Due to my UGLY plane being totaled in the last ACMA Combat Event, a new plank was in order to compliment my most excellent Raptor Titan/ium rotary aircraft.
After much head scratching, research and seeking advice from fellow RCers, I settled on the "Sonic 25 Low Wing" airplane by Phenoix Models.

Today (Tuesday 1/30/07) I recieved a phone call that, to my surprise, my Sonic 25 LW kit had arrived at Hobbytown USA.
HTUSA Sales Associate Slappy Jake Wiggins had ordered it for me only last Friday and it was in already.
I went right on out there and Slappy rang me up along with some glue and epoxy brushes.



The kit had arrived in perfect condition. Sturdy cardboard and full color picture of airplane on lid.



The box contents were packed for excellent protection and everything was in order with a complete inventory.
All the sub-assemblies came pre covered in a white base film with red, blue, and yellow accents.
Engine mount is in place and control surfaces are pre-hinged, glued and pinned. Wood dowel pushrods are built and in place as well as the servo tray and wire pushrods to engine throttle and stearable nose gear are installed.
Full color pictures and large text in comprehensive assembly manual will aid with speedy and correct build.
A very complete and useable assortment of hardware was included with only adhesives needing to be purchased separately.
For engine power, I will install the OS .32 H that was in my recently demised UGLY plane. Also the radio gear will be recycled from the UGLY carcass.




Sonic Build Update For Wednesday (1/31/07).

Wing halves are joined, aliron linkage installed, and landing gear mounted.
Tail fins are now attached and rudder and elevator hooked to pushrods.
Fuel tank is assembled and installed in fusalage.

The only adjustments so far are that I had to trim bottom of vertical fin some for proper fit and had to shorten the nose gear strut about 3/8 inch to get plane sitting level. Also the wheels needed a drill run through them as they were a little tight on the landing gear wires.

About down to engine and radio installation.
Just have to face up to getting the old UGLY out of the crash bag and strip the good stuff out of it.

About all the "snide" comments in this topic about my small plane and how yawl are going to demolish it in combat.
The Sonic has more wingspan than the UGLY had and it won twice. Besides, I have not said anything about combating a fine airplane like the Sonic 25. So yawl don't get your hopes up.


Sonic Build Update For Thursday (2/1/07).

I finally nerved up to being able to look at the remains of the UGLY airplane.
Ripped open the body crash bag and started pulling equiptment from it.
Got most all the good stuff out a lot quicker than it went in. You can really go with a big hammer, side cutters, and prybar.



Cleaned up the OS .32 H and it looked to be in unharmed condition so I went ahead and mounted it on the Sonic and hooked up all the plumbing from the fuel tank that had just been leak tested. Sure as I don't fuel up a new tank outside the model, it will leak in the plane on first fueling, this one passed the leak test.
The radio gear came out without any noticeable damage. Battery pac was dead as a doornail because the switch had been left on for about a week after the crash. It is on charge and I will hook up the electronics then and see how things are working before installing in Sonic.

Everything is in place now except for the radio gear install which will be next thing to do.
Might just have it ready for first flight about Sunday if radio install/setup goes without any hitches and it is not too cold this weekend.
Main problem I am sweating bullets over is how I am going to route the reciever antenna, an innie or an outie.
But, it is looking like an airplane now.




Sonic Build Update For Saturday (2/3/07).

I had to take off today and go down to field to see Steve fly again for first time this year.
It was cold and little windy, but Steve managed several flights on his Raptor Titan chopper and took it home in one piece. I even got to test fly a new fellows big Kadet Senior. That is a large airplane with just a .40 size engine on it, but the flight went just fine with the airplane performing nice slow flight.

Got back home and pretty much finished up the build/assembly of the Sonic 25.
Got the servo pushrods all hooked up and the throws adjusted. Had to replace gears in one servo that must have got stripped in UGLY plane crash. Applied some foam wing saddle tape. The reciever antenna wound up being an innie installation with it all hid inside the tail of fusalage.

OK, I have saved the best for the last.
That is the amazing color contrast between the top side of airplane and the bottom side. Ought to be east to tell the top from the bottom even way up in the air.

Top Side.



And here is the beautiful green & white checkerboard table cloth looking bottom side.



Don't think that I will fly it Sunday, looks to be too cold and I want to be comfortable while doing first flight.


Sonic Build Update For Sunday - The First Flight (2/4/07).

Well, it turned out to not be too cold or windy today and I decided to load up the Sonic and go give it the first flight.
Got to field and was nice crowd out to witness the Sonic's "Cherry Busting".
Everything checked out with good ground radio range check.
Engine fired up, so out to runway and pointed it into the breeze.
Started the takeoff roll and It needed a little rudder correction to keep it on center line. Fed in some right rudder and nothing much happened, fed in little more and still no noticeable affect, was still on runway and up to speed so I went ahead and rotated. I remember thinking that I would have to increase the rudder and nose wheel throw because it appeared that I did not have nearly enough to control takeoff roll.
Sonic was flying pretty nice and was fast enough so I tried some stall turns and knifeedge flight. Very soon I realized that the rudder was not working at all.
Made a nice landing and took wing off and sure enough the rudder servo was dead.

Made another flight anyway because it would run pretty straight down the runway even without rudder.
Elton Sullivan gave me one of his spare Futaba servos to replace the broke one on the rudder. I will get it done right away and look forward to some more Sonic 25 flying.

Click On Small Picture To Expand


I am pleased with how the plane went together and how it flew.
Should be even better with rudder working and can then do stall turns, knifeedge, spins, snaps, and taxie around.
I give the Sonic a thumbsup :thumbup: and is very good value for the money. :twocents:

...I reckon that ends this product report and thanks for your attention...

Did you buy this Alvin?
That's small model man
you need a tracking device to find it.
Nice little plane, you must low in your budget Alvin
I though you end up getting a giles or Twist
or some thing like mine or a Tiger 2 at least.

well it would take long to build it,^^ :blink: :unsure:

Save the box Alvin,

So you can cut the plane out to put on the wall at the field :thumbup:

:crying: This is very sad, Poor alvin budget has went down. :no:
I'm very disapointed,it's too small.

Build????

That looks more like minor assembly ;)

God there's more to my Voyager than that.
and that not a kit that way to easy ARF

I think I'm going to cry dam it!
you need a real man's plane Alvin , that a Half A model


Really alvin I'm a shamed of you.

I just can not believe it.Alvin turned down my combat plane for this plane.What
came over you - have you bumped your head,do I need to go get avistar2
to help you pick a plane?i wonder what it will look likke when that aircore hits it?
:hysterical: .Avistar2 may have a spare trainer for ya hahahhah :hysterical: .
Setting all jokes to the side ,that is one sharp :bigplane: .I cant wait to see it.
i know you got it fast,reminds me----Hey Jake wheres my crystal?its bad when a small
crystal has been ordered for a month now and alvin gets his plane faster.I smell
some Brownnosing here.-dont make me go to tower now. :hysterical: :hysterical:

Hopefully by the February combat I'll have my Combat Gremlin ready, and that thing'll be kindling!

MY GOD EVEN I TURNED THAT LITTLE THING DOWN,
Kenny 2 is right you need help in picking your plane
I hope that's your kid's plane alvin,
they kick out the flight feild for that
The AMA will be after your tail and cancel your menbership.

;) TAKE YOUR PICK ALVIN
PLANE A

PLANE B

I like your Sonic Alvin,

It sort of looks like my Advance 40 :thumbup:

:blink: What! If he gets that plane high in the air it be nothing but a spec,

That very well may be :o

But at least he has the nerve to do it :thumbup: Do You? :no: :P

Update to the Sonic 25 build has been added to first post this topic.

Hey,Alvin Don is right it does look like a advance 40.Now john says it looks like a easy build-do you think you will have it ready for sunday ,weather permitting?only
thing I would add to it is a poop drop door on the bottom and fly over avistar2s house.
I hope to see it out his weekend.kenny2 :thumbup:

Very Funny,
I thought Alvin like scale 40s
you think he get a twist or something bigger


He paid $74.99 for it

Another Update to the Sonic 25 build/assembly has been added to first post this topic.

I like your sonic Alvin. Ray would be proud javascript:emoticon(':P')
smilie

OK it's cool alvin,

You guys never replyed in sportplane thread
What you have something agaist me?
I updated it Gezzz I guess you guys don't like me no more.
I'm hurt :blink:

What time and date does it start?
The combats!

<_< Well you know what you have to do Alvin?
You have take another pic of self with that plane since you don't have your
old plane anymore.


:yickes: COMBAT FIGHTS!
ALVIN THAT"S A SPORT PLANE NOT A WAR BIRD!

Is it going to fly Sunday. :bigplane:

And Yet Another Update to the Sonic 25 build/assembly has been added to first post this topic.

Go There Now - Click Here

Too cold! It's gonna be warmer today than yesterday! By the way, a bit off topic but, is there a time that is strictly too early to go to the field? I know about the early morning sun in your eyes being an issue, but is ther any other reason?

:blink: Alvin bring it out me or Frits will test fly it for you :biggrin:

Not really...we get out there at 8am or earlier for the fly-ins. :D

Sonic's First Flight - The Last Update to the Sonic 25 build/assembly has been added to first post this topic.

Go There Now - Click Here

Sorry I was not there to check out your plane befor you flew it Alvin ;)

As you know, I try to help Frit's, David, and Steve, check out new airplanes befor thay go up :thumbup:

The instructors must have been vary busy today to let that get past them :o

I am glad it didn't end up in a crash :)

Don......

Gezz Alvin you just said that.
:blink: I made out good today at our field
I had a little damage though
I got picutre I took at our field
check it out

Bad weather flying
Model Aviation weather in Arizona Avistar 2 5 51 4th February 2007 - 08:14 PM
Last Post by: Avistar