No Cub Flight

[hghost]

Still have not had one chance to fly my Cub.

Weather has cleared up and getting nice, however the flying field
is still a swamp and has grown up really bad.

Wanted to fly in a small local park, every time the chance arrives
and the weather is great, to many people around.

So today I decided to fly my Champ in my yard....bad decision.
I have a nice size yard, some tree's and power lines around .
But wanting to fly and getting tired of trying to wait for the moment
I gave the Champ a whirl....bad idea. No breeze, at dusk and beautiful.

SO...hand launching smooth as sink went to turn and the turn is so slow
and long running out of room,almost got it around when suddenly a gust of wind blows it
straight up on correction turned to bank down...it went into a tree.

Ladder and a long pole and finally got it down no damage at all....

BUT If this little champ takes a Football field length to turn, how will the Cub perform ?
That was my thought....Never thought about how much it took to turn something so small.

Examining the Champ seems the rudder moves further one direction than the other and no matter
which hole one sticks the control wire into the control horn still same issue. Guess I need to
take apart and adjust the servo or something inside. This is suppose to be a backyard flyer .
My yard is nice size , allot longer than it is wide and trees surround outer rim and some power
lines cross the lower section....but the area should have been wide enough for this Champ and I would
think watching some videos on You tube..maybe enough even for the Cub.

But after today I will not take the chance with the Cub i did with the Champ...seems my flying
season will be ending before it ever gets started. Frustrating to say the least. One spends money
time and study and hours to get to fly only to get disappointed time and again. Crazy weather,
lack of flying places and ever growing lack of patience...is taking it's toll....so much so
I even ordered a Heli, just so i can fly something . I own a small one I fly inside, I ordered
one to fly outside a 30 inch length one. A 3 Channel one for beginners, but large nonetheless.

Seems this beautiful Cub I got and worked so much on to get it right will be no more than a
Decoration on my ceiling. After many years of building planes and flying none...seems that record
continues .

Just my little rant, but I am not getting any younger nor is time standing still for it to happen.

Have not been on here in awhile..all I do is set and wait....nothing other than complaining
can I do on this forum and that does not help anyone.

[Crazy Horse]

hghost,

Please do not get despondent!

The weather where I am has been awful, if it was not raining, it was windy. On the two or perhaps three days when it would have been OK to fly, I had a broken bone in my hand. This has recently been operated upon and I have had the hand in plaster for the last seven weeks, one to go if all goes well. So I haven't even been able to do anything to my aircraft. Then a couple of days ago I had a major op on my knee, hobbling around now, looking at the Cubs on my wall.

My hand might get strong enough to fly in a few months, just in time for the Winter weather! But, I have to remember, some of those Autumn (Fall to you) evenings are just perfect. Enough of my problems, let us talk about you.

Now, about your Champ. I strongly suggest that you check the servo's at rest and that the arms are of equal movement when activated. They should be at right angles to the servo when at rest. You say the rudder moves more in one direction than the other. Please check the rudder servo arm position and adjust on the splined shaft where it locates if necessary. Also that the rudder is in line with the tail when in this neutral position If all this is obvious to you then I apologise, but I have often overlooked the simple things and they really are important as I have found to my cost in the past. I feel sure that Flydiver will be able to elaborate and give better advice than I.

Don't give up my friend, your Cub will fly, there will be calm days without lots of people around and I bet that you will find a better place to fly.

This hobby/obsession can be frustrating at times, things go wrong for one reason or another, but the times when you see your aircraft in the air, flying beautifully and then the landing is soft and gentle make up for it all.

It's just like life old chap, it is only because of the bad times that you can appreciate the good times. The good times will come.

As for you not getting any younger, I can give you more than a decade! As we get older, we learn more patience (gradually). Some things get taken away, speed of reactions, sight gets worse, but they are replaced with others, wisdom, tolerance, etc.

It is always good to have a rant now and then, that is what a good mate is for and on this forum you have hundreds of good mates! As for not helping anyone, well, it is not always about helping others, sometimes we need help ourselves, even old Crazy Horse.

[jklong03]

Crazy Horse, your sage wisdom astounds me! Of course your technical advice is right on the mark, checking the servo neutral alignment is the first step for our frustrated friend and his little Champ.

