E-Flite 62" Piper Cub maiden

[Adrian]

Maidened the Piper today, our local "guru" actually flew it-OH DEAR:{ Used the Schulze RX I had from a previous plane but had lost to a dodgy ESC, I now think the RX was damaged also because Cub flew quickly & true as an arrow into the air flew a couple of close in moves- but at @ 100M out lost TX signal so from about 10M height death spiralled towards the floor-guru got it back a couple of M's from the floor-still landed with a bit of a bounce though::o. Damage was very light (so I'm not too saddended by that stroke of luck) a snapped prop-crease in tail fin & a small puncture wound to the wing skin. I will send RX back to its makers to see if we can find out the problem, in the mean while I will order another Schulze unit so I can get it in the air again, I hope the 2nd flight will be less eventfull & maybe I may get to wiggle the sticks a bit:ws:
The fact remains though this is a lovely "bit-o-kit" & looks totally right in the air, you should have heard the collective groan from all as she went in, even the cynical "old boys" felt my pain, I think its the 1st time they've ever spoken to me!

[firemanbill]

That's too bad Adrian, but on the other hand It's not so bad considering what could have been...

Get her fixed up right and back in the air!

Best of luck to you.:D

[Adrian]

Weather forcast for the next couple of days here in the UK pretty grim, usual Autum (fall) strong winds & rain, but due to work & tennis obligations (got a couple of envenings match practice before a tournament on Saterday) The next time I will be able to fly is next Sunday. Will let you all know how thingd pan out.

[Reflex]

here is a photo after the maiden flight (thanks Tim )

damage is minor , it could so easily have been a write off :red:

[darylm44]

I have been flying an eflite Cub for a couple of months. It is an easy flyer but I get a lot of comments about how good it looks when I do a slow fly by. It will float on you when landing if there is much of a breeze.

[PerlAddict]

That plane is definitely on my "must have" short list. I've wanted one ever since I first laid eyes on it ... such a nice looking kit.

[Adrian]

I've got to get the hang of the taking off & landing with wheels now, my glider was hand launched & belly landed, I mainly fly helis which come to a complete stop then settle on the floor, or rise up & then forwards/back etc, so the Cub is part of my learning curve.
I've fitted a new RX-a Futaba 146ip PCM rather than another Schule unit, until I find out why my "old" (only 2hrs flying on it before it failed:mad:) schulze died I will avoid them.
The other good news is that my Alpha models Mustang should be here in the next couple of days, all bits are ready to throw into it. just got to get the money past the bank manager (the girlfriend;-))

[ragbag]

That plane is definitely on my "must have" short list. I've wanted one ever since I first laid eyes on it ... such a nice looking kit.

I have one sitting on the shelf, now ya'll got me itchin' to take it down. Guess that's why I picked up the Eflite 25 the other day.:)

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

[Adrian]

Found the problem with the piper cub, not Rx related at all, its down to the ESC not liking 4 servos & motor running at same time + I think there's a little bit of electrical interference, with the new Futaba 146ip fitted it flew for about 1 min before the motor cut out, a bumpy landing at distance was not pleasant to watch! (the local guru was still setting up the rates & expo, so he was flying her) The good news is the Futaba could unlike the Schulze kept the servos working.
On closer inspection of the instuctions for the ESC E-flite have written in V small type size that its advisable on 4 or more servos to use a BEC system-Doh-doh-doh. Oh well back to drawing board.
The other thing of intrest was one of the other flyers brought down his 84" Cub, so there was a bit of a photo shoot before he flew it, it just strolls around the sky.

[Adrian]

Will be fitting the new (read expensive) £35 BEC for the weekend, no point in putting a cheap one- as I seem to be fated in the fixed wing side of this sport. So with any luck I should be flying-weather permitting this weekend

[Jkc123]

So when are you going to fly? Great looking airplane though!?:cool:

[Reflex]

Will be fitting the new (read expensive) £35 BEC for the weekend, no point in putting a cheap one- as I seem to be fated in the fixed wing side of this sport. So with any luck I should be flying-weather permitting this weekend

The one I recommended ?
http://www.revolutionmodels.co.uk/acatalog/Accessories_for_Electrics.html

My eye infection has worsened
On penicillin and anti-biotic s now :blah:
Hopefully I'll be ok for the weekend ( need both eyes to fly it )

[darylm44]

The eflite speed controller when out on mine the second day I flew it. The servos would work but the motor just quit and wouldn't run again. I replaced it with a 40a speed controller from http://stores.ebay.com/Heads-Up-RC_. I have flown it 25 times since with no problems. I sent the ESC from eflite back and they replaced it, but I have never swapped it out. I have not put in a BEC and don't see the need to at this time.

