New A4 Skyhawk Flies at the Mermaid Pool

A maiden flight is always apprehensive particularly in a strong wind. Last Sunday, however, we were blessed with a strong enough wind at the Mermaid to be confident, but not too strong so as to fear the worst. The A4 Skyhawk was finished and it was time to test it. 

It is part of the PSSA Mass Build Project and the official launch will be at our meeting in September 2016, for which see the website PSSA Online, or the RCM&E forum for other examples of this fine aircraft.

When I arrived, Mark Ollier was flying his offensively fast D60, just to show you how it can be done if you want a plane that flies in most weathers, and doesn’t stooge around in a scale manner. The difference is, of course, that I built the A4 myself, and have the satisfaction of flying something that I created, a feeling that no amount of fibreglass mouldies can take away.

Keith launched it for me, and it flew right out of the box, which says a lot for Phil Cooke’s designs. The wind was registering about 20mph which is probably a bit too much for this light model, and the Leek slopes are not good for PSS models. They need the lift of the Orme rather than the strength of the wind. 

It flew well but needed a bit of ballast I felt. A bit of right and down trim and she was flying well across the slope.

Mark, despite his ribbing took some pictures which you see here, so thank you Mark, even if he said “it is a bit small isn’t it” chuckling under his breath. There is something not quite acceptable to the mouldie fraternity about PSS because they don’t fly so fast that you need a change of underwear!

To view more photographs go to https://picasaweb.google.com/116678726047203874411/6307411769653993697