ABOUT THIS WEBSITE

The original Sky Bench website Ray Hayes developed in the past was loaded with information, tips, and photos. Because there is so much information, many of Ray\92s past customers have contacted us asking if they could still somehow get to the information on the original website pages. And so, the original website has been rebuilt with the assistance of Kurt Zimmerman. Thank you! Kurt is a sailplane enthusiast like all of us, and fortunately, very good at the digital world as well! The old website was a HTML beast. Many of today\92s web hosting services do not host this type of HTML site any longer. It is because of Kurt that we can. IMPORTANT: Please keep in mind, this website is a moment in time. The files came from a back-up copy made about 2015. If we can find a newer back up, we will update it. Please understand, the information here, especially pricing, is outdated. Refer to the new website for pricing and availability. And, please keep in mind, there have been changes made to our kits as well since 2015. So, enjoy the old SkyBench.com, but keep in mind this information is for reference only.

Ray,

Your Viking is a great kit as usual. I balanced it with NiMH cells but had a problem with my battery. Rather than buy a new battery, I switched to LiPO that I had on hand and a couple of fishing weights. It goes up with authority and really buffets you on take off. It flies like a dream with an AXI 2820-12, 12 X 7 folder, 2500 3 cell LiPO. I will never use the capacity in the battery but needed that battery to pull 30+amps.

Here is a picture

Pete

Sky Bench Woodys are strong and repairable.
Can't say that about most ready to fly sailplanes.

Ray,

Due to a malfunction in the controller in my electrified, XL B/B last summer, my Bird went in hard. Actually .... I did something stupid trying to "fix on the fly".

This Bird is on your web site, (the yellow and white one displayed, sitting on a trash can), along with my positive comments about this plane and your help.

The left tip panel broke at the attachment to the inboard left panel. VERY little damage to the fuse. Just a small bit of balsa that "popped out" of the block in front of the canopy. Amazing that this was the only damage as it really did go in very hard.

Anyway..... since I was rebuilding ............ I stripped both wings of covering and cut-in flaps. I made a big mistake not adding the spoilers or flaps in the original build.

I just cannot say enough about your product, the wood, the packaging, ........ and the wonderful way this XL B/B flies. It was my first sailplane kit. (I have done several glow and gasser kits). I love big planes............. so I see a Sky Bird, or Oly I I I in my future. :-)

Thanks for listening,
Bob Ruder
Indy

Click here for in flight photos of this beautiful Woody Big Bird.

Another beautiful Big Bird

Tom Como and his brand new Sky Bird. Tom is a Member of the Toledo RC Club with fellow member John Root and several other members that are completing their Sky Birds and Big Birds. The club gathers every Monday afternoon to fly their sailplanes during the summer and early fall. Thanks for the pix Paul.

Here is a picture of the Big Bird that I completed as a winter project in March.

The plane is a beautiful flyer. It penetrates well in 10 to 15 mph wind and is sensitive to thermals. The following are some modified construction details: * Monokote finish--Chrome Monokote on the tail feathers and wing tips.
* Tow Hook System--Used 1/2 of an Airtronic rail centered at the CG
* Fabricated a tow hook from a common nail cut to about 1 1/4", then bent 90 degrees. Thread one end to 6-32 thread. This gives a much stronger tow hook that is infinitly adjustableat least plus or minus 1/2" from center CG.
* Spoilers--mounted 1" closer to the trailing edge. Operated by 2 JR 55 servos. Electrical connections using Deans connectors joining at the fuse. This system is superior to operating the spoilers with a cord attached to a servo in the fuse.
* Wing mounting--Held to the fuse by spring tension. This eliminates taping and untaping the wing to the fuse

The all up wgt is 44 1/2 oz. It is one of the few planes I have built that was not tail heavy.

Best regards, John D Root

Ray

Completed construction on my Sky Bird last week and flew it for the first time on Friday. I live in Western Colorado and went to a field where the elevation is about 6000 feet. The sky was clear and the temperature was 38 degrees with a very light variable wind. I measured the tension on the high start at 16 lbs. Although the combined length of rubber and string only measured about 300 feet the bird was launched high enough to find lots of lift and watching it fly was very satisfying after the many hours of assembly work. It tracked perfectly while on the high start and after releasing needed no trimming. Never had a first flight that made me smile so much. After playing in the rising air for awhile, I put the nose down, brought it in fast, circled the field once and watched as it almost landed by itself. What a great plane; I know I will enjoy many more flights with this beauty.

Jim Allen

Ray, just wanted you to see my newly completed big bird. I think it turned out even better than I ever imagined. I can not wait to get it in the air this weekend!!! I'm just so excited about it right now I thought I would show it off a bit!!!

Thanks for a GREAT kit!!!

Matt

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Sky Bench Aerotech PO Box 13 Brownsburg, IN 46112 e mail skybenchone@gmail.com