New from Minneapolis

[JDMN]

Hello all, I just purchased this kit (Super Cub RTF). For a few weeks prior I was using the Phoenix Flight Sim to try the various models and learn how to fly without crashing.

As for me when I was a teenager about 20 years ago I build electric RC buggies and trucks and raced them. However, after a million laps around the dirt tracks and constantly cleaning them I grew bored. All the while I was in the RC cars and trucks sport I kept an eye on RC planes.

I have always been fascinated by aviation, particularly WWII warbirds. Since my early twenties I've had and played to death all the flight sims (e.g. Air Warrior I, II, III, Msft Flight Sim, Warbirds). Eventually I'd like to build a scale model/s of a FW-190 or ME-109.

For now my goal is to build up my confidence with RC planes. I'm hoping the hundreds of hours of time spent on flight sims might serve me well in picking up RC flying.

[Gohmer]

Welcome! I'm a little south of you in Owatonna. MARCEE www.marcee.org/ is a good twin cities group, all electric flyers.

I fly two HZ Supercubs. Let me know if I can help.

[flydiver]

Sounds like you have the rare background to learn quickly. OTOH, the first few seconds of a plane maiden is by far the most risky, esp. at the hands of a newbie. I'm the big fan of getting mentor help. One or 2 sessions might be all you need, instead of 1-2 months like me.
Try to connect with Gohmer or someone with experience. It's more fun anyway.

[JDMN]

I finally was able to have my inaugural flight this evening. It probably was not the best conditions with winds gusting up to 5-10 mph.

Flying the plane in some ways was easier than I thought. I had two fully charged lipo batteries and on the first battery I essentially cycled through touch and go landings to get a feel of the model. I found that I need an alarm system for when the battery gets low. The plane has a fairly decent climb, certainly good enough to do simple vertical loops if I did a bit of a dive to build up energy first.

My second lipo battery was a 25C which seemed to give the motor much punch to pull loops. I even was able to get some nice tail slides and stallouts.

All the fun almost came to a screeching halt when I handed the radio to my wife. She started a nice ground take-off, but I don't know if it was a wind gust of what, but she banked to the right and nosed straight down into the asphalt parking lot. I still wonder how she rotated this model without ailerons- women never cease to amaze me.

Even with a nose dive into the asphalt, which destroyed the cowling and spinner, the model still flew well. I did notice that my vertical climb was diminished and it was louder. After completing the entire inaugural flight I removed the remnants of the cowling and noticed that the motor mount on the gearbox was fractured.

So tomorrow I'm off to the Hobby Zone store nearby to get replacement parts. Thank god all of it is cheap, the complete repair $13.00.

[flydiver]

You can hand the TX of a perfectly flying model to a newbie and within seconds it is screaming straight for the ground. This is normal.
If you wife has no flying experience then what happened is painfully characteristic of the first several (dozen +) flights.

If you try again I suggest 5 mistakes high before she takes the controls with clear provisions to take them back when there are only 2 mistakes high left.
Buddy box is even better but you have to get another compatible TX and cord link.

[JDMN]

The weather has been a bit gusty this weekend, but I rolled the dice and took the SC out anyway. I found that above the treetops the wind was worse than originally thought.

I attached my 808 keychain camera to an extra battery door. I used some 3M double-sided tape to mount the camera. It worked quite well to minimize vibration and movement. I'd have to say for $10 I was impressed with the camera's operation and quality.

youtu.be/jdldADc_q98