wing fabric to, 10 Lbs. on that small point! I'm sure though you'd rather have it fail in a test than in the air. Sorry you have to re-cover everything now. Flying can be expensive, but for me it's completely worth it!
It seems like a very harsh test, yes. However, look at the evidence: My wing fabric began ripping in flight!!!!! Didn't hit anything, just began ripping from flying around in turbulence! So, seeing the wing fail the test I performed, and seeing how it failed just under the 10lb limit, between 6-8lbs, this correlates exactly with the failure I was seeing in real life! Think of it this way, if the test had been good, and the fabric had an actual strength of, say 11lbs, then my wing fabric probably would NOT have ripped in flight. So the test seems really accurate, because my flight test showed a failing fabric, and the pressure test showed a failing fabric. If you test Dacron and it fails at a pressure under 10lbs, your fabric is probably going to tear in flight, and that can easily lead to a fatal crash. I am extremely happy with the test. When I put new Dacron on, I am going to ask the manufacturer to include a sample piece, and I will jig it up tight like a drum and use the tester on it. I will press it as hard as I can and see at what point new Dacron fails at.
@@glassdogangle Did you ever get to test a new Dacron sample? I am glad I watched this vid. I am in the midst of purchasing a 1984 Phantom with what looks to be original sails. Has been a hangar queen but the test will tell the condition. I found a tester like yours sold by Quicksilver. Regards, Andy
It looks like bare Dacron? If you prime and paint using Endura you should get 20 years out of it. My old chinook is 19 years old with original fabric and strong as ever due to Endura protecting it.
If you ever own a real aircraft contraption that can get you airborne, you will understand that the desire to fly with grainy goggles on disappears altogether. I blast over my old FPV stomping grounds to this day, but I am actually in the cockpit, and nothing beats that! It's like when you buy a car, your old bike hardly gets used anymore, if at all. I may get back to FPV when a really good HD system comes out. Also, with the FAA making a bunch of rules, I can no longer fly freely like I used to.
Having been and Sail Maker for a number of years and Racing Sailboats for over 46 years I can tell you your Dacron has UV deterioration. I have seen 8 oz Dacron rip like tissue paper after many years of sun exposure. Most of the Dacron used on Aircraft should have a special coating of UV protectant. I would guess your Wing Covering is between 2.0 and 3.8 oz fabric, Neither of which will hold up very long in the sun light. However the heavier weight fabric would change your aircraft weight to an unacceptable Level. There is adhesive back Dacron which the glue is quite aggressive and works great for emergency repairs. Your Plane manufacturer probably has this if not contact SAILRITE.com.
@@petercrowhurst - Doing spins in an aircraft is barely a 1 G maneuver. Spins absolutely do not stress an aircraft or it's wings. Recovering from a spin can stress the aircraft if you pick up excessive speed. At no time have I ever picked up any amount of speed sufficient to do any damage to this aircraft or it's wings. In fact, recovering from a spin will induce maybe at the absolute most 2 Gs when done properly, but usually it is less than that. This aircraft is rated for up to +7 and -6 Gs. Do you want to know what weakens Dacron sail cloth and causes it to rip? The sun. That's what. Not spins. UV light weakens the fabric, and when that happens over the course of several hundred hours, you will begin to get these small rips and tears, and it is time to replace the sails immediately.
@@petercrowhurst There is huge difference between a spin and a spiral dive. Spiral dives are where you pile on the Gs. Spins are low g maneuvers, but the spin recovery is around 2-3 Gs if you're aggressive. I've heard this from a f-15 pilot, a B-52 and U2 pilot, and a test pilot in england that flies f-35s, typhoons, harriers, spitfires, and plenty of other aircraft. They all fly in the same soaring club I do.
many of us would have been sad if it was to be reported, that you died. so many years or hours is this stuff supposed to last. have you tested more than you showed us. the new covering is expensive i think. when do we expect more videos
Very good explanation of the tool. Sorry you need to replace your sail, but good thing you found out on the ground! Thank you for posting this.
Just put the o ring to the top, when the fabric breaks it will mark exactly what force it broke at. Seems to me that maintenance was overdue!