[Adrian]

Of course I bought what you recommended Paul, this Cub is getting blinged out with Medusa BEC, £35 was a bit of a shocker though:<:
Hope your eyes will be OK for the weekend, hope it will be airworthy for a flight on Sunday, Saturdays out coz I've got tennis match 2 til 6.

[Reflex]

Grrr this Cub is becoming a challenge

Last 2 flights
http://uk.video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=1248028

[MRM1]

What do you attribute the 2nd flight and crash too? Is there more to it that you have discovered than what was added to the end of the video?

Your first flight seemed pretty text book. Your 2nd flight looked to mirror it until it fell out of the sky. But I did not watch close enough for air speed. Did you loose air speed in the turn?

[Reflex]

Main difference between the flights was airspeed

much more wind during the first flight.
Light winds for the second.

I think the lower airspeed put the Cub into it's poor handling region.
although I don't consider it was flying too slow for this type of model.
It Should slow to a more Scale like speed

This Cubs handling is atrocious at low speed
and prone toTip Stall, then enter a violent spin with little chance to recover at low altitude.

CofG seems fine ( it does fly ok at high speed. see first flight on Vid )

Since the Rudder is very effective I'm also thinking of
limiting the Aileron movement to Up only on each wing
This combined with the Aileron offset (effective wash out )
should hopefully tame the handling so Adrian can fly it.

[darylm44]

What motor do you have?

I have had none of those problems with my eflite cub, in fact it is really a gentle easy flyer. You do need to fly it like an airplane and not yank it around like a stick or something. Turns should be realatively level and smooth.

I have an eflite 25 motor in mine. Once I changed out the ESC it has been flawless (except for pilot error of course;)).

[Reflex]

eflite 25 plenty of power.

Have a look at your Wings, any washout ?

[Adrian]

Going to get the wing repaired & have another go with this cub, that will be its last chance, after that its firewood! LOL.
Bought the thing as a "relaxing fixed wing trainer" its even challenging your skills Reflex:D

[MRM1]

How does it handle at low speeds in level flight. Does the Elevator get touchy and seem sensitive? Does it tend to balloon on landing when you attmept to flare?

[Airhead]

here is a photo after the maiden flight (thanks Tim )

damage is minor , it could so easily have been a write off :red:
Hi Adrian,
I'm a little late to this thread but your damage:( doesn't appear to be too bad. That is a nice plane you have there. Glad to hear your repairs have gone well.:)

[Reflex]

How does it handle at low speeds in level flight. Does the Elevator get touchy and seem sensitive? Does it tend to balloon on landing when you attmept to flare?

Elevator control is fine,in fact a little "heavy" not sensitive at all
No signs of a rearward C of G

Problems are only in turns at a normal flight speed. (High speed turns seem ok)

Indications are a fully Stalled inner wing with resultant Spin/Death spiral .

Landings ? every flight has been a Crash so far ::o

[Airhead]

How about some stall strips outboard just behind the leading edges? Electrical tape about 1/4" wide maybe 3 " long. stacked two or three on top of each other. May lessen low speed tip stalls.

[Reflex]

May not be enough on this one , It's quite a thick airfoil.

[Reflex]

Cub repaired , settings altered
Still a "work in progress"

Todays outing
http://uk.video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=1409001

[Reflex]

To keep this complete "Copied and pasted" from the other Piper thread

>On investigation of the FF9 I find the Model "Parameter" set to "Glider"
(Not by me btw).

I set another Memory to "Acro" and copied my settings over, and it now
works perfectly.

On Loss of signal. Failsafe turns the Motor Off
and sets the Model for a mild left Turn.

On Return of Signal
Failsafe turns the Motor back On (without Pilot intervention)
and restores Model control back to the Tx.

Goes to show how much RF interference was at our flying site yesterday :eek:<

[Reflex]

Tamed Cub
Todays flight
http://uk.video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=1414339