Flyzone Switch High And Low Wing Great Handling

[phillipmorris]

Flew this one just yesterday, was enjoying its easy handling in the Real Flight Simulator and pleased to say yes it does ! Only weak point for me was its wheels, had issues and the mounting on what I thought was an easy grass touchdown dislodged, its really designed perhaps for the hard surface landings whick I normally use. It has both high and low wing configuration by simply switching canopys. Was an otherwise quick build and like the snap magnetic wings and tail surfaces, it has premounted servos and was ready even surfaces flush with batteyr insertion ready to fly. Storm going on today, can't wait for the next outing will perhaps work on my inverted flights.

Quick peek at this one, flys outstanding on opener..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6mrE...1&feature=plcp

[dkrhardy]

I flew mine once as a high wing and every flight since has been as a low wing. I tnink the gear is OK, but I did a mod that was suggested in another forum. Simply cut a piece of thin ply to lay over the gear legs, on the inside, drill holes and put the screws back in. The only hard part is getting the screw holes, in the ply, to match. I used a piece of paper as a template. The ply sort of ties it all together. Also, do a flare landing rather than the more common wheels firmly planted style landing. That gear area is a possible weak spot so you are going to have to grease it on every time. It is the plane I always take to the field even if I take 2 or 3 others also.
Don

[phillipmorris]

Thanks for the landing gear info might just do that or at least add some glue, yep it's one that needs a flare landing but should be able to pull it off, winds weakening might get my flight in today. It's a dandy flier.

[AEAJR]

This looks like a cool plane. Are you guys new pilots or experienced pilots?

Switch

click here to watch the video

The Switch RC Plane Review and Maiden Flight

[dkrhardy]

I had been flying a year when I bought mine. In high wing it would be good as a 2nd plane I think. But only if you have flown for a fairly good while. Then as a low wing, a good 3rd plane. I bought it to play at aerobatics. You NEED to be good at landing, the gear area is not very forgiving. It can be beefed up and that will help, but landing must be done with a gentle touch.
Don

Phillip - did you get out? Tomorrow should be good for us here in S. Central AL !

[phillipmorris]

Yep had a smoother flight yesterday, winds but less gusty. In the low wing setting nice handling, infact zips rather well. Went past the sweet spot trim and balance when things settle will have it right. Was infact looping while trying to down trim, max and still not enough down or level ended up sticking the flight but still impressive very predictable. My wheels not tacked as yet so really cream puffed the gentle landing in the breeze. Wonderful flyer even with my maiden issues, winds aren't helping, patience. Too bad this model doesn't match their other Corvalis as much stronger wheels, also my favored flyer.

On inquiry I've flown near 3 to 4 years, big into night flights, Corvalis stock does extremely well can see night videos wnppmy YouTube if you wish. Like to pop lights perhaps on the switch high wing.

[phillipmorris]

Have to again say the Switch handles as the Real Flight Sim, very reason I purchased, wonderful handling as well as the landings. Experienced pilot will likely have zero issues on this one, Corvalis with flaps lands even better, but the Switch is a beauty as well. 35 MPH winds today, will Sim some inverteds always improve the flared landings. Sigh..

[phillipmorris]

Apologize as my video shows only couple brief passes but managed to land deadstick the Switch on view of cam, ran out of real-estate turned and nosed down, still decent touchdown easy with this one. Not the gifted trimmer while inflight, winds down late today and getting things closer, was some nose heavy but love it's smooth handling. Forgot to up elevator on start of take off gave nose in pavement, no biggie just up elevator hold on take off, goes airborne instantly!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fylx8...e_gdata_player

[dkrhardy]

OMG! Lose those girl wheels! Your "dash cam" doesn't show much! Fun flyer huh? Flew mine today in tooooo much wind. Had a great couple of flights with soft smooth landings! Tomorrow we go again!
Don

[phillipmorris]

Glad to hear your enjoying yours, yep will be replacing wheels. Again not much shown inflight did manage to drop the landing in narrow cam range, it's an easy one to bring in. Was some winds as can hear in video, can't wait for better weather. It can be speedy in low wing position, still easy.

Look closely at beginning of clip came in between the cluster of basketball hoops, no biggie but pay attention. Hah.

[phillipmorris]

Set in the low wing position.

Last winds down for first time nearing dusk, take off is instant, nice speed even half throttle, holds an inverted solid, it dead sticks easily if your so inclined. Dropped it home on landing still sailed past me for a gentle touch. Later will practice longer inverteds, handling again is excellent, treat to fly.

[dkrhardy]

I agree, but the control rod ends/connectors are trash, huh? I do like to fly this plane!
Don

[phillipmorris]

Yep, my first outing with near zero winds, absolute treat to fly. Agree the hookups are light, but more issues on the landing gear is my concern. Else it's super fun to fly.

[dkrhardy]

I'll make a confession here, but keep it to yourself, OK?

