Blanket the Chicken here...no flight yet

[blanket]

Dear Flyers,
I was ready this morning...did some ground testing in the parking lot...hit the throttle a few times...then just couldn't do it...

I don't know what to expect...how much space do I need for take-off...
(I have the 64mm single fan F-15)

Thanks,

BlanketChicken

[Airhead]

Hey Blanket,
You gotta get out there buddy. Just do it.... have you been able to practice on a Sim?
Maybe tomorrow morning.. remember, no wind or at least very calm.. Then just take it slow and easy. have you been thru the beginner stickies for added information? If not, now is the time to review them. Good Luck:ws:. We'll be expecting a good flight report..

PS.. back to your plane. an f-15. is this a beginners plane? If not you may be in for some trouble. You may want to start out with something a little more docile..

[smokejohnson]

Is this your first plane blanket?

[blanket]

Yes, this is my first plane, but I just love jets so i had to get this.

I know it's not recommended as a first plane(I realized this after I got the plane then logged on to this forum and discovered that a jet is NOT a first plane "smart-choice").

But, rarely do I do anything "smart" or "right" the first time anyway, so I might as well keep consistent!

I'll have to send pics of the front steps I'm building on my front porch...oh, wait...I'll send pics of the sure-to-be crooked steps and the airplane pieces I gather once I send it into the brick school building right next to my take-off-strip parking lot...hahahah

All in good fun,
B

[toy4x4]

BlanketChicken,

I put my plane together not to long ago.

Took it out the first day and nose dived it on to a chain length fence and busted it into 8 pieces. Came home, glued it back together and went out the next day. Been having fun since! You can't do any worse than that :)

[GreenAce92]

Just fly the darn thing, grow a pair lol, if it crashes fix it.

Take it easy on the controls, do a ROG if its your first flight, make sure your CG is correct and that all your control surfaces are straight.

[stevecooper]

Get a super cub or trainer of somesort ,,This isn't a beginner plane, You'll love your jet alot longer an enjoy it too, We all had to learn abit before we got to fly those scale planes, I do hope you get some kinda trainer first, I've seen this happen over an over with the same results, get a trainer and Put the jet on the coffee table an tell it every day ""your next!"" good luck, bub,steve

[fr4nk1yn]

Just fly the darn thing, grow a pair lol, if it crashes fix it.You just won "Quote of the Week" (:

But seriously, get lots of photos before you fly it, unless you have a lot of simulator time in it's gonna be in pieces.
A jet EDF is not what you need right now. A SlowStick will get you in the air cheap and fast and you can save that pretty jet for when you get more experience.

If your gonna do it anyway follow GAs advice. Check the balance and ROG someplace smooth with a lot of room.
Get it high, trim it out, and DON'T try "slowing it down". I don't have any experience with EDF, from my limited understanding they're not going to slow down and if it does it'll be hard to pull out any trouble you may get into.

Good Luck.

[Yaniel]

i'd put the f15 aside for now and buy a trainer type plane like a super cub to learn on, or at least a sim. edf's arent the most forgiving planes.

[GreenAce92]

Were not trying to discourage you here but edf's are high performance planes from what i hear. They are really fast, they do maneuver and respond well but because they fly fast if you lose orientation and crash, it wont be pretty you will be out picking up pieces for a while.

[smokejohnson]

If you can swing $20 plus shipping your odds will increase greatly if you can order a sim controller for FMS. There are guys that have learned to fly on planes that are not good choices for a beginner, it can be done. Good luck :)...and welcome to Wattflyer.

http://www.nitroplanes.com/e4chflsitrki.html

[GreenAce92]

if you really want to fly your plane, or do a test glide to see if all is good, find a hay field and do a toss, or just put it on WOT and give it a toss, let it climb then turn around and figure out how to fly her.

[gzsfrk]

Green, just admit it. You've had a rough run with some crashes lately (receiver cut-outs and what not), and your misery is just looking for company. :)

Blanket, seriously--bench that jet, pick up a cheap 3-channel foamie trainier plane, learn it backwards and forwards, then get in about 20 hours of jet trainer time in FMS, and THEN maybe you can think of taking this thing off. Otherwise, you're almost guaranteed to sacrifice your nice new jet to the gods of impatience.

[Rabbitcreekok]

Yes, this is my first plane, but I just love jets so i had to get this.

If you just have to have a jet for a first plane, maybe you should consider the Diablo (http://www.hobbyzone.com/rc-planes-flyzone-diablo-edf-rtf.htm?ucroi_kw=diablo%20ducted%20fan&ucroi_adid=29409&ucroi_google_type=GoogleAdWordsSearch&gclid=CPqTsoef15ICFQEoPQod3FCGkg). They say it is a gentle EDF jet, made to be a trainer. I have read some reviews and they seem to agree.

At least you might have a better chance of success.

[jasmine2501]

An F-15 isn't the best choice for a first plane. If you have lots of sim time, you might have a chance, but you're going to need a lot of runway and a big space to fly in... if you can't afford a proper trainer, you don't have much choice than to give it a go. If you can find an experienced friend to help you fly it, that would be really good. Try looking for a club in your area.