But your advice on aging and patience are priceless, and this "yank" often stands in awe at the ability of you Brits to summarize your life experiences with such eloquence. Makes me feel bad for feeling impatient as I am in the process of rebuilding my cub following a nasty crash. I am having to wait for payday to get the parts, and in the meantime lovely flying days seem to come and go each day I am down. I am putting new electronics and a brushless upgrade on her, and sometimes the fact that I'll have to mail order the aluminum motor mount from Custom RC makes me impatient to the point of going with another stock motor and buying a brushed ESC! But hearing of you two and your struggles with the weather makes me feel foolish for worrying about an additional week waiting for the correct parts to do this rebuild the correct way!

Thank you both for giving me a much needed sense of perspective on this whole process! And here's wishes for a speedy recovery for you CH and for clear skies and calm winds in both of your futures!

[jklong03]

Here I sit, beautiful weather and no wind in Utah:


And here sits my beloved SuperCub LP awaiting payday so I can buy my firewall, E-flight Park 480, custom mount from Custom RC Parts, Spectrum receiver, 45 A brushless ESC with switchmode BCS, servos for the ailerons and a few other miscellaneous parts to get her back in the air!





Arrgg!!

[flydiver]

Go to www.headsuphobby.com/main.sc
He has everything you want at reasonable price. The E-flite motor and Spektrum are top notch and top price. It's up to you to decided if you want to go that route.
If you are doing 4 servos you will want the switchmode BEC. 45A is overkill if you can get a 40 SBEC but it certainly won't hurt anything but your wallet.

If you don't know how to substitute just send Jeff an email telling him what you want to do and the parts you are considering.

[jklong03]

Jun 23, 2013 19:42:25 GMT 1 flydiver said:

Go to www.headsuphobby.com/main.sc
He has everything you want at reasonable price. The E-flite motor and Spektrum are top notch and top price. It's up to you to decided if you want to go that route.
If you are doing 4 servos you will want the switchmode BEC. 45A is overkill if you can get a 40 SBEC but it certainly won't hurt anything but your wallet.

If you don't know how to substitute just send Jeff an email telling him what you want to do and the parts you are considering.

Yes, I've been there and that's why I picked the components I did. Only thing that they (or anyone else that I can find) don't have in stock is the aluminum motor mount. Looks like all the distributors get theirs from Custom RC parts, that's why I am going directly to them. As for the other parts I named, I have a LHS that has very competitive prices so I think I'll pay the minimal difference to get them in person. Guess I'm lucky to live so close to an excellent Foamie Only hobby store that has an outstanding stock of everything I want, with the exception of the motor mount!

Thanks for the tip however, nice to know we look out for each other here on the SCC!

[hghost]

Thanks for the replies...CH, You always know what to say, guess this aging does bring with it wisdom, you sure have allot of it. Thank You and I do hope and pray your mended soon.

I did take apart this little champ...odd set up it has inside. Not use to allot of this new technology.The servo set up is on a printed circuit board, the servo's ( if that is what they are )are two round looking things with gears at the top, one large one small...the little lever moves straight up , straight down, not at arm at all nor turns as most servos do . The control rods are paper thin , bend very easy . I adjusted the rods in the control horns did not help on movement, But these rods at the end where they attach to the control on has a loop in it . So I took a pair of pliers and squeezed that little loop together, it lined up the Rudder with the Tail .

I used the radio and moved the stick back and forth, it now moves the Rudder about the same space right to left....almost perfect a little more tweaking and it should be perfect . These style servos have no adjustment that I can see ( magnifying glass needed ) but I have never seen a set up like this. sweet tho, to work the way it does.
The adjustment is on the control rods....seems even placing the rods in multiple holes on the horn only made it worse one side to the other...Odd the way it works.
So first hole in control horn, squeezed the little loop on the control rod and there we go...looks good...I will find out soon...going to that small Park tomorrow Early...usually no people there in the early day time..Hope we have calm winds....if all goes well...maybe the place the Cub gets her first Flight....or we fly above the tall grass and mud in the large field down the road from the Park...seems to have dried some... tall grass may make the Cub landings safer..? Sees tall grass makes a great catchers mitt.........

