Piney the forgotten ARF constructed entirely of Pure Canadian White Pine by Master Builder Jim McBride (Canada's first and only ARF designer).
The Piney is an unusual parasol wing model resembling the Pietenpol Air Camper which is constructed entirely of white pine (even the surface hinges and strut attachments). I have inherited a lot of pieces over the years; enough to get one ready for flight for this coming flying season. I have a vague recollection of the Piney project but I have no real background material and if anyone remembers her I would be grateful for your information. Thanks, Dave
Specifications:- 60 Inch wing span;
5 pounds dry weight;
OS 48 4c Nitro Power.
The Piney has a reputation of being a very poor flying model airplane: People have told me that before attempting to fly it I should be aware of its propensity for severe adverse yaw, supposedly because of its large strip ailerons. Adverse yaw is a condition where application of aileron control will always be accompanied by a yaw in the opposite direction. Before attempting to fly the Piney we programmed the radio for 20% rudder linked to aileron movement. Watch the short clip below to view the results.
Adverse Yaw
The second major flaw in the Piney design that I discovered independently is its severe tip stall that can be triggered by any form of control surface movement at low speed. After three crashes on takeoff I started to suspect the wing incidence as the cause. The wing is set at 5-1/2 degrees which in hind site, is too much for a high wing design with a modified flat bottom wing. Watch the short clip below that demonstrates how prone the Piney is to tip stalling.
Tip Stall
Ca-bane strut bracing wires was added to minimize the damage to the members in tip over accidents during takeoffs and landings. The picture below emphases the excessive wing incidence angle of the original Piney.
.JPG)
Note below the 1 cm shims attached to the wing's rear spar to reduce the the wing's angle of incidence from 5.5 degrees to approximately zero.
.JPG)
Wing incidence change to zero degrees
The Maiden Flight
Other Known Models
http://northsimcoeflyers.shutterfly.com/pictures/454#400
http://northsimcoeflyers.shutterfly.com/pictures/400#454
Fitting my Piney for Float Flying
Now fitted with with a more powerful engine (OS 50 2 c)
Hi Dave I have recently came across a complete Piney. Do you have any more info. Such as balance point etc.
ReplyDeleteDave, You have just brought back some great memories. I will never forget the "Piney" as a young child my dad took me flying in Westport Ontario at the home of Master Jim McBride, the designer and builder of the Piney (and the nicest man on the face of the earth). I eventually purchased my first Piney and flew it for hours. I then moved to the Piney Bipe for several years then he started building the Low Wing Piney. Of course I had one of those as well. I still have a couple of Piney's that are flight worthy. I also have some parts. I would love to receive any info about any Pineys and even information about Jim and his family, great people! Long live the spirit of the Piney!! barry.botham@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteWaaay back when the Piney was first conceived I flew at Jim's with the gang from the Brockville RC club. And yes, I can concur that in fact if was the first ARF I saw, long before Pilot from Japan.
ReplyDeleteFrank Weaver, Vancouver Island (GoldGuy on RCGroups)
My father (PETE BAUER)also flew at Jim's. I remember as a little kid being at Jim's and them talking about the piney.A man named rudy from Smith falls was also a master builder and flew at Jim's.brings back lots of good memories for me reading this forum. My father still builds and Flys to this day.
ReplyDeleteHi my name is Peter Bauer and I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw your wright-up on Jim McBride it was simply amazing and brought back some great memories. I would love to make contact with
ReplyDeleteBack in the late 1970s I was a member of the Brockville, Smith Falls, Athens, and most importantly Jim McBride's in Westport flying clubs.
Jim McBride was a true gentleman a very skillful Builder and a great friend. I've had 2 Piney’s both of which flew extremely well. In Smith Falls we flew off the water for air shows and the Piney was incredible, you had to fly it, it wasn't for beginners.
I flew at Jim's 3 to 4 days a week and I never missed the fun flys. There were people from Montreal I remember one gentleman his name was John Jeffries who came for almost every funfly not to mention the number of people from all over the country Toronto included
Unfortunately due to time I don't remember very many names of the people I flew with however, I remember Roy
Backhome who owned the bus lines, John Rogers from Montreal, Rudy Wolfshorndal, Stan Kohansic and I think Bernie Sanders.
I have posted a picture of my Piney on the water and I apologize for the quality back in the day cameras weren't exactly what they are today and I was never a photographer. When Jim was diagnosed with melanoma I drove he and his wife Barb to the hospital in Kingston the day of his operation. It was a 7 hour operation and they literally rearranged the poor Man's face. A short while after that my wife's dad passed away and we wound up moving to shawville Quebec and over time I lost contact with Jim and Barb but the memories are still with me, they were wonderful people.
On a side note I also was a very good friend of a gentleman named Bud Barkley who also designed & manufactured an RC plane called the Cessna in Smith Falls Ontario, also a good friend of Barb and Jim McBride's.
I would be interested in hearing from davideo4301 or anybody who knew the McBride's, Bud Barkley or anybody else that flew at any one of the clubs that I mentioned above.
Pete Bauer e-mail joan1@xplornet.ca
I have flown 3 different Pine aircraft build by Jim and they were great flying planes. At the time I was flying out of a club on Pembroke. My dad and brother also flew that plane. I unfortunately never had the opportunity to meet Jim however my dad (George) did. I thank for the memories
ReplyDeleteRon Lefebvre