[ministeve2003]

http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=62338&d=1207760810

I've heard the diablo was a peice of crap...

PS. Hope your maiden gos ok, Here's a picture of a wing I made from elmers foam board, Maybe you could try something like this first... It would have similar flight style to your jet, and cost next to nothing to build...

Using Hobbycity stuff

$20 turnagy 28x30x1050kv motor
$3.50 x 2 hxt900 servos,
$14 towerpro 30amp esc
$3 sheet of Elmers foam board
$2 apc 9x3.8 prop
$10 800mah 3cell loong max lipo battery...

Epoxy
Hot Glue

SK

[idealhobbies]

1. Don't even think about a Diablo! It has so many issues that it's not funny. I have 1 and it's been a total pain in the butt. Newjak has it right now trying to got the darn thing to fly properly.

2. I too would suggest another trainer plane. Supercub, Slowstick, something along those lines.

But...

3. If you feel the NEED to fly her:

Ducted fan jets fly different from prop planes. The thrust gain is slow. Remember that. There is a pause between your input and the actual momentum of the plane. When you push that throttle forward, do not expect instant results. Ducted fans do not bite the air like a prop and any gains in movement are slow to achieve. It's like a heavy truck picking up speed after clearing a green light. It will get up to speed, but it will take longer than a car to get there. Remember that.

When you take her off, give it full throttle. Let her taxi as long as you can. Let the wind get under her and lift her up. Once she starts to float on her wheels, pull back SLIGHTLY on the elevator. Don't jerk the stick back, pull it back slightly. Once she is airborne, continue the slow climb. Let her pick up speed before doing any heavy stick movements. Ducted fan jets will stall easily on lift off due to the amount of time it takes for them to get up to speed. Let it build up and then make your more drastic pulls on the stick. Plan for wide turns when you first put her up. Turning slows the plane down so plan for it. When you turn, you will need a little bit of elevator to maintain level flight. The nose will dip. Plan for it. Don't pull hard on the elevator, just slight motion. You'll see when it happens. Be aware of the possibility of a tip stall during the turn. Once she gets up to a good speed, you will have more room to play with. She will be fast to you, and the faster you are going, the more drastic the response to input. Just remember, slow and easy on the sticks.

Now for the most nerve racking part: Landing. Slow her down as much as possible by bringing your throttle down and a slight bit of elevator. Bringing the nose up will slow the plane and expose the rear wheels to the ground. Ignore the turning of your stomach and the sweat on your hands, you'll be ok. Remember when you are coming towards you, the controls are reversed. The way I think about it is whatever wing is down, point your stick towards it to level it out. Plan your landing way ahead of time. You will need room to land her. When you are on your final approach, keep the wings level (stick toward the lower wing if shes coming toward you) and bring the throttle down. The way I do it, is cut the power at about 8 feet, bring the nose up a little to expose those rear wheels, then at about 3 feet, about 20% throttle to help deter stalling while keeping her nose up slightly. When the wheels touch, cut throttle off.

For your first few flights, you will have no idea how long that battery is going to last you. The very last thing that you want to happen while flying is hitting that low battery cut off. Make your flights short. Fly for fun for 5 minutes or so, then start planning your landing. Better to have plenty of juice left than none at all.

Good luck to you.

[Pudknocker71]

PLEASE post a picture before you fly it. We'll want to see it in all its glory before you obliterate it. It's going to be fast and touchy on the controls. This is more like a 3rd or 4th plane. I'm 4 deep now just thinking about a Styker that can fly fast and slow. How much time and money do you have in it at this point? Will it be worth it if you have to throw it in the trash after one "flight"? OH...a nice lipo fire would be cool at the end of that crash into the brick building don't ya think?! Think it through.

[idealhobbies]

:( Ouch... rough. Come on guys. While most of us would agree that he should park the plane for a while, he/she is a individual with their own mind. Jumping in their butt with negativity will only cause them and others to be frightful to ask questions and learn. There may be some issue later that could actually get him/her hurt that they should have asked about but was afraid of getting their butts jumped on. The patience and understanding of the people on this forum is what makes it SUPERIOR to others out there. Take it easy and understand that we all have some pig headedness to us when it comes to some things.

[gfdengine204]

Get a super cub or trainer of somesort ,,This isn't a beginner plane, You'll love your jet alot longer an enjoy it too, We all had to learn abit before we got to fly those scale planes, I do hope you get some kinda trainer first, I've seen this happen over an over with the same results, get a trainer and Put the jet on the coffee table an tell it every day ""your next!"" good luck, bub,steve

Steve bub,

How well does that wheelbarrow in the picture fly? Is she a docile flyer? Or a hotrod? :D

[zook]

Blanket, of all replyes to your concern I am also new to hobby of flying. I also learned If you fly them you will crash,It goes without saying,I was so happy to read what TOTALSNAFU had to say !!!! I started out with A super cub, I have no one to help < thank to this web site Im still flying and loving it almost ever day> So to make A long story short just enjoy!!! Clear skies from the zook

