Omaka 190 fires up....

[DaveM2]

Yes a couple of the (cosmetic) cooling fan blades broke off because of prop vibration and struck the blades. This was found to be a problem within the prop hub itself with a plastic piece broken (one of four, which were originally brass apparantly) which affected the pitch of one of the blades -thereafter a domino effect - a more violent vibration, which saw the cowl move forward and touch the fan blades...... Since then much tinkering has been done, strenghtening of the inside of the cowl struts and removal of the fan blades being the main mods.

Still a bit to do to make it a bit more intimidating-talk of fabricating some 20 mm cannon wing guns etc.

Dave

[happymeal]

Can not remember... was it ever flown, even only once, in NZ ?

[JDK]

Happy - Cough cough...




Date - 21 April 2011.

http://vintageaeroplanewriter.blogspot. ... -bird.html

[happymeal]

James, please do not make me feel like I am loosing neurons... please

[JDK]

I wouldn't do that to you... As your question addresses, because it wasn't able to fly for the show, many did not realise it flew a few test flights beforehand. I was lucky to be in the right spot at the right time!

[Dave Homewood]

It flew a few times on the Thursday and Friday before the cowl and propellor issue arose. It was magnificent to witness but we on the field really only got to see it taking off and landing as Frank was flying it away from the field out over the hills getting to grips with it.

However I was just inside the hangar on one occasion on the Thursday and I didn't see it but I'm sure he brought it in low hard and fast over the field. It must have been that which went over as nothing else there that weekend sounded that loud and impressive. I very nearly shat myself, I got such a fright as I wasn't expecting it.

Nice shots James.

[ErrolC]

Taking off at 11.30 on the Friday (public practice day). I actually didn't get any shots of the landing which didn't stress me at the time - plenty more chances coming up. D'oh!


FW190_3968 by errolgc, on Flickr

Does anyone know if it is planned to take it to Tauranga?

I had to consol myself with the Corsair.

Corsair making trails by errolgc, on Flickr

[JDK]

Nice shots James.

Thanks! I'd just got to a good spot at the right time...

I actually didn't get any shots of the landing which didn't stress me at the time - plenty more chances coming up. D'oh!

I know the feeling. I've (sadly) learned to grab the shots when you can and maybe they'll be replaced with better, later. If not you've got something.

I look forward to hearing it's "back"!

Regards,

[Mike]

Just curious Dave, was the prop issue related to the problem which saw the French example take an early bath?

[cooper9411]

The 190 looks really good. Amazing what can be done when you put your mind to it.

[DaveM2]

Just curious Dave, was the prop issue related to the problem which saw the French example take an early bath?

Mike - I am not certain about that, I can't recall what that was specifically, Xavier or Matthias will no doubt know. The mod which fixed the problem that caused the French example to ditch was fitted before it was shipped out to NZ.

It was the 'pitch change slider block' which failed in this instance.

Dave

[happymeal]

On the french one, one of the planetary controling one blade wore off "too quickly". Actually, it turned out it was machined too thin, not robust enough.

[wingman1]

On the french one, one of the planetary controling one blade wore off "too quickly". Actually, it turned out it was machined too thin, not robust enough.

what ever happend to the french one?

[happymeal]

Had to ditch into Mediterranean sea, close to shoreline, during a practice for display in Toulon, when one blade of the prop went to neutral pitch after failure of one internal component of the prop hub. Pilote Marc 'Leon' Mathis safe, testflew a couple other Flug Werk FW 190s after that. Wreck sold to MeierMotors in Germany, to be rebuild.

[ErrolC]

Test flying continues, more photos and youtube link at http://rnzaf.proboards.com/index.cgi?ac ... ost=141933