Classic British Flight Sim

Hi James..

Yes.. info isn't as easy to come by as one would imagine. An article I read by the FAA considers 2 types of this sort of balloon.. tethered and moored. Tethered is just that. It can be attached to the back of a car or truck for example and be flown at an unspecified altitude. A moored balloon is more like were used in this country for parachute training (hence the carthweel mark on the ground below them). Altitudes for these are more restricted (by the FAA).. they're not to be flown above 500ft AGL though an unqualified 'pilot' can operate one. Moored balloons in the US are not intended for passenger use. None of this helps sort out our WWII/Post war problem

I was never 100% sure if the balloon I saw at Weston would have actually been used to parachute out of. We surmised a static line would be used and some poor bod attached to it then booted out simulating a jump. The line would then be recovered and the next bod attached to it. Not quite as realistic as a static jump from an aircraft but rather more so than jumping off a platform a few feet off the ground. Doing a static-line jump from an aircraft, it takes approximately 3 seconds from when you jump to when your chute opens.. one thousand, two thousand, three thousand then your voice goes high In that time, you'll have fallen over 200ft so a static-line parachute jump from a balloon moored at 200ft would be somewhat foolhardy We did hear while at WotG that the SAS regularly stick jump from C130's at 800ft. Believe me.. there is no margin for error jumping that low

ATB
DaveB

Dave , if you're down Daarset way . There's a regular Notam out for parajumping around Studland Bay / Poole Harbour . Notam is usually up to 3500' but those in the know , reckon the SBS jump much, much, lower ... they're picked up by a Rib ... 'n this I have seen .... a Chinook descends to put his wheels in 't water , ramp down , Rib belts in up the back and Chinook lifts for lunch at local Marine base ! Notams cover the night period as well . We live a fair bit North , but if it's reasonable wx day or night the dropping Herc whilst en-route sure takes the tiles off !

Rgds Dave .

I've seen similar Dave though not 'live' as it were. Folk think this stuff is only the preserve of the US Navy 'Seals' too

ATB
Dave

Got two days off now.

Weather in these parts looks good.

Li-po's all charged and ready.

I think I'll be out with the Stryker and Radian tomorrow.

May even venture onto the moors to give our Beagle a proper blast.

Eddie..

Did you catch my question about binding? I bet you missed it with all the bushwacking that went on for a few posts

ATB
Dave

Hi Dave,

Must have missed it mate. Seen it now though.

Your correct the light on the reciever should go solid red and be followed by three beeps when bound.

I think the initial binding process (using the plug) is only required just the once when the model is new.

If your light is flashing on the rx then somethings not right.

For the very first bind, its pretty much how you describe;

ie, place plug in rx, turn on tx whilst holding the trainer switch down and then two system pair up, then release the trainer switch and remove plug.

Hi Eddie

So.. you remove the plug with the rxer still powered? This is how I did it with the Orange rxer in the ASW but wasn't sure from the destructions that I'd done it right. Pulling plugs from 'live' stuff didn't sit well with me. It worked though With the AR500 in the Bixler.. I powered off then removed the plug which seems safer though ultimately, may not have been correct. I'll have to try and re-bind the Bixler

Cheers mate
ATB
DaveB

Eddie..

I turned the txer on this morning then connected the battery in the Bixler and the rxer lamp was solid. OK, I thought, maybe it was having a bad hair day before. Took it over the common (lovely flying conditions other than the cold) and the rxer lamp stayed solid. Brought it in after 10mins and changed the battery. The rxer flashed Everything looked ok so I launched and so it was but I reckon a re-bind is on the cards. Can't tell if the ESC gave the correct battery recognition. My hearing sometimes filters out that freq (hopefully fixed tomorrow).

ATB
DaveB

Had to dismantle the P51 this week mate.

After three short flights, I noticed there appeared to be something wrong with one of the wing servo's.

I was just about to throw it for a fourth flight when I noticed a horrible grinding sound coming from the wings.

Apparently its a common issue where the little plastic cogs inside the servo lose teeth and start to slip.

Sometimes its happens as a result of a heavy landing, but can occur due to no fault of the pilot.

Thank the lord for PFC's and the fact I didn't launch it.

Supplying dealer has been excellent.

A quick phone call to them and its on its way back for repair/replacement.

Ah.. excellent The splines on the servo shaft don't amount to much do they Nice of the seller to sort it for you. I take it you only sent the servo and not the rather battered looking wing!

ATB
DaveB