jklong03
Squadron leader
Utah, USA (Yes, it is a state!)
Posts: 226
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Post by jklong03 on Sept 15, 2013 17:42:12 GMT 1
Been having a wonderful day flying in perfect, calm, sunny weather here in Utah following a few days of rain! My preferred flying site is an abandoned office building parking lot with lots of grass fields on either side of it (yes, I have to dodge some light poles, successfully most of the times!) that is next to my apartment building. So it's go fly a battery, run home and charge up and back again for more fun! I've only got the one big battery (2400mah) for FrankeinCub so I don't swap out with my smaller ones since the battery is now forward of the wings following the "rebuild" and is an integral part of the CG.
Anyway, just enjoying this hobby so much right now I had to share.
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Post by Crazy Horse on Sept 15, 2013 18:34:41 GMT 1
Good for you old chap,
It has been pissing down here, wind enough to knock one off one's feet. Only one thing to do, get the servants to make MARMITE sandwiches with cucumber, Earl Grey tea, an old black and white film on the television, rugs over the knees, heating turned up, home-made beer in the offing, Magic!
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jklong03
Squadron leader
Utah, USA (Yes, it is a state!)
Posts: 226
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Post by jklong03 on Sept 17, 2013 3:12:39 GMT 1
Today is a great example of why electric flight and park flyers have finally fulfilled my ideal RC hobby.
Worked 12 hours, got home about 645 PM, wife had supper ready. Quick "fish and chips" meal (well the American version-frozen fish fillets and French fries) cleaned kitchen and still had time to toss the Frankencub and wife (well, I ASKED her to come- I would never toss my beloved in any manner) in the car and drive all of 2000 feet down the street to my trusty parking lot /runway.
Quick preflight and up for a nice battery length flight of laps, loops, Immelmans and aileron rolls! And in less than 15 minutes back home and battery on the charger. This is flying made easy thanks to electric motors and modern electronics.
15 years ago when I first tried to get started in this hobby, it was load the plane, flight-box, fuel and battery powered starter in the car. Drive 10 miles to the nearest suitably sized flying field. Fidget with the engine and finally get it started. Fly 10-12 minutes on a tank, then have to spend 10 minutes cleaning up the fuel spray, putting in the after-run oil and getting loaded back up. All in all, almost an hour long ordeal for almost the same airtime!
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jklong03
Squadron leader
Utah, USA (Yes, it is a state!)
Posts: 226
|
Post by jklong03 on Sept 17, 2013 3:13:46 GMT 1
Today is a great example of why electric flight and park flyers have finally fulfilled my ideal RC hobby.
Worked 12 hours, got home about 645 PM, wife had supper ready. Quick "fish and chips" meal (well the American version-frozen fish fillets and French fries) cleaned kitchen and still had time to toss the Frankencub and wife (I mean I ASKED her to come- I would never toss my beloved in any fashion!) in the car and drive all of 2,000 feet down the street to my trusty parking lot/runway.
Quick preflight and up for a nice battery length flight of laps, loops, Immelmanns and aileron rolls (did I mention that with 2" wide ailerons, even with the dihedral still in the wing this thing almost snap rolls?)! And in less than 15 minutes we are back home and the battery is on the charger. This is flying made easy thanks to electric motors and modern electronics.
15 years ago when I first tried to get started in this hobby, it was, load the plane, flight-box, fuel and battery powered starter in the car. Drive 10 miles to the nearest suitably sized flying field. Fidget with the engine and finally get it started. Fly 10-12 minutes on a tank, then have to spend 15 minutes cleaning up the fuel spray, putting in the after-run oil and getting loaded back up. All in all, almost an hour long ordeal for almost the same airtime! Combine that with the ordeal of repairing balsa/mono-coat crash damage and its no wonder I didn't take the time to let the hobby really sink in and hook me like it has now.
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Post by robert on Sept 30, 2013 0:37:58 GMT 1
I wish I could have said the same for this weekend. I've got some great sites, two great planes, but enough wind to power an average size city if we would just harness it.
As a result, I called in a substitute for monday and will have another day to try to get back in the air... isn't there some saying about when your habit starts to effect your work it's considered an addiction?
I'll rationalize it by saying that the kids deserve a break from the rigor of the courses I've been putting them through thus far. Anybody want to back me up on that one?
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jklong03
Squadron leader
Utah, USA (Yes, it is a state!)
Posts: 226
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Post by jklong03 on Sept 30, 2013 2:07:19 GMT 1
I wish I could have said the same for this weekend. I've got some great sites, two great planes, but enough wind to power an average size city if we would just harness it. As a result, I called in a substitute for monday and will have another day to try to get back in the air... isn't there some saying about when your habit starts to effect your work it's considered an addiction? I'll rationalize it by saying that the kids deserve a break from the rigor of the courses I've been putting them through thus far. Anybody want to back me up on that one? Yes, you are a terrible task master and you owe it to your kids to give them a break tomorrow!! Hows that?  |
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Post by robert on Sept 30, 2013 3:06:24 GMT 1
I couldn't have said it better myself. Thanks jklong!
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Post by coupe1942 on Sept 30, 2013 4:42:48 GMT 1
I got out and spun the bird about on the parking lot of a closed down liquor store at the fly field area I will be flying at. Wind was high enough I decided to just do some taxi runs this time out. Learning about it, even when the weather was not so great with all the wind today. I had planned to make yesterday the big initial flight, but we had some serious rain and winds then. Today would have been great, but I wanted to break-in my motor and check out the mods I have done. I had fun and hope to make the big day tomorrow if all goes well. Quick question though. How much should the rudder turn outward in either direction? I have done all my trim stuff by the manual, but not certain how far to each side the rudder should turn. It was muggy as heck down her today. Humidity was very, very high. I shot just a very smidge of video, but have not really tried to edit it, yet. I had fun, for sure. The kicker was that my team, The Texas Rangers won, as well. Really great day! Go, Rangers!    |
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Post by robert on Sept 30, 2013 22:48:59 GMT 1
Heading out for my do over maiden with the Trojan. I'll report back with the number of pieces she comes home in...
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Post by toff on Sept 30, 2013 23:09:07 GMT 1
Be positive!..........................(2)  |
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Post by renard80 on Sept 30, 2013 23:12:38 GMT 1
. . . . Quick question though. How much should the rudder turn outward in either direction? I have done all my trim stuff by the manual, but not certain how far to each side the rudder should turn. Quick answer to your quick question. You should find that "not very much" (probably less than an inch) works perfectly well while you're learning. Glad to hear you are venturing outside. Let's hope the weather improves and you can finally put her up. Exciting but frightening, isn't it!  |
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Post by robert on Oct 1, 2013 0:08:12 GMT 1
ONE PIECE! Man it was awesome! My repairs were solid, the motor mount is not offset, and she really cranked. I went to the giant field that has way too thick grass that was giving me problems with the cub nose overs,but i felt it was the most forgiving in case of another bad crash. I'm so excited that it went perfectly. Great flight and like my signature says, I quit while I was ahead.
The sim paid off and I'm ready to do it again ASAP.
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Post by robert on Oct 6, 2013 0:04:10 GMT 1
I went out today with both the super cub and the Trojan. I'm so proud to announce that after practice on the sim I finally tried loops with the cub and it was awesome!
The Trojan was brought down safely on the runway behind me without looking. My approach was a bit higher than I wanted it to be, but as she passed by perfectly level at a reasonable speed she was only a foot off the ground so I figured just keep doing what I was doing and I heard the touchdown a few feet behind me. As I swung around in the chair I was quite pleased to see a nice roll out.
I can't believe how much I've improved and my arm is sore from patting myself on the back.
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jklong03
Squadron leader
Utah, USA (Yes, it is a state!)
Posts: 226
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Post by jklong03 on Oct 6, 2013 0:54:00 GMT 1
You da man! Congratulations on a wonderful day of flying.
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Post by coupe1942 on Oct 6, 2013 1:16:42 GMT 1
I didn't get to fly today, even though my plan is repaired and ready to go. Storm moved in, cold front moved in, rain, thunder and lightening... Tomorrow is supposed to be a clear day, but from the looks of today, that is a bit difficult to believe that the weatherman is telling the truth. Congrats, Robert. Sounds like great fun that you experienced. I did get to swing by my local hobby store though. They probably had in a dozen RTF Super Cubs, but the old gent there knew absolutely nothing about them. They didn't have any spare parts I needed to stock up on, other than I did pick up a couple of spare props. I saw at HobbyZone that they are out of stock on Super Cub floats. My LHS didn't have any either. Just mentioning that as something interesting.
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