How old is an airframe???

[6cuda6]

Here's a bit of a open question for you experienced guy's.....

How do you determine how old or how good an airframe is???

Now i know everything can be fixed and condition depends on how stuff is cared for etc....but are there any tell tale signs that say "old design/old construction technique etc......". As all these ARF come on line knowing the model/design/year is getting harder.....

thanks,
Dean

[Tom Hastie]

Are you trying to figure out if a used plane for sale has been repaired too many times?...

or are you trying to figure out if a certain ARF out there will live up to the hype?

The best way to figure out how old an ARF is is to look for the internet threads on said ARF. Usually the manufacturer will start a thread a couple months before the ARF is available to get groundswell and interest for the big release.

The oldest thread on the Aeroworks Yak is here:
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_3889514/anchors_3945794/mpage_2/key_50cc%252Cyak/anchor/tm.htm#3945794

and looking at the dates, it seems to have been released in Spring 2006.

Now, whether a plane is good is a whole other kettle of fish.

Tom

[6cuda6]

Tom,

It's more along the lines of....is the plane to old given it's build type and intended use....

For example: seller has a large [lets say 35%] Extra for sale....airframe is at least 3 years old...appears to be in normal condition [some covering patches etc.] no abnormal appearance of structural damage.....

When does this airframe become questionable in regards to flyability, structural integrity etc.....??? In other words, when is it worn out???

Dean

[Tom Hastie]

Well, in that case, I'm of the mind that our models typically crash long before they wear out. In our application the wood doesn't fatigue like metal can in full scale aircraft. So, if you grease every landing, and you always use a balanced prop, your aircraft will never wear out.

Of course, in reality, general use takes a toll on aircraft. Hangar rash, broken stringers due to fat hands replacing radio gear, the vibration from the engine loosening glue joints and hard landings do add up over time. For IC aircraft, fuel seepage into the wood also can end up loosening things up. Most of this stuff, in general, is cosmetic and won't affect the flying characteristics at all. The main question is whether or not the selling price of the airplane reflects the level of cosmetic repair.

Unfortunately these things either don't show up, or are very easy to hide in photographs.

It all depends on how careful you are with your stuff. If you use a velvet glove on all your equipment you can expect to get many years out of it. If you toss things in the back of the car and only do maintenance when absolutely necessary, then your toys will show their age after a single season.

When I am looking to buy, the character of the person selling is more important to me than the age of the aircraft. Since someone who is careful with their stuff can expect to get years out of their aircraft.

If it were me considering a 3 year old 35%, I'd either want to do a detailed inspection of the aircraft in person, or know the name and reputation of the seller. There's no reason why an airframe that size shouldn't last much more than 3 years, but in the wrong hands, they can get dinged up real quick. Regarding the main structural components, they typically won't have any hidden secrets. If they look solid, feel solid, and nothing rattles when shaken, you're probably in good shape.

Tom