Flying for Real..

[VEGAS]

Not to a constant scale then

All shapes and sizes mate.

Like the pilots...

[DaveB]

Well.. a much nicer start to the day than expected. Wind initially good to iffy (for me) but took a risk with it anyway.. albeit only a small one Really wanted to take the '51 out again but it's a pain in the butt only having one battery for it so I took the Cat and used the '51's battery with the adaptor. Got an opposite adaptor on the way so I can use my other batt in the '51

Really enjoyed it. Have much more confidence in launching now and an established PFC routine is in place. That was a lot of the problem I think. Having had a couple of launch failures.. you get to the stage where you're afraid to let go in case it heads for the deck before you can react and this does nothing to build confidence. I can feel my heart beating a bit faster and the old thumb shakes a tad but I'm fine (as much as I'll ever be) in short order

A little concerned after the second launch using the P51 battery that perhaps the charge was low.. visions of massive tree magnets or it flying off into the early morning sun never to be seen again.. but I put it down to slightly stronger winds aloft as it stayed up fine for the 6mins. I felt a 'little' uneasy though A bit twitchier on the second flight too so while I couldn't feel anything at ground level.. it was definitely a bit more gusty up top.

All in all.. a smashing 12mins worth and a nice walk in the sun to and from the flying field. Batteries on charge ready for next time
EDIT: P51 battery fine.. had it up with the P51 this evening.. perfect conditions.. no sign of troll's.. a min or so in the air when I heard from behind me 'that goes fast dunnit mate'.. 'how far does it go?' .. 'how high does it go?'.. 'does it fire machine guns?'.. etc, etc

ATB
DaveB

[VEGAS]

All sounds good Dave.

Nothing better than when it all goes right.

I think that's why I like to be left alone when flying.

I'm very much a people person but flying requires concentration and no distractions.

I've often almost stuffed it into the ground when people come up chatting.

Your building up the hours now and that usually means one thing.

You'll be looking for your next plane soon! It's like a drug..

I'd certainly get another couple of lipos when funds allow.

Always nice to land safely and throw a fresh one back in.

There are a couple of suppliers on eBay that will stick a free connector of your choice on too.

I'm struggling to fly for the next few days as I'm back in work.

I'll try and get out this morning though. Maybe just for 20mins.

[DaveB]

An uncomfortable flight this morning. Wifey got back off nights around 7am and informed me it wasn't windy so I checked the Sycamore across the road and it didn't look half bad A lovely morning yesterday but I ended up aborting any launch as the ribbon on the txer AE spent rather too much time horizontal. Disappointing when you come back with charged batteries but not as disappointing as coming back with your model in bits. Done that too many times already

Chose the common behind the house this morning as it better matches the westerlies.. I get a nice long run in for landing. The other part of the common is better suited to northerlies/southerlies. Two runways and only a 5min walk apart! Anyways.. once over there, I wasn't 100% happy. The old ribbon was well over 25deg off horizontal half the time but for the other half, it was closer to horizontal. Launch or go back home?? The troughs seemed a lot longer than the gusts so I decided to launch.. P51 this time.

Got most of the way through the battery but not happy.. the gusty bits now seeming to be longer than the troughs. Being wary of the wing mount repair I had to do on the P51 (which in all probability is the strongest part of the model).. I decided to bring it in with a min still to run. Not seen the P51 'chop' around before and that made me nervous One final downwind.. a nice run into wind and a lovely flare before a gentle skid to a stop. My heart rate slowed immediately

I find the Mustang much better at low speeds Eddie.. very handy for landing. You can cut the throttle a metre off the deck and bring it will continue to glide with gentle taps on the elevator until you're ready to let it land. The Cat doesn't glide and is more eager to land so you have to be ready. Do you find that?

Since I've been back, the Sycamore across the road has started bending rather more so I'm glad I came in when I did. Once more.. the glue stays stowed Still a lovely morning out there but too windy (for me) to fly

You any idea how fast the P51 and Cat are? I know the SCub has a listed top end of around 30mph which doesn't sound a lot but isn't slow. Can't find anything for the P51 other than a vid on Youtube where some bloke has uprated the motor and had the model timed at 111mph I think!

ATB
DaveB

[VEGAS]

Morning mate.

Yes I went out early yesterday morning and the blooming weather nearly caught me out.

It got really gusty whilst I was flying the Wildcat. Too twitchy so I used one Lipo before coming in.

I'm finding that I'll save the Mustang for best. Only because it's in brand new order.

The Wildcat is full of scratches and battle scars!

Your right Dave the Mustang handles low speeds much more comfortably. The Cat is like a flying barrel.

Wouldn't like guess their speeds. I would say its 45-50mph easy. Maybe more.

The Mustang does seem a hell of a lot faster to me.

This jet stream has headed back south again to god knows when the weather will get better.

[DaveB]

If your Cat has a few dinks and scratches, you'd be forgiven for wondering how mine still flies Likewise though, I tend to keep the Mustang for best. Despite it's early crash, the only visible signs are very slight impact compression marks at the cockpit front and rear.. the cockpit having departed on impact and the odd, small scuffs on the engine intake too but that's not gonna get better with it being a belly lander.

Just had our first taste of that lowering jetstream.. a lovely downpour! The darned windspeed has dropped too but I'm not risking it again. I need to keep an eye on the washing I've just put out instead!

I love the thought of the Cat as a barrel I think Dale fancies a large scale FMS 'Jug' like his Mustang. Gad knows how that would behave!
ATB
DaveB

[Vc Ten]

Hi All
Found the zlin, but destroyed the cougar ducted fan jet dropped into a dive at about 200ft increased to full throttle with the intention of a nice loop infront of the club cabin The only thing was that on applying up elevator the plane continued to dive at 60 or so degrees straight in. Foam everywhere Not enough suvived to comptete a crash investigation Been a good model though all the expensive bits retrieved. fan seems undamaged the lander ones are aluminium bodied Looking at a hobbyking vampire as replacement though none in uk stock at moment
ATB
Dale

[DaveB]

Hello Mate

Good news you found the Zlin but you must be gutted to lose the Cougar.. in such a spectacular fashion with an audience too Ah well.. if you're gonna do it, you may as well do it with style

That Vampire looks nice. Hang about on the page long enough and you get offered an extra discount.. $3 Thank goodness I'm not in the market

Keep this up mate and you'll be going straight to the top of Wendy's Christmas card list
ATB
DaveB

[Tonks]

Now, this is an RC model!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eA8d_YhI ... ure=colike

I was sent some pics by the chap building it as well... It is awesome, but Mrs T said I can't have one!!!

Tonks

[TSR2]

I want one! Awesome! It sounds superb, and that looked like working flaps! I had my hand in my mouth when he was bringing it in to land, beautiful, can't wait to see it painted up

thanks for the link Mr. T