[stevecooper]

Steve bub,

How well does that wheelbarrow in the picture fly? Is she a docile flyer? Or a hotrod? :DI've had a half a dozen planes on her a once and still can't lift off, your bub, steve

[Biplane Murphy]

Blanket....Love the thead title....LOL

I built a Biplane kit over the course of a year (over 150 hours of lovingly building it)....it took me a few months of looking at the finished plane before I was ready to put her in the air...;-)

[carld2002]

If you just have to have a jet for a first plane, maybe you should consider the Diablo (http://www.hobbyzone.com/rc-planes-flyzone-diablo-edf-rtf.htm?ucroi_kw=diablo%20ducted%20fan&ucroi_adid=29409&ucroi_google_type=GoogleAdWordsSearch&gclid=CPqTsoef15ICFQEoPQod3FCGkg). They say it is a gentle EDF jet, made to be a trainer. I have read some reviews and they seem to agree.

At least you might have a better chance of success.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

I highly recommend not getting a diablo.

http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33362

[Biplane Murphy]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

I highly recommend not getting a diablo.

http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33362

;-)..........:Q:Q:Q:D:D:D:Q:Q:Q......One word said it all....

[Dorsal]

Get a cheap and UGLY trainer, a high wing model, one that takes you 2 hours to get ready to fly if you stop often for breaks. Then you won't have your time and heart invested in the plane and won't get too discouraged when you experience an "unexpected landing". You also won't get too hung up on just gluing the pieces back on and going out there again the next day. Seriously. Keep that F-15 in the hanger for now.

[Rabbitcreekok]

1. Don't even think about a Diablo! It has so many issues that it's not funny. I have 1 and it's been a total pain in the butt. Newjak has it right now trying to got the darn thing to fly properly.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

I highly recommend not getting a diablo.


Hmmmmm, I don't think I will mention a Diablo again. It must be a real Devil of a plane.:tc:

[Biplane Murphy]

Hmmmmm, I don't think I will mention a Diablo again. It must be a real Devil of a plane.:tc:

Nice one.....you get an A+ for that post.....:Q:Q:Q

[Wrench66]

A good fairly slow flying light wing loaded rig (brushless/lipo SS)with a decent power plant can help a new pilot immensely. I can't tell you how many times I have done the "oh no OH NO!" dance while piloting my SS only to save it by giving it full throttle and having the motor pull the plane out of trouble. An EDF would have not survived my RC flight education! hehe
AND an F15 has one of the heaviest wing loadings I can find of any of the regular sized planes, suggesting a fast plane that slows down only at the pilots peril.:eek:

If ya hafta, ya hafta I suppose :{

[Sabrehawk]

Well I agree with most everyone else, put that F-15 away and get yourself a good training aircraft, and "learn" to fly.

No real fighter pilot ever started out at the top, nor should you. Take the path that will get you there right.

You have to learn to crawl before you can walk, and you have to walk before you can run. If you try to do the latter before the former, you'll only stumble and fall and get discouaged and R/C then becomes a negative experience instead of a happy, satisfiying one.

[aero_k]

I only want to add my observation that so many times when someone wants to try a jet or warbird as their first plane, their excuse tends to be "I know everyone says I shouldn't fly this plane first, but I've always liked a challenge" or "Go big or go home", or something similar...

Its really tough once you have spent the money on a plane, only to find out you shouldn't fly it, but flying a plane is hard, and crashing a plane really sucks, especially when its a nice, expensive one. Its not worth the money or frustration just to be able to tell yourself "Yeah, I'm awesome, I went big and went home."

If you decide to fly it, try to take some video. Whether it goes good or bad, people here might be able to tell you what you did right or wrong and it will help you in the long run. No one here wants to see give up.

[phillipmorris]

Smallest investment that comes to mind is the Firebird Phantom, had loads of luck with this guy but is also abit fast for the trainer level, $59 shipped is a steal, is a truckload of thread on this one, also on rcgroups, was great as my 2nd flyers, loved it, tho tops for me was the famed Super Cub...wish you only the best of luck on ventures, don't get discouraged, persistance eventually pays off...<>..

Another nice trainer level is Multiplex Easy Star, glider, note - take the steps correctly only increases your chances for success...<>..

[aero_k]

Phantom is a good plane, thats what I learned on. Just make sure you reinforce the boom though...

[ministeve2003]

Phantom is a good cheap investment... Provided you reinforce the tail boom...lol
Phantom is easyier to control with a supercub transmitter too...
SK

[lawn-dart]

It was a kit for $29.00, I had probably 35 in it before electronics. nice plane, maybe a little fast for a begginer plane but fun and easy to repair. A speed 400 with a MCR4-a Futaba esc and reciever in one. I still have it and fly it now and then.
I agree a F-15 EDF is not what you should start with, but, you fly what you got. After planting my first plane several times I came to realize it was ME, imagine that. I fixed it again and bought a trainer.
Whichever way you go, stay on the forums here at Wattflyer, it gives me a reason to come to work and abuse the company computor:tc: