Over-ripe Banana

[Phil.Taylor]

Its a Baudis Banana - its 20 years old - its over-ripe !

Picked this one up recently off ebay - in really nice condition - don't think it had ever been flown - Baudis sticker inside says Jan 2004. Glass layup, really light - just 640g. First flights in 25-30mph wind were fine - its fast & really agile - great fun. Now I understand what the fuss was about - 20 years ago.

The black vinyl spots - over-ripe scheme just had to be done - love it or hate it !

The one puzzling quirk is that the Banana-droop nose is extra droopy - someone has managed to glue the nose cone on at the wrong angle - which is very odd cos on the old photos I can find the nose is already fitted into the fus when you buy it. Baudis are not known for selling "seconds" - a puzzle. Too well fixed in to change it - I tried & gave up - its a feature - a "proper banana"

Anyone else still flying a Banana?

Phil.

[Stormeflyer]

Yes I bought the Banana combo (Uber rare) I was never impressed with it to be honest, I believed the incidence was always wrong as you were meant to glue the V tail to the fuselage which was pre shaped to accept. What I wished I had done is temporary fit the V tail to the fuse. Not much room for enough ballast. We used to fly with the Leek & Moorland guys up the Orme who had Mini Dragons (Freddy) 1.5mt which had a more spacious fuz and these ballasted left the Banana for dead!

[Phil.Taylor]

bit of photo-shop work - this is what I think the nose should look like (shadow line shows the actual)

[Stormeflyer]

Hi Phil

That droop is normal that’s where the model got the name Banana

Edited August 30, 2024 by Stormeflyer
Extra photo

[Phil.Taylor]

21 minutes ago, Stormeflyer said:

Hi Phil

That droop is normal that’s where the model got the name Banana

ok - thanks - I will stop worrying about it 

 

[MikeE]

The glass versions were a little prone to warps on the ailerons. 

Be careful how you store your bananas.

[paul w]

Impressive aileron screech IIRC.... always liked the aesthetics of the Banana and (I think) its big brother the Trinity(?).