Yesterday I was goofing around with mech trim rather than all radio trim .. you know be sure radio is at zero and adjust the trashy control hook ups. So anyway, I had put too much down in the elevator without realizing it. Took off and OH MY it was needing a LOT of up stick to get it to "try" to fly. My friends saw it and asked if I needed help trimming it. I said no, I've got it. So I trimmed it and trimmed it. More than a handful, so I presumed that stupid connector was slipping. OK, land it now. I did, but was off to the side of the rwy and hit some long grass in landing attitude. The wheels/gear snagged the grass like an arresting wire on an aircraft carrier and stopped RIGHT NOW! Canopy flew off (I use magnets not the screw) and the battery wrenched loose of the strap AND the Velcro. OH OH. Guess what? The ply "mod" did the trick, nothing wrong except one of the gear legs bent back just a bit. Long story to tell you to put that ply piece in! OK, the rest of the story ... I had been adding MORE down with the trim, not up! No wonder I had run out of elevator control in the up part of the pitch axis. Thanks to my cat-like reflexes it lives to fly another day.
Don

[phillipmorris]

One of my flying friends wants to help on the wheel issue, may even put the originals back, but 55MPH winds too much lately, can't wait to put it thru more aggressive flights, cream puff landings are a piece of cake with this excellent model. Flight characteristics on this beauty give Max Stars.

Pssst in a hurry had too low setting on elevator had to stick it down, next time yep too much up elevator as earlier mentioned was looping as I desperately adjusted down trim, again sticked it home. So newbies out there please have a seasoned flier trim it up and COG correctly, and give me his address, Hah.

[dkrhardy]

Phillip - I looked at the video again and I don't know what is between the b-ball hoops. I even did stop action and see nuthin. ??

A tip, if you'd like ..... instead of looking DOWN at your radio to trim, try lifting the radio UP so you can see the plane and get a quick glance at your radio trim switches. You can see the plane 100% and the switches with your peripheral vision. It is waaaay too easy to glance down and lose track of where your plane is.

Did you change your wheels? And, what prop are you using? If you said before, well, I forgot.
Don

[phillipmorris]

It's an angle view are more hoops but enough room between, amazing I once hit the same back hoop twice missgaged.

Will be changing wheels soon, but another issue thin tail wheel broke, man does this one need wheel corrections big time! But flew like a champ moments ago, thumbs up on it's flying.

Prop is the stock one issued, yet to try the high wing position, maybe later for night flying as really enjoy.

[dkrhardy]

Got it!

I flew today, quick 2 batteries. Used the re-epoxied magnet motor. Epoxy does not like the heat and the magnets came loose. BUT, not until I got in my 2 flights! Whew! Had the really, brnd new motor at home so I'm ggod to go. Calm wind today ... OH I LOVED IT! I have a 10x6 on mine. Speed? I've been using ? motors, we'll see with a brand new stock motor. As it is, not much speed as I remember. Worry about a 10x7 prop, for watts. No watt meter.
Don
Don

[phillipmorris]

Having fun with mine stock, last tried the high wing position, so much wind but flew fine, tried to video but winds kept it out of the video target area, used touch of throttle for landing again so breezy, dropped in aok. Like the low wing but both fun indeed. Note is abit speedy even with high wing, great for me, touch much for a raw beginner perhaps, heck get a pilot, wish I would have, hah.

Note the thin bar of the tail wheel broke, wheel issue plaguing me, twisted the tail wheel back in position, takes off aileron control immediately in the air. All this going on still enjoying it's super flying.

Hey Flyzone, you did great on the sturdy Corvalis wheels, failed on this one tho, perhaps minor issue here, just too bad they didn't do well there.

[javier668]

My Switch flies great too, I like the low wing configuration.
The landing gear is ok, the plane needs flex to avoid structural damage when landing.
I have this problem on my first time, but I landed so hard . , I decided no fly it for a little time, then I flied a lot my micro cub and after purchased a um p51, now I land without problems like a feather my switch, and can handle crosswinds and gust flawlessly.

Regards!

[mark2cars]

The ply works great for me. I also went to larger wheels as i fly off grass alot.

[dkrhardy]

I have not been here for a while, so here is an update. I got tired of the flimsy aluminum gear and made a change. Seems like as time goes on the gear gets weaker and weaker. Even soft landings on a good grass rwy was bending the gear. Sooooo, I had a spare set of Mini Ultra Stick gear laying around doing absolutely nothing. It is almost a perfect size match. Same width and height. I did some fairly major surgery on the plane to make it fit. The ply piece worked well as a template for drilling holes in the gear. I reinforced the stock mounting and put the gear on, Gorilla glued the foam back into place and there ya go, a good strong steel gear set. OK, now the down side. The gear was made for a light balsa plane and when you land the Switch there is too much rebound. It is like the plane is a pogo stick. A greaser wheel landing is needed but when you hit the SMALLEST bump .... BOING ... back up you go. If you try to do a 3 pointer, BOING .. up you go. So landing it is touchy at best, but the gear is surely strong enough!

Don

[Edward100]

Originally Posted by mark2cars

The ply works great for me. I also went to larger wheels as i fly off grass alot.

Hello Mark:

I also fly my Flyzone SWITCH from a grass field. And I need to replace the standard wheels (2.2 inches in diameter) with larger diameter wheels.

Can you let me know what kind of wheels you purchased and who was the vendor.

Thanks.

[Edward100]

3" Wheels for Flyzone Switch

Wheels: Du-Bro #300SL
5/32" axle shaft: Du-Bro #247
5/32" collars: Du-Bro # 598