Great Videos!! I grew up right down the road on Bush Garden Dr. it's awesome to watch your videos and recognize a bunch of landmarks. Hope your in the air soon!
Glad to see you caught that before flying.
Yeah for sure! I always do a pre-flight inspection. Always.
A sobering moment, sir! Glad you opted to replace it!!
while you're at it, check your cables where the wire goes into the clevis ends. If you see any broken wires "replace them too". The vibration from the cable wiggling back and forth causes this.
Yes everything will be gone over very carefully upon re-assembly. Thank for the tip!
Thank God you made it down safely. An experience to learn from.
Bum deal Man , but You're safe .
Thanks for videos Im learning a lot.
You are welcome. That's why I have this channel, to hopefully educate and also entertain other people who love flying!
Dang. I guess that means you are grounded for awhile. Time to break out the Skywalker again! :)
Testing top fabric because of ultralight damage from the Sunlight .... the underside is going to test higher because it's not in the Sunlight as much.
Good save! If you slide the grommet to zero and then do the test, it will show you the max force applied.
I thought about that, however, I think the grommet would add a bit of friction, throwing off the test if only by a few ounces. Probably negligible, but I figured a slow motion video would be even better than relying on the grommet position!
Bit scary to say the least! Safe flying dude...
IMHO: SUNLIGHT (UV LIGHT), CAUSES THAT FABRIC TO WEAKEN, OVER TIME. ALWAYS DO A GOOD "PRE-FLIGHT INSPECTION, AND, "TRUST, ...BUT, VERIFY"!!
Thank you for sharing. Great video! Very helpfull!
You don't mention how old the fabric is. It DOES have a life expectancy
Really? It has a life expectancy? What is the life expectancy? That way we both will know.
That looks scary .
It also looks like a slow deterioration.
You just flew it like that .
I wouldn't fly it now . It seems like it would take a lot of load on the wings in that state for a complete failure.
I would do that test if the plane has been sitting for extended period of time and maybe every six months on brand new fabric , every month after 2 years and every time you take it up after 3 .
If I noticed a run and I'm not at "home" I think I might fly it back and be easy on the wings.
You think someone would make a epoxy spray to glue or seal the fabric to extend the life.
They do. The fabric still deteriorate, it just takes longer.
And shorten your life no thanks
You will probably have to replace all the an hardware bolts on the wing wires as well as get a test done on the wing bracing wires.
Due to having to remove the wing fabric this is a very good time to check alloy as well.
Used to own a 2 seat Thruster with wing struts etc a few years ago.
Anyway get some help with checking the airframe for piece of mind.
Nice to see you are actually flying now.
M
I did plan on replacing all the AN bolts. You suggest doing pull tests on the internal wires?
Yes pull test would be ideal but also take a very close look at where the wires go round the former before crimp . .. not sure of exact name.
Can be a lot of wear at those points and the internal wire structure could show faults at those points too. (Unusual coloring etc)
I am guessing your Pioneer is probably due for an inspection and maintenance because you have highlighted to fact that the sails need replacing.
Don't rush it .. take real care and triple check things taking notes as you go .. plus log all your work.
M
Test the new one too.
You might be in for a treat. ;)
Wow scary...glad you caught that in time.
Skywalker revisit time....
Time to get out the high speed tape and stick it all back together now!
Ha ha ha yeah man!
Is there another material that is light and strong enough ? Less expensive ?
Thank you for the share
Thanks
Love watching your videos! Maybe it's just me, but that seems like a pretty harsh test to put that wing fabric to, 10 Lbs. on that small point! I'm sure though you'd rather have it fail in a test than in the air. Sorry you have to re-cover everything now. Flying can be expensive, but for me it's completely worth it!
It seems like a very harsh test, yes. However, look at the evidence: My wing fabric began ripping in flight!!!!! Didn't hit anything, just began ripping from flying around in turbulence! So, seeing the wing fail the test I performed, and seeing how it failed just under the 10lb limit, between 6-8lbs, this correlates exactly with the failure I was seeing in real life! Think of it this way, if the test had been good, and the fabric had an actual strength of, say 11lbs, then my wing fabric probably would NOT have ripped in flight. So the test seems really accurate, because my flight test showed a failing fabric, and the pressure test showed a failing fabric. If you test Dacron and it fails at a pressure under 10lbs, your fabric is probably going to tear in flight, and that can easily lead to a fatal crash. I am extremely happy with the test. When I put new Dacron on, I am going to ask the manufacturer to include a sample piece, and I will jig it up tight like a drum and use the tester on it. I will press it as hard as I can and see at what point new Dacron fails at.
