Bixler - first flight - thanks !

[emdeex]

I just flew my new Bixler in the park across the street, on a beautiful warm evening after work, with my two little kids.

I checked it all out, powered up, threw it up, and it took off!

I quickly realized something was wrong though, it was lifting OK, but not going the direction I wanted. ie. the ailerons were reversed! Uh-Oh, I thought I had checked that.

But thanks to plenty of simulator practice, managed to steer it back down for a soft-ish landing. Running over, we were amazed that no damage occurred at all.

Reversed the ailerons in the Turnigy 9X, and threw it up again. This time we were cruising ! Loved it! Flew around and around, full speed, half speed, gliding, it was sweet, and beautiful to fly. The kids ran around and around watching it soar, it was a great experience.

After a few landing and take-offs, I did finally come to a stop too late and ran the nose into a wire fence. The tail broke its glue bond and is loose, but no damage, I'll just glue it on again.

I just wanted to say thanks to all those on this forum who helped with the build and troubleshooting my various build issues.

Thanks again ! A great intro to my first flying RC plane experience.

[xmech2k]

Well, I don't think I was one of those who helped you, but welcome to the addiction!

[mcmoggy]

Hey well done! I've found it floats on a 1500, struggles with a 2200(weight issues) but is totally sweet with a 1800mah.

[Beemerider]

For a guy with no experience to be able to handle reversed ailerons---that says a lot about you. Congratulations!

Welcome to the hobby!

[AEAJR]

How about an update. Have you flown again?

[emdeex]

Originally Posted by AEAJR

How about an update. Have you flown again?

Sure thing, in fact I flew it tonight. Just me. A storm was slowly coming in from the West, but it was pretty still with a gentle southerly blowing in from the sea.

I have a great spot, a bluff near the road, the looks out over the lakes and the sea beyond. I'm up to maybe my 4th flight. So still early days, but I'm loving it. It's such a great feeling watching it soar.

I like to power it up high, and then cut the throttle and see how long I can thermal it around, catching the southerly breeze. A few birds take umbrage to it's path, and intercept it midflight. No harm done though.

I found a new way of landing it tonight, previously I'd tried to get it down on a flat bit of land near the lake edge, this time I soared it slowly in towards the bluff I was standing on, cut the power, and flared just before the grass and landed it on the slope beneath me. The hill actually makes a better softer landing pad than the flat land beneath.

I've bought a GoPro, so maybe tomorrow I'll try to make a mount for it to fit in the Bixler cockpit...

Thanks for allowing me to share!