The Motor in the Champ is smaller than my pinky finger....it produces allot of power for it's size, Amazing this New technology. Wish i was more savy about how it all works. Anyway..........

Thanks to all for putting up with my ranting....Thanks again CH for your kind words of wisdom.Get well soon my friend.

[Crazy Horse]

jklong and hghost,

Thanks for your good wishes and kind comments. I just tend to treat each day as a school day, always something new to learn and experience.

jk,

I love the photo' with the soft toys and the rolls of tape next to them! LOL. When you do your upgrade I would be most interested to see the work in progress. If you can post some pictures that would be great.

hghost,

Good for you! It seems that you are investigating and finding out about the workings. I have spent months looking on this forum, increased my knowledge but still realise that I have so much to learn and digest. That is the fun part, always something new.
See, the large field down the road is starting to dry out, your luck is changing already!

[hghost]

Went to the small Park up the road from my home today to fly the Champ. Weather was beautiful and the wind for the most part was light. It did on occasion gust pretty hard.Winds gusted from 7 to 10 mph . Mostly about 4 to 5 mph steady most of the time.But at times got really hard.

Flew the Champ several times. Absolutely loved it. Tried to get my daughter to fly, she refused. She enjoyed watching the Big Kid play .

This little plane really surprised me and gave me a thrill . I had it moving so slow it looked like one of those old slow motion pictures . It handled like a dream.When the wind was calm.

When the wind got real gusty, at one time the plane actually hovered in one spot for over a minute...other than a wiggle, it stood still in the air.It was a beautiful sight.

This Champ in the gusty winds handled just that way,Like a Champ. This plane was amazing in it's handling. Many circles and figure eights. One time I cut power and it made a complete circle , even against the wind it continued on to a slow landing .

When I turned with the wind this little Champ moved so fast it covered an area in a very short time...when turn back into the wind it would go straight up and I believe it could have gone out of sight a few times if I let it....I hit down elevator to level her out and she pushed on through that wind with little struggle . Never knew this small a plane would handle this well. My Hope the Cub is twice the thrill.

4 Batteries later I stopped flying to be with my daughter. She looked lonely setting there watching me. The Sun was hot and the wind blowing was even hot.She went under a shelter to get out of it. Felt bad I was having fun and she just watched.

The plan is to get really good at the Champ and then move to the Cub .Hopefully in a few weeks weather allowing, the Cub will get her maiden flight.I will fly her on a much calmer day i hope.

I had only two mishaps. One i hit a wire between light poles and I hit a lower limb on a tree when i tried to pass under it...other than that and of course belly landings in the grass the champ sustained No damage at all.

We are going to go back tomorrow, but this time my daughter is going to take her Off Road buggy and drive it around.She likes those fast 4wd cars. The place has what use to be a Coral they had horse shows in many years ago when I was a kid...it looks like a bowl in the ground, natural banked turns...she wants to run around it...so we will do that awhile , plus fly the Champ again...weather permitting and it is not to windy .

Can't wait till the day I can get the Cub in the air...hopefully it will be sooner than i think...the place seems perfect and large enough to use it with no problems.And if i need more room, i will go a little further down the same road and give it a try in that larger field.It is grown up, but the mud is drying and may make for some exciting tall grass landing.....if the Cub handles anywhere as easy as the Champ did today, even in the wind....It will be Wonderful.

I am filled with joy, i waited many many years to fly a plane...even if it was just this Champ, it made a dream of mine come true, one I have had since I was little. Most of my flights ended within a few seconds only to watch dreams fly into pieces.Drove me away from even trying for years. Now with today's technology and these foam planes seems it is far easier than it use to be , it has allowed me to fulfill another desire .

My daughter and I a few years back went up in a BiPlane a Waco when an Air Show came to town...it was something i always wanted to do as well...we got to do it together. Now the other desire to fly RC planes is coming to pass as well and sharing it with my daughter....I must say thank You Lord for the Blessings you have supplied and allowed me to have dreams fulfilled before I leave this world....( hopefully not for many years to come )..but just the same I am Blessed just the same and being able to share it with my child and with Friends on this forum who patiently have withstood some of my ranting and questions that has helped make this day happen, and Lord willing, many more days to come and many more exciting and fun flights .

