Thunder Mustang Tail Crack

[laminar]

Hey Guys,

We had an interesting find after a recent dive test, despite the exotic power plant it seemed related.

Fantastic to get some experience in the Thunder Mustang despite this particular unfortunate moment. Very interesting to get any insight into the many different ways to get around the courses at Reno. Parker and the rest of the Thunder guys have sweet rides for sure!!

Pre dive video
Dive Video
Brake Video
Crack Video

airplanes are cool,
Elliot Seguin
661-754-5288

[De Camara]

Re: Thunder Mustang Tail Crack

Excellent

Very detailed

And educational


Love to see follow up vid/s on this scenario



Doc

[Fence Sence]

Re: Thunder Mustang Tail Crack

Thanks for posting this, Elliott. Really cool to the processes.

[Samuel]

Re: Thunder Mustang Tail Crack

Did you guys figure out if it was just the paint cracking?

[Curt_B]

Re: Thunder Mustang Tail Crack

Great stuff! Dusters had to beef up the tail wires converting to turbines which operate at higher frequencies. You might add skin panel flutter into the possibility mix as a source since the open bay is so large. Might need another rib.

[FlyKidChris]

Re: Thunder Mustang Tail Crack

Thanks - I enjoyed the videos.

If that bay isn't vented, have any other Thunder Mustangs had similar cracks? Have any of them been to a similar altitude with similar results (assuming those bays were not vented, too)? Of did they have cracks at (much) lower altitudes?

[laminar]

Re: Thunder Mustang Tail Crack

Hey Guys,

Here's a quick update on the longnosethunder project.

The airplane was delivered (video) to Straight Flight at Centennial airport in Denver, CO on Saturday after Justin and I had wrapped up the test program back in December.

The last couple days have been a lot of fun as emails went back and forth between the two shops filling those smart guys in on the details of the airplane. It's always fun to talk shop with smart motivated people.

The best news of my day had to do with the tail crack (video) we found after the dive test (video).

The guys at straight flight confirmed the crack was only in the bondo! AWESOME!! Great news for the operational future of this very cool airplane!!

airplanes are cool

Elliot
661-754-5288

[Dudewanarace]

Re: Thunder Mustang Tail Crack

What is the 3rd picture of? Or, where is that located on the tail? A zoomed out version would probably answer that question.

Thanks

[laminar]

Re: Thunder Mustang Tail Crack

What is the 3rd picture of? Or, where is that located on the tail? A zoomed out version would probably answer that question.

Thanks

Awesome!!!

Not mentioned in the video there was a similar paint crack on the top of the left horizontal. I don't have any other photos of it.

[rc38pilot]

Re: Thunder Mustang Tail Crack

the 3rd pic is the fairing covering the ray-allen trim servo on the stab....theres also one one the vertical