@@glassdogangle Did you ever get to test a new Dacron sample? I am glad I watched this vid. I am in the midst of purchasing a 1984 Phantom with what looks to be original sails. Has been a hangar queen but the test will tell the condition. I found a tester like yours sold by Quicksilver. Regards, Andy
Which cloth we shud use for hang glider ?
What company makes those pens. The same as the fabric company? :)
I hear hot glue and packing tape works well to repair wings
I heard that too. In fact, I think there is an NTSB report on that guy after he died.
Hi , could you tell me the diameter of the punch?
It's an O Ring ....... he's moving the O Ring ..... ugh.
It's been 3 months we need a update please
Business has taken over all my hours. I hope to get the new Dacron coverings on by January.
I hope you solve your problems mate! Waiting for you! :)
It looks like bare Dacron? If you prime and paint using Endura you should get 20 years out of it. My old chinook is 19 years old with original fabric and strong as ever due to Endura protecting it.
I will remember that. I definitely want to coat with something.
Hi, where can I get that?
Nuts!
Why you don't upload any fpv videos anymore?
If you ever own a real aircraft contraption that can get you airborne, you will understand that the desire to fly with grainy goggles on disappears altogether. I blast over my old FPV stomping grounds to this day, but I am actually in the cockpit, and nothing beats that! It's like when you buy a car, your old bike hardly gets used anymore, if at all. I may get back to FPV when a really good HD system comes out. Also, with the FAA making a bunch of rules, I can no longer fly freely like I used to.
O ring ....... not grommet . Homer
Having been and Sail Maker for a number of years and Racing Sailboats for over 46 years I can tell you your Dacron has UV deterioration. I have seen 8 oz Dacron rip like tissue paper after many years of sun exposure. Most of the Dacron used on Aircraft should have a special coating of UV protectant. I would guess your Wing Covering is between 2.0 and 3.8 oz fabric, Neither of which will hold up very long in the sun light. However the heavier weight fabric would change your aircraft weight to an unacceptable Level. There is adhesive back Dacron which the glue is quite aggressive and works great for emergency repairs. Your Plane manufacturer probably
has this if not contact SAILRITE.com.
Oratex
was it you doing spins in the same aircraft
YEP . th-cam.com/video/cxNkmwgYV8s/w-d-xo.html
@@petercrowhurst - Doing spins in an aircraft is barely a 1 G maneuver. Spins absolutely do not stress an aircraft or it's wings. Recovering from a spin can stress the aircraft if you pick up excessive speed. At no time have I ever picked up any amount of speed sufficient to do any damage to this aircraft or it's wings. In fact, recovering from a spin will induce maybe at the absolute most 2 Gs when done properly, but usually it is less than that. This aircraft is rated for up to +7 and -6 Gs. Do you want to know what weakens Dacron sail cloth and causes it to rip? The sun. That's what. Not spins. UV light weakens the fabric, and when that happens over the course of several hundred hours, you will begin to get these small rips and tears, and it is time to replace the sails immediately.
glassdogangle are you seriously demented or something . 1g you claim 🤣🤣🤣. Natural selection at its best
I may add that I have been an Aircraft maintanence engineer for near on 35 years ... Are you trying to educate me with your wealth of knowledge
@@petercrowhurst There is huge difference between a spin and a spiral dive. Spiral dives are where you pile on the Gs. Spins are low g maneuvers, but the spin recovery is around 2-3 Gs if you're aggressive. I've heard this from a f-15 pilot, a B-52 and U2 pilot, and a test pilot in england that flies f-35s, typhoons, harriers, spitfires, and plenty of other aircraft. They all fly in the same soaring club I do.
many of us would have been sad if it was to be reported, that you died. so many years or hours is this stuff supposed to last. have you tested more than you showed us. the new covering is expensive i think. when do we expect more videos