[Crazy Horse]

Absolutely delighted for you! I told you good times will come! I can not tell you how pleased I am for you, it has made a great start to my day, thank you.

As for your lovely daughter, a little advice if I might be so allowed. Why not name your Champ/ Cub after her? I have never met a woman that can resist these little "courtesies" and it might just be the encouragement to get her to fly. It is certainly worth a try. Make the most of your time spent with her (really all other time is wasted). The time I spent with my sons when they were young is priceless and they remember it well, as I do. If she takes up flying, be prepared for the day when she is so much better than you at doing so and take comfort in the fact that you have watched her growth and progress and been a good father.

Every day is a blessing my friend. Continue ranting and asking questions, I make a point of doing so! May you teach your grandchildren to fly.

I wish you calm winds, clear skies and battery packs that seem to last forever.

[jklong03]

Jun 25, 2013 6:45:42 GMT 1 Crazy Horse said:

Absolutely delighted for you! I told you good times will come! I can not tell you how pleased I am for you, it has made a great start to my day, thank you.

As for your lovely daughter, a little advice if I might be so allowed. Why not name your Champ/ Cub after her? I have never met a woman that can resist these little "courtesies" and it might just be the encouragement to get her to fly. It is certainly worth a try. Make the most of your time spent with her (really all other time is wasted). The time I spent with my sons when they were young is priceless and they remember it well, as I do. If she takes up flying, be prepared for the day when she is so much better than you at doing so and take comfort in the fact that you have watched her growth and progress and been a good father.

Every day is a blessing my friend. Continue ranting and asking questions, I make a point of doing so! May you teach your grandchildren to fly.

I wish you calm winds, clear skies and battery packs that seem to last forever.

Following your advice CH, I've christened my current reincarnation of my cub after my lovely wife! Yes, it is a shameless attempt to mitigate the complaining about the costs of the upgrades, but she does also listen attentively as I ramble on about the intricacies of my upgrade path and who knows, once she is trimmed out properly, a few circuits around the flying area will be enough to soon have her flying her own SC!

[hghost]

3 Hours of RC Cars and RC Flying...........wonderful day.....gusty winds and exciting times. Thanks CH and jklong03........great advice...she still refused to attempt it she is scared of crashing it.....I showed her in this very windy day, crashing is half the fun......We both enjoyed the high speed circuits around the park with our Sunfire buggies......then I just couldn't wait to get the Champ in the air...another amazing day of flight. This champ is great. Hope she will take the chance soon.

Great idea to name the Champ after her......I believe I will.....

Have a great day

[toff]

I'm nearly bawling here! What an absolutely wonderful thread. My Lord CH and all involved, thank you for making my day so much better.
Speaking of better: My Lord CH: HOPE YOU GET WELL SOON!!!!

[Crazy Horse]

Jun 25, 2013 22:49:23 GMT 1 toff said:

I'm nearly bawling here! What an absolutely wonderful thread. My Lord CH and all involved, thank you for making my day so much better.
Speaking of better: My Lord CH: HOPE YOU GET WELL SOON!!!!

Toff,

Thank you for your good wishes, these encouragements are really a boost to me.

Personally, it is so good to hear of a great father spending time with his child. I have always felt that to have children is a privilege, not a right. My task then is to be with them as much as I can, show them the correct path in life, admit when I am wrong and apologise to them when necessary. Lady CH and I have two fine sons, they both tower over me, not only in height, but for the men they are. I am so proud of them that sometimes I feel that my heart will burst with love and pride. I had better stop now or Toff will start sniffling.

Thanks once again to all who have been kind enough to think of me, you really don't know how much it means. (You wouldn't really trip me up if we were being chased by zombies, would you Toff?)

[jklong03]

YaHOO!! Payday is here! Custom aluminum motor mount from Custom RC parts is on order finally. Stopping by LHS on way home from work to get the Park 480, Spectrum RX, ESC and a few other misc. parts I need! Now comes the "is it here yet" vigil at my mailbox awaiting the motor mount!!