Balsawood model SE5A test flight

This video shows the outcome of my first ever test flights of my Vintage Model Company RAF SE5A stick and tissue rubber powered WW1 biplane. As I had never flown a balsa plane before I decided to treat it almost like you would when testing a new real plane. So I started with taxiing tests adding more turns to the motor for each test. Then a glide test before some test flights again adding more turns to the motor each time.
Hope you enjoy! Please watch to the end to see my conclusions

[@MarkBryanRC]

Very interesting test Rob - look forward to seeing it fly outside!

[@robbrennanrc]

Hi Mark - Thanks for the comment. I'm not sure how long it will be what with the weather at the moment being so cold and damp. But as soon as it picks up I will hopefully be out there.

[@barrywebber100]

Very good looking plane, thanks for posting.

[@robbrennanrc]

Many Thanks for watching. Glad you liked it and you are very welcome my friend.

[@thecontractor365]

Yeah I agree Rob 'all future testing outside', that way if you have a crash like seen here, landing in long grass wouldn't really be an issue. Loved the music btw - an excellent choice and nice kit...:-)

[@robbrennanrc]

It was my own fault really. The propeller bush had become detached in the previous flight but I thought well the tension on the rubber would keep it in place for one last try. Ah yes Colonel Bogey March, a great march composed in 1914 but better known for the lyrics written during WWII mocking the Nazi leaders 'Hitler has only got one ball, Goring has two but very small' etc lol

[@justiceforsethrichwwg1wga160]

Totally gonna steal your balance rig design!

[@CarminesRCTipsandTricks]

I'm starting to check out your Aeroplane Builds... 😉 This one's fantastic!! At first I thought it was a Sopwith Camel, but that had Reverse Dihedral Wings, as Rotary Engine. That's a beautiful Model Rob!! 👍👍 Seems almost a Shame to fly it.... But that IS what Aircraft are designed to do!!

[@robbrennanrc]

Hey Carmine. Thanks for the fantastic comment. This was the first plane I ever built. I quite agree that is the point of them but alas I fear that these rubber powered ones are so light they need to be flown indoors. So far since building this one nearly two years ago I have not seen a day where it was calm enough to fly. Mark and I did take this one out a few months ago but although calmish the wind was gusting and blew it all over the place. I also have a build of the Sopwith Triplane.

[@CarminesRCTipsandTricks]

I would be nervous about flying all that delicate work!! 😱 I understand. Sopwith TRIPLANE!!?? Oh YEAH!! I'll be checking that out. Love the old Triplanes. That, and the Fokker DR3 as well.

[@larryseals4665]

Well, after 2 years since video publication I I hope you have sorted the beast out.

[@harryrobinson2901]

Brilliant model! I look forward to seeing it fly outside. I also have a question: how do you get the Tissue to remain flush with the frames? I’ve heard you use some sort of spray on it, but what actually is it?

[@robbrennanrc]

Hi Harry. First you need to shrink the tissue with water, then I use a product called exe dope. The shrinking with water holds the tissue in place and the dope helps make it water resistant. Hope this helps and thanks for watching.

[@doveboyz857]

Sir, beautiful job. However, why not test fly and trim model outside in a field when the weather permits? It killed me seeing it crash 🙏❤️

[@robbrennanrc]

Thank you my friend. I did try it once but although it seemed very calm the wind was gusting on the field and since then every time I had the time to go out it was the same. So I gave up in the end. All the best and keep safe my friend.

[@farklefuster6876]

From the way it survived the “landings “ I thought it was built from cast iron.

[@robbrennanrc]

Hehehe. I think got the balance point in the wrong place and put far too much weight in the front lol. Thanks for watching.

[@weareguitars97]

need more space Rob repairs look good

[@robbrennanrc]

Hi Tom. Thanks for the comment. Yes as soon as I got to see it I thought it would not be big enough but my mate had set it up with the head of school to allow us to use it so we went ahead. So I think it will be a while before we get the weather to do some more testing outside at the park, then we'll probably only have dogs off the lead to worry about.

[@MiniRacersRC]

I don't understand why you flew this...especially indoors...the plane is so pretty and well built and you crashed it like you don't care at all...

[@zioeddy3338]

Ma vola?

[@jimbo2629]

You should have had a touch of right rudder☺️

[@robbrennanrc]

Your'e not wrong and a blooming bigger hall as well lol.

[@oscarm2444]

THE ROCK...haha

[@kevinhaas6362]

Get it balanced first! Fly it outside over grass. That room is too small.

[@royalanania3306]

Yes,you put it through the ringers,one thing is for sure it's built to last, the Royal Flying Corp would have approved.

[@davidaitchison8791]

Why you would test fly the model in doors, where it is almost guaranteed to strike solid immovable objects, like walls, remains unclear to me.

[@robbrennanrc]

Hi David. Where I live we don't seem to get any days where the wind is not blowing to some degree and as this is so light it was getting blown about far too much. But yes this room was rather too small but my friend had organised access to it from the head of school so we gave it a go.

[@csf6614]

Ok im sad ... great video and fantastic model. But its RFC not RAF ... Im going please dont judge. Unless you mean the Royal Aircraft Factory ... then its RAF ...

[@robbrennanrc]

Hi. Many thanks for your comment. No problem my friend. Yes it is meant to be Royal Aircraft Factory. But on my other video of the build, between my research and completing the video I did forget and because I just put RAF I mistakenly put Royal Air Force in the title.

[@demogamez296]

it is almost too bad to fly this beautiful plane......it can just break in one go.....

[@robbrennanrc]

To be honest the room was too small. and on the previous flight the prop bearing broke off but I had to try one more flight. If the chair and cupboard were not there then I don't think it would have broken. but it's all fixed again now.