CorsairJock
10-12-2005, 06:35 PM
Surprised I couldn't find a thread on these yet, so I'll start one.
Been flying electric (and fuel power) aircraft for 25 years, and decided to try out one of these $30 (or less?), 1 oz RTF, 2 channel airplanes. Before I even flew it, I was think of converting it to proportional 3 channel, possibly using the Cirrus micro flight pack with 2 servo, rx, and ESC for about $100, weighing about 12 grams all together. I don't know how difficult it would be to install, nor how much weight it will add, nor whether the tiny aircraft could handle the additional weight. So for now, I'll leave it stock and see how thinks go.
As I alluded to, the controls are not proportional: the rudder is either centered, all left, or all right depending on which button is pushed, The speed control is likewise: all on or all off. This will be my 1st attempt ever at flying an aircraft with no elevator control.
Winds were finally calm enough today to try out, so here are 1st impressions:
It takes a little more room to fly this than one may expect: for the launch, just a little flick of a toss is needed, you don't really throw it. It will begin a gentle climb, but don't attempt a turn right away. Instead, let it get some altitude. If you keep it low, it is easy to get 'into trouble', so let it get up there some before attempting that 1st turn.
Turns are accomplished by momentarily pushing the appropriate turn push button. DO NOT HOLD DOWN the PB, or it will quickly fall into a spiral and crash. Fortunately, at only 1 oz flying weight, damage is slight if any.
For the most part, I found myself just trying to keep it within a reasonable range, no acrobatics of any type were (intentionally)attempted. I would fly it around for about 30 seconds, then 'land'.
I found mine glides rather fast when power is off, I plan to add a little up trim and a little motor down wash. If I add the up trim only, it tries to climb to steeply when power is on, so some motor repositioning is needed. And at this point, I am really not liking NOT having a proportional elevator control. But still, for $30 it flies.
After flying it, I decided to remove the landing gear. It seems to have 2 purposes:
1) to add about 1.5 grams to the weight
2) to make the plane flip over EVERY time opon landing
Thus, I have just removed about 5% of the weight, and am ready to try again. All up weight is now 27.3 grams (originally 28.9).
Been flying electric (and fuel power) aircraft for 25 years, and decided to try out one of these $30 (or less?), 1 oz RTF, 2 channel airplanes. Before I even flew it, I was think of converting it to proportional 3 channel, possibly using the Cirrus micro flight pack with 2 servo, rx, and ESC for about $100, weighing about 12 grams all together. I don't know how difficult it would be to install, nor how much weight it will add, nor whether the tiny aircraft could handle the additional weight. So for now, I'll leave it stock and see how thinks go.
As I alluded to, the controls are not proportional: the rudder is either centered, all left, or all right depending on which button is pushed, The speed control is likewise: all on or all off. This will be my 1st attempt ever at flying an aircraft with no elevator control.
Winds were finally calm enough today to try out, so here are 1st impressions:
It takes a little more room to fly this than one may expect: for the launch, just a little flick of a toss is needed, you don't really throw it. It will begin a gentle climb, but don't attempt a turn right away. Instead, let it get some altitude. If you keep it low, it is easy to get 'into trouble', so let it get up there some before attempting that 1st turn.
Turns are accomplished by momentarily pushing the appropriate turn push button. DO NOT HOLD DOWN the PB, or it will quickly fall into a spiral and crash. Fortunately, at only 1 oz flying weight, damage is slight if any.
For the most part, I found myself just trying to keep it within a reasonable range, no acrobatics of any type were (intentionally)attempted. I would fly it around for about 30 seconds, then 'land'.
I found mine glides rather fast when power is off, I plan to add a little up trim and a little motor down wash. If I add the up trim only, it tries to climb to steeply when power is on, so some motor repositioning is needed. And at this point, I am really not liking NOT having a proportional elevator control. But still, for $30 it flies.
After flying it, I decided to remove the landing gear. It seems to have 2 purposes:
1) to add about 1.5 grams to the weight
2) to make the plane flip over EVERY time opon landing
Thus, I have just removed about 5% of the weight, and am ready to try again. All up weight is now 27.3 grams (originally 28.9).