Flying
Photos by Stephen E. Kanyusik
 
 
Photo by Phil Kunz
Photos by Stephen E. Kanyusik
 
Water and Ground Handling
The S-38 gets up on
the step in 50 feet and is ready to lift off. The under camber wing and
light wing loading really pays off here.
The tail wheel steering
makes water handing a breeze. The S-38 does not like cross wind take off's,
the same as the full scale. A slight cross wind is OK, as long as you can
cross control rudder and ailerons.
The twin engine location and the concave and convex shapes on the fins do a nice
job eliminating the torque curve on take off at full throttle.
In ground testing the S-38 for take off, I started with down trim on the elevator
and continued to add more up trim until the S-38 would taxi horizontal.
Some time was spent here to learn the model.
Control Response
The rudders are very effective all through the flight envelope, but as the ailerons
are somewhat sluggish, coordinate turns are required, especially at slower speeds.
The elevator is very sensitive, the same as the full scale. Some care must be taken
here. Make sure you balance the model as shown on the plans.
Power
The Saito 150 4 cycle engines were more than enough power to fly the 1/6 scale S-38 at a weight
of 42 pounds. My model had all the details, rivets, rib stitching, cockpit
and full cabin detail.
If you build a stand off or sport scale model you could probably use a pair of O.S. 120 engines
with the pump. I think that sport scale would weigh about 30 to 35 pounds.
Fuel tanks can be installed in the engine nacelles or the wing. Installation in the wing may
require use of a fuel pump to control fuel flow.
Landing
Cross wind landings are no problem as long as you have the distance to bleed off the speed
and the wing tip is held at a slight down position into the wind.
Landing the S-38 requires a nose down approach all through the landing pattern. The flare must happen
close to the ground as all that drag slows the model down quickly. A stall
can happen beyond what can be expected with other aircraft. Care must be
taken here!
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