Cambize Shahrdar Shrevport,LA
It was in 2013 that i had seen a post from Tony, whereby he was donating money to a fireman's organization, from the sale of every kit he sells during a specific time period. I was impressed by his gesture, and decided to purchase his Dalton 300 ML kit, pre-sheeted.
Upon arrival of the kit, i was impressed by the quality of the kit. My next step was to build a table, before i could build my kit. Little background about myself. I started in model airplanes back when i was 5 years of age, and my father bought me a Cox control line P51 with a nitro 0.049 engine. I began to build kit airplanes back then, which were the only ones, to include a Sig Kobra by age 10, and then an Arrow Pattern plane by age 12. I was still into model airplanes by age 16, but all that stopped once i entered college. I got back into model airplanes in the past 5 years, and at first, i was impressed by all the dramatic improvements in technology and the ARF's that have flooded the market. I initially was only into ARf's, but then I built a Dynaflite Super Decathlon. This airplane was not the best flying airplane. Then I put together a Level 1 40% composite airplane about 4 years ago. This was fun, but i was quite disappointed with the flight characteristics of this airplane. When I decided to build the Dalton, i said to myself, first and foremost, that i should take my time building it, and not feel rushed to do so. The reason i am giving this back-ground information on my past building experience, to state ahead of time, that if i can build this airplane, so can anyone else. All you need is time and patience.
Using the manual that came with the model airplane, and with help from the many builders of large model airplanes on the common web-sites, i was able to slowly and surely build my model airplane. In retrospect, it was a very fun build, and i am looking forward to building my Dalton Yak after this IMAC season. If someone were to ask me, what was the most difficult part of the build, my answer would be easy: 1. preparing the hatch/canopy area. 2. Covering the airplane. 3. painting the cowl and canopy/hatch area.
Now, the fun part.... Beyond the build, was the maiden and the flying experience. This is one solid, locked on, tracking airplane. The best flying airplane i have ever owned. Much better than all the ARF's out there that i have owned, and i have had 3 other 40% ARF's. None of which come close to the straight lines this airplane makes. Landing this airplane is also very very easy, it just floats in. It is powered by a DA 200 with KS cans. Total weight is in the 45 pound range. I built the wings and stabs to have a ZERO incidence on both. On the maiden, all it required was 5 clicks of up elevator. Once i added a heavier stab tube (from 7/8 ounce to a 2 & 7/8 ounce tube), then i was able to change the up elevator trim from 5 to 3. This in turn allowed me to use a 2% down mix on the throttle to elevator, now making perfectly straight down-lines. Airplane tracks straight. On the thrust, the down thrust is money on. I added a tad of right thrust, equivalent to a single washer that is approximately 1 mm thick, and this fixed the thrust line. Up lines are perfectly straight with no pull to the left.
I am now a true believer of Dalton airplanes, and i can see why so many of the top competitive pilots fly Daltons. For all of you out there that are intimidated by kit build airplanes, let me just reassure you, I am not a professional builder, and if i can build one, then anyone else can as well. One last point, throughout the build, i was always a phone call away from Tony, who provides the best customer support in the business. I was at times, embarrassed to call him with what i considered basic questions, but he always replied and helped me in any way possible. That, cannot be beat.
Upon arrival of the kit, i was impressed by the quality of the kit. My next step was to build a table, before i could build my kit. Little background about myself. I started in model airplanes back when i was 5 years of age, and my father bought me a Cox control line P51 with a nitro 0.049 engine. I began to build kit airplanes back then, which were the only ones, to include a Sig Kobra by age 10, and then an Arrow Pattern plane by age 12. I was still into model airplanes by age 16, but all that stopped once i entered college. I got back into model airplanes in the past 5 years, and at first, i was impressed by all the dramatic improvements in technology and the ARF's that have flooded the market. I initially was only into ARf's, but then I built a Dynaflite Super Decathlon. This airplane was not the best flying airplane. Then I put together a Level 1 40% composite airplane about 4 years ago. This was fun, but i was quite disappointed with the flight characteristics of this airplane. When I decided to build the Dalton, i said to myself, first and foremost, that i should take my time building it, and not feel rushed to do so. The reason i am giving this back-ground information on my past building experience, to state ahead of time, that if i can build this airplane, so can anyone else. All you need is time and patience.
Using the manual that came with the model airplane, and with help from the many builders of large model airplanes on the common web-sites, i was able to slowly and surely build my model airplane. In retrospect, it was a very fun build, and i am looking forward to building my Dalton Yak after this IMAC season. If someone were to ask me, what was the most difficult part of the build, my answer would be easy: 1. preparing the hatch/canopy area. 2. Covering the airplane. 3. painting the cowl and canopy/hatch area.
Now, the fun part.... Beyond the build, was the maiden and the flying experience. This is one solid, locked on, tracking airplane. The best flying airplane i have ever owned. Much better than all the ARF's out there that i have owned, and i have had 3 other 40% ARF's. None of which come close to the straight lines this airplane makes. Landing this airplane is also very very easy, it just floats in. It is powered by a DA 200 with KS cans. Total weight is in the 45 pound range. I built the wings and stabs to have a ZERO incidence on both. On the maiden, all it required was 5 clicks of up elevator. Once i added a heavier stab tube (from 7/8 ounce to a 2 & 7/8 ounce tube), then i was able to change the up elevator trim from 5 to 3. This in turn allowed me to use a 2% down mix on the throttle to elevator, now making perfectly straight down-lines. Airplane tracks straight. On the thrust, the down thrust is money on. I added a tad of right thrust, equivalent to a single washer that is approximately 1 mm thick, and this fixed the thrust line. Up lines are perfectly straight with no pull to the left.
I am now a true believer of Dalton airplanes, and i can see why so many of the top competitive pilots fly Daltons. For all of you out there that are intimidated by kit build airplanes, let me just reassure you, I am not a professional builder, and if i can build one, then anyone else can as well. One last point, throughout the build, i was always a phone call away from Tony, who provides the best customer support in the business. I was at times, embarrassed to call him with what i considered basic questions, but he always replied and helped me in any way possible. That, cannot be beat.