Nitroplanes Upgraded Airfield 55 Inch Sky Trainer Ailerons Lights Better Landing Gear

[phillipmorris]

The upgraded version of the value priced $139 RTF SkyTrainer High Wing Cessan with Ailerons, now LED Lights, very nice. Includes it all 2.4 Transmitter and Lipo with Charger

Not much time had it up too early yesterday, nearly paid the price was a tad tail heavy, barely able to recover, my fault.

This morning before work adjusted the surfaces flush, pushed the batterry forward and rewarded with an excellent flyer ! Winds weren't friendly this morning near 15 MPH or more flags straight, but wasn't raining so off we go to our popular vacant lot. This time it merrily went off the ground straight as an arrow, held well into the heavier winds and tho froze at times had good penetration. With so much breezes short flight and brought it home deadstick simply down nosed to keep things flying, even with all this wind had decent glide and landed rather decently best I could do in these conditions, no bounce but bumped the base of a street light at the stop, no harm done.

And the Lights, oh yeah, now ready for some Night Flying, tho cloudly was too late to get the light effect, dusk flyer will do fantastic, with my lit parking lot fly anytime in the evening etc. Hardly wait

Is a value flyer, transmitter didn't have the dial in thorws as some of these RTF have for softer controls, but was ok, just easy on those ailerons.

They did beef up the rear landing gear, but the front is not that protected, it will bend on a bad touchdown, so might want to reinforce if you have a way there, but normal landings its quite decent.

I like this puppie, newbies get a pilot as is ailerons, and find one that has flown this one, it handles well, but basic requrements as COG and Flush surfaces mandatory for it to fly correctly as expected.

Thumbs up, I'm going to enjoy mine ...

http://www.nitroplanes.com/93a300-sk...oflap-4ch.html

Note they also have one with flaps, would be very cool here, but nearly an overkill as flys quite decent with just the ailerons, the one listed has flaps but need to add servos etc, tho they do supply the linkage for the flaps in this one as well..your option, missed that, might have ordered that one but not really needed, just neat...

[greymachine]

I have the new version too but with the flaps installed. It's my first plane and I've been waiting for a dead calm morning to take it to the field.

Would it be advisable to leave the flaps up while I learn? I thought they were supposed to make it easier to fly slowly, but I can see how they might make it a bit unwieldy.

[rms59]

I have two earlier versions of this Airfield model that has solid windows instead of open like the new version, and a white plastic cowl instead of the EPO formed cowl which I think the newer one does. This plane is one of the best flying foam planes I ever bought. It has more than enough power and swings a 12/8 prop.

I had the same problem with the nosegear bending back on bad landings and it always bends where it enters the 3/4 inch aluminum bushing so I got rid of it. First thing to do is discard the nosegear and it's bushing. Then make a new landing gear a little longer but the same thickness so it will insert into the present landing gear mount. Make it so the coil ends up as close to the mount as possible. Getting rid of that bushing solved the problem on both of those planes.

I also cut into the fuselage and epoxied in a 1/4 inch square piece of hardwood as added support. See photo.



@greymachine. I only use flaps when descending for a landing. I would not advise flying around with them down as it can become unpredictable some times. You will find that a little wind will tend to slow the plane down quickly and you may end up in a little trouble if you're not on the throttle fast enough.

If you want to play with flaps, take off without them, gain a good amount of altitude, then drop flaps and fly around so you have enough altitude to play with.

All in all, this is a great plane and I'm in the process of getting another as a spare in case they stop making them. Truly a beatiful flying machine.

Dick

[CrimzonRider]

Originally Posted by greymachine

I have the new version too but with the flaps installed. It's my first plane and I've been waiting for a dead calm morning to take it to the field.

Would it be advisable to leave the flaps up while I learn? I thought they were supposed to make it easier to fly slowly, but I can see how they might make it a bit unwieldy.

I would leave the flaps up IMO, but this plane is a little hard to land in dead calm conditions, a little wind maybe 5-10mph helps as it is a fast lander.
But like another post said, try the flaps up high and be ready to apply 1/4 down elevator as it will shoot up 25ft and stall if you dont.

As for the nose gear, look at my pics in my album. I beefed up the nose gear with a 6011 welding rod, very strong but still bendable to absorb those not so perfect landing.

here is my other thread....

http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60810

have a good one
cr

[phillipmorris]

Nice input on the nose gear, perhaps its only flaw, I have flown awhile so will get by with the original setup as now had few years flying experience. I like rms59 adding hardwood giving additional support.

greymachine
Do advise for you to please find an accomplished pilot, if possible one that has flown this model, even the best trainer can be alot to handle for the raw beginner. Example we have our new pilots Not land or even take Off ! We put them up, give them careful instruction giving them short periods on the stick, and defintely land for them ! Takes Awhile to get the feel for flight and different conditions, also the proper pilot will make sure things are intrim, if a Newbie maidened mine with the flaws I had on the first flight, would be zero hope on saving it. Took all my skill to land without damaging things...

I would leave the flaps alone at the start, its forgiving once trimmed out, it does take some speed to make the correct landing, and learning to flare is another important learning step. Too much for most beginners.

