New aircraft in the workshop.

Over the last couple of months I have acquired a few planes that are now sitting in the workshop waiting for various things to be done, here is a short list.

1 Shogololo - I was going to convert this to F5J but I have decided against it, I do not need another plane in the "heavy - 3m¨ class. I think I will keep it as a backup F3B and maybe F3J plane. I need to install radio equipment in it.

2 Pike Perfect ET -  I am busy converting this plane to F5J. I have now completed the harness and servo installation in the wing. The nose has been amputated and I have laminated a firewall. I have also removed to old servo tray as the equipment layout needs to change for the F5J setup. I need to complete the engine and radio installation. I have also recently acquired a second fuselage for this plane that I will setup as a F3J option.

3 Osprey - My second Osprey, need to complete the engine and radio installation.

4 Nkwazi - This is a new plane, I still need to cut the one wing's flap and aileron and then install the radio. The nose has been cut for F5J by the previous owner but I an not so sure this is a good option.

5 Xplorer 4000 - This is a new plane, I need to do full radio and motor installation.

6 Eish - I think I will keep the plane as a F3J/B plane for now, all I need to do is install a receiver. Since it weighs only 1700g it would be a candidate for F5J conversion. I think I will first fly it in the Nats in F3B as a practice session. I have not flown F3B since 1981! If it survives I will decide if it it worth converting it to F5J.

There is also a new Xplorer wing and stab, I am still trying to get hold of a Xplorer fuselage but it seems NAN are not interested in supplying spares to customers! I contacted them, they came back asking what fuselage I was looking for, the full description was in my first mail, then, after I gave them the info again, they disappeared.... I think I will avoid buying planes coming from the NAN factory in the future!

For now I think my best option would be to prepare the Xplorer wing by installing a wiring harness and servos in it so that I can use it as a second, lighter wing on my other Xplorer fuselage. A quick check revealed that it will be 300-400g lighter than my current very heavy double carbon wing. 

So I have lots of work in the shop! The Pike now has priority, I would like to get it flying by next weekend if possible. Next will be the Eish as it is a quick job. Then it should be the Osprey as I want to see how much lighter I can get it than the first one. A lighter motor, battery and redistributed servos should make a difference.

The Shongololo also needs to be sorted out well before the National championships and the end of April if I want to use it as a backup F3B plane. I need to decide on what servos to use in it and then order them.