My two 1/2A skyrays

Both good looking examples of the Skyray with
nice looking mills. I checked out Matt's Red Arrow, and
it should do the job with plenty of authority.
I have a Skyray, but it doesn't fly, as it's still in the box.
Hope you fly 'em both soon.
Bob

getback wrote:COOL !! , Is the oldie air brushed , looks like it from the fade colors , Ran the Arrow yet ? nice looking planes , hope to se some flight reports Eric

The old one was rattle canned I usually like to paint in that style and it's got quite a few flights on it too. My new one was done in plain ol lustercote. and yuppers I've run the arrow in fact here is a video of it

(Bandit)

dckrsn wrote:I have a Skyray, but it doesn't fly, as it's still in the box.
Hope you fly 'em both soon.
Bob

Well dig it out a build it!! I hope so too as soon as things stabilize I'm going to put them both up just got to come up with a stooge. BTW we need to have a Skyray fly-it day, race or something they have a high fun factor cheap too! (Bandit)

Thanks, Bandit. Always like to watch an engine run.

Thanks TDBandit , I had seen tis before but is still Music to the ears . Should pull that RAy with no problem .

very cool! hope you are able to get out and fly them sooner than later. i am still trying to decide what style trainer i want to build. i really like the design. looks pretty rugged!

rogermharris wrote:very cool!  hope you are able to get out and fly them sooner than later. i am still trying to decide what style trainer i want to build. i really like the design. looks pretty rugged!

They are pretty rugged the blue one has done it's fair share of gopher hunting including one encounter with my field box.
If you are looking for a 1/2A trainer the skyray will fill that role nicely. It's light easy to fly and very easy to build and is capable of basic stunt. No plans though just assembly instructions. I'm going to build a third one but before I start construction, I'm going to make templates and squirrel them away for safe keeping. (Bandit)

i have built similar trainers including one that my dad and i designed in the 70's. i may borrow from a couple different designs to make my own. my balsa arrived at the house today so i'll will have to get on it! i like the longer fuselage and the overall profile of this one

rogermharris wrote:i have built similar trainers including one that my dad and i designed in the 70's. i may borrow from a couple different designs to make my own. my balsa arrived at the house today so i'll will have to get on it! i like the longer fuselage and the overall profile of this one

*Nods* it's a very good design One of the things I wish Sig would of done was make a beam mount version of the Skyray for the medallion and TD. It would flat out scoot with a TD on it. Hmm come to think of it, I might just try my tach race reedie on the oldie! (Bandit)

I have a skyray that I havent done much with. I got it out the other day to see if I could get a good run on it. I had to stop early, so I'm sorry its dirty. I need to get back on it and get a tune on it. It has a cub 074.

Nice! was this skyray a scratch build? We really need to try a skyray fly it if you got it day btw that would be fun! (Bandit)

Bandit, it was a kit. I just extended the nose and put hardwoods in it. Also plywood doublers.

chevyiron420 wrote:Bandit, it was a kit. I just extended the nose and put hardwoods in it. Also plywood doublers.

Cool I was thinking about building a third one and doing that so  could put my medallion on it. (Bandit)

Good looking planes there. I have 2 here as well, 1 is ready to go, the other, well, it has seen much better days. Nice little fliers from what I remember. I also had remembered to make templates before building this one as well.

I checked my skyray and noted it has a double bypass no boost cylinder on it...I think that might be why I was under impressed with it. The motor is just a nice old dog. (a really nice running, easy starting, not very powerful old dog)

I have a loony number of no-boost cylinders, and some single bypass cylinders. I have some newer parts and just need to put together a proper performance minded engine.

Phil

They Skyray with a Black Widow on it is a bit tail heavy for a beginner. Usually after the first ground pounding the nose breaks off right in front of the leading edge directly where the cheek blocks end. After about the 3-4 time it breaks off and gets glued back on this puts the CG in a good manageable spot. The solution would be to place some 1/64"ply doublers on both sides of the fuse extending about 1 1/4" back onto the wing. Ken

Ken Cook wrote:They Skyray with a Black Widow on it is a bit tail heavy for a beginner. Usually after the first ground pounding the nose breaks off right in front of the leading edge directly where the cheek blocks end. After about the 3-4 time it breaks off and gets glued back on this puts the CG in a good manageable spot. The solution would be to place some 1/64"ply doublers on both sides of the fuse extending about 1 1/4" back onto the wing. Ken

Yup the blue one has had its nose broke off once due to a botched attempt at a loop (too close to the ground) Glued it back at the field and flew again. What I used for nose weight when I was first flying it was the hub off of the texan RTF it makes a nice heavy hub. (Bandit)

The Skyray is an excellent trainer. Because of it's external control system the instructions explain how to set it up for minimum control until you earn basic flight, then how to increase response by changing settings.

You can also vary control response with line spacing on the handle.

There is no need for a high-performance engine. The engine on the box picture is a Golden Bee. A Babe Bee also works well. If you intend to use a Tee Dee you might consider a larger plane or enlarge the Skyray with larger wings, longer fuselage and perhaps a wider stab and elevator.

That said, I put a NORVEL Big Mig .061 on a Skyray...wouldn't do it again. :-(

George