This is an increadible value ship, all of our pilots but one have this model and simply love it.

Very proud of our group, our last newbie took well over a dozen flights before he attempted to solo, and rewarded with an undamaged plane on his second season of flying.

Keep us posted, most of all, Have Fun, Love This Hobby !

[CrimzonRider]

I agree also with the hardwood reinforcement, looking back, I should have done that. doing it now with stronger foam sandwiched between two pieces of 3/16 basswood ply.

Another weak point that I found out recently( two days ago) are the wing struts. Had almost 20 good flights with it, solo, and the last four have just been ragged cartwheels(due to bad servo and dumb thumbs)....lol luckily only on takeoff, not 200ft up. Still thinking about what to make them out of wood, alum, plastic again....dunno Does this plane even really need them?....probably so

have a good one
cr

[greymachine]

Thanks for the input guys. I'll stay clear of the flaps at first.

I got out to the field today and had a couple local experts look the plane over and maiden it for me. I didn't take the controls as it was too blustery, but watching it take flight was just awesome. The guy who took it up said it was trimmed just right out of the box (after some careful setting of the COG, required some weight in the nose). He took his hands off the sticks and she flew dead straight and level, then brought her in for the smoothest landing I've ever seen in person. Can't WAIT to fly this thing solo! I haven't even taken the sticks yet and I'm hooked.

[CrimzonRider]

IMO it does like a little nose heavy, it will slide alot in turns if you dont like to use a lot of rudder, also with a 2200mah batt make sure it is 100% towards the front of the batt compartment. With a big 3200mah battery it flys so awesome, but you will have to trim the fuse to get it to fit

have a good one
cr

[rms59]

Originally Posted by CrimzonRider

I agree also with the hardwood reinforcement, looking back, I should have done that. doing it now with stronger foam sandwiched between two pieces of 3/16 basswood ply.

Another weak point that I found out recently( two days ago) are the wing struts. Had almost 20 good flights with it, solo, and the last four have just been ragged cartwheels(due to bad servo and dumb thumbs)....lol luckily only on takeoff, not 200ft up. Still thinking about what to make them out of wood, alum, plastic again....dunno Does this plane even really need them?....probably so

have a good one
cr

PLEASE don't fly that plane without wing struts. The wings are thin and designed for the strut requirement. I broke one once when I sat on it then noticed they were hollow so I just took a piece of hardwood and shoved it inside with a little glue. Add a strip of white electrical tape and you're done.

[CrimzonRider]

Yea I pretty much figured that.....my 182 is not gona be flying anytime soon, making another firewall right now....also my struts are solid "plastic".

have a good one
cr

[phillipmorris]

Dang I zinged mine in the other night, rather windy part of the issue but it stalled too low, needs prop etc, believe I'll do the flaps just for fun on the next venture...

This one flys very well, just stupid mistake...more careful next outings...

[xmech2k]

That's a nice bird! I started out with an Apprentice, which has a general look of a Cessna, but this Sky Trainer really has a nice scale look, and sounds like it's a nice flyer as well. My Apprentice is nice, but I'm jealous of the scale looks!

[phillipmorris]

Fear not the Apprentice will be the first to admit is a terrific flyer, perhaps flys a tad better. And alot more forgiving on harsh landings. This one is what it is, a great value bird and when trimmed and balanced out flys quite well. But most should reinforce that nose gear on the Sky Trainer.

Other than gliders only plane todate I can praise that flys better than anything yet, is the Flyzone Corvalis, landings are impressive, and even handling about good as it gets. But all these models have a strong point, Sky Traner nice lines, Apprentice durable trainer, Corvalis wins on all points...just my opinion...note the Corvalis also has some reinforcement on the nose and wide metal blade on rear landing gear, wish all would take heed there...

Only other ship that wins on handling is the T34 Mentor, its even stronger on the nose gear than any model I have, but more pricy, low wing not quite the beginner ship, bulsa, beautiful flyer tho...

[CrimzonRider]

Originally Posted by phillipmorris

Dang I zinged mine in the other night, rather windy part of the issue but it stalled too low, needs prop etc, believe I'll do the flaps just for fun on the next venture...

This one flys very well, just stupid mistake...more careful next outings...

yeah phillip I have done the same thing, does not take much to stall. Mine drops the left wing first in a stall probably need to add a nail(weight) to the right wing.
In zero wind conditions, I almost always use the flaps, it's really easy to land real good. I usually fly in 5-10mph wind, so I do not use the flaps all the time.

Also got my eye on a corvalis at the hobby shop, only 149 bucks , looks real good. Just ordered a formosa, seen one flying last week really like the look, might be a challenge, as is my first low wing.

have a good one
cr

[phillipmorris]

Fine, on the Corvalis the Flyzone one has the best handling of any plane I've flown todate as low wing, is other makes out there, first letter starts with E and no it doesn't have the docile behavior as the Flyzone, not easy to take off and other issues inflight, bit more to handle, but your option, just my input, one of our flyers has the other makers version, beauty, but not docile..