RC Planes

[worir4]

My 4 channel RC plane has just arrived today. It is my first time and i look forward to flying it however it is getting dark right now and is raining..

I will be going to my local cricket ground to fly it tomorrow if it isn't raining.

It looks a bit flimsy and i already broke the elevator (fixed easily with super glue) It cost £40 so i hope i don't destroy it too soon.

I will come back with reports on the first flights tomorrow:D.

[FishInferno]

What is the model? Looks a bit sophisticated for a first plane. Sill cool though:)

[grawl]

That model can be a beast in manoeuverability ! It looks light, and the propeller is oversized, I bet you can hover it vertically !

Take care during landing phase though these things can flip like hell, do not forget to get it to the right speed, facing the wind.

If you've playedsome simulation here, that helps. Im thinking I16 in Il2 (the old one)

Awaiting for report !

[worir4]

This is the one i got

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UK-STOCK-WLtoys-F939-Mini-Drone-RC-Airplane-Plane-4CH-RTF-UFO-2-4G-Transmitter-/161789755098?hash=item25ab6bbeda

Any one else got one?

[Beachernaut]

At one point I had almost $10k wrapped up in RC airplanes and helis. Lots of fun, but can get expensive fast.

Word of advice: A high wing trainer type plane would be better to start with. You can learn with that one, but it's going to be frustrating.

[worir4]

At one point I had almost $10k wrapped up in RC airplanes and helis. Lots of fun, but can get expensive fast.

Word of advice: A high wing trainer type plane would be better to start with. You can learn with that one, but it's going to be frustrating.

Wow £10K! How many did you have?

[Beachernaut]

Hmmmm.... Off the top of my head... A few helis ranging from tiny electrics to large glow, and a whole pile of planes from small park fliers, to 1/4 scale (25% the size of the real thing) aerobatic planes.

To be fair though I had a couple planes and helis that were over $1k each. Part of the reason I got out of RC, you're going to crash, and crashing can get VERY expensive.

[worir4]

The flight was a fail... The battery fell out because the wire broke off and the plane nosed into the ground. I got like one metre up...

I soldered it back together and will try again tomorrow.

[LordFerret]

I used to have a thermal glider, radio controlled. It had a 2-meter wingspan, used 3 channels (ailerons, elevator, and rudder). The radio was a 5 channel PCM/FM (ailerons, elevator, rudder, throttle, gear)... if you could see the plane, you could control it. You launched it via a 50ft surgical tubing catapult. Finding a place to fly it (and the right weather) was always a problem; We have so many small airports around here, and you have to stay below 300ft altitude. There are (were?) a number of clubs, but they're limited membership, very clique, and all into powered flight.

[Pixel of Life]

I had three planes, the largest one was a 1.4m Great Planes Extra 300SP powered by an O.S. 55AX two stroke, and later an FS-95V four stroke. I once accidentally landed it in the crops next to the field because of a momentary loss of depth perception. The landing gear was torn off but was quite easy to fix, the plane was back in the air less than a week later.

The other two were a Dualsky Yak-54 indoor stunt plane and some random tiny Extra 300 that was probably about the same size as your plane (~25cm wingspan). It was terrible, it had such a high wing loading that I pretty much had to fly it at full throttle all the time or it would stall.

I eventually lost my interest in model planes and sold the 300SP to someone and threw the Yak away because it was in such a bad condition (despite many reinforcements, the landing gear was too flimsy for grass landings and always broke loose, damaging the "fuselage"). I think I still have the smaller Extra somewhere though.

Edited September 25, 2015 by CaptainKorhonen

[EnderKid2]

Not to sound like a spambot, but if you're into RC aircraft, you should really check out flite test. It's a great biweekly YouTube show about the RC hobby, and they also sell various components and airframes, but you can print out plans and make them yourself. It also has a great community.

http://flitetest.com

- - - Updated - - -

I have several of their aircraft, and they are really good.

[worir4]

I repaired my plane and it finally got airborne! I flew it around a bit however it was going to fly into a tree and i turned to hard and it stalled... and then splat. I am working on fixing it again but at least it flew!

[worir4]

My Dad bought these two planes at a bargain price of just £50!

I am trying to figure out how to attach the wings onto the glider as it did not come with a manual. As for the big plane, i wont be flying it until i have mastered the glider.

[Shpaget]

I am trying to figure out how to attach the wings onto the glider as it did not come with a manual. As for the big plane, i wont be flying it until i have mastered the glider.

Rubber bands.

Among the three, that big plane might be the easiest one to fly.

[worir4]

Rubber bands.

Among the three, that big plane might be the easiest one to fly.

Rubber bands??? You mean around those four bits that stick out? Thanks! I have been searching all day how to attach it.

[benzman]

It looks like you put the glider wing on and stretch a rubber band over the wing and around the little knobs.

[Shpaget]

Yep.

Don't skimp on them. You want the redundancy for when one breaks as they do occasionally.

[worir4]

Thanks guys! Now all i have to do is go buy some rubber bands

[LordFerret]

Yep.

http://static.rcgroups.net/forums/attachments/2/2/1/9/2/ai12604556-213-thumb-Super-Cub-LP_0225_WingRubbe.jpg?d=1246054796

Don't skimp on them. You want the redundancy for when one breaks as they do occasionally.

Yes, the six shown should be more than sufficient. Any more than that and you might end up breaking the Styrofoam wings.

Also, on that bigger plane (N9268), I wouldn't leave the antenna flopping around like that. Maybe try attaching it to the top of the tail, a piece of tape should suffice.

[Endersmens]

I just love it when I spot a hobby of mine on the forums!

I have 7 aircraft: 6 planes and 1 quadcopter.

As for planes I have The Hobbyzone Duet (first plane), the Parkzone mini T-28, the e-flite Beast 3D (broken, probably never will fix), the e-flite Habu DF, those all range from 14" to 20" in wingspan, then we jump to the T-28's older brother, the Parkzone T-28 1.1m (air force scheme), and finally a project plane given to me by my girlfriend, it's a large balsa airframe, 2.4m I believe. It's an old Piper Cub, used for supply in WW2. It's only the airframe, so I need all of the electronics to go in it, IE receiver and servos, and I also need to get the cowl, and a .6-.8 engine and appropriate prop.

My little quad copter is a Blade Nano QX, and is missing a motor at the moment.

So, the list of planes out of commission right now are: Beast 3D, Habu (have to put tail back on), the nano qx, and the large Cub. The ones I can fly are the mini T-28, it's big brother, and the duet.

I love the high speed of the Habu (ducted fan), but ironically I find flying the duet around at walking speed. I might get a big wing trainer (with the prop on top) for some long, slow flying.

And I can't recommend flite test enough, they helped me a ton with getting into the hobby. If you guys want pics I can get some.

[Frybert]

Yep.

http://static.rcgroups.net/forums/attachments/2/2/1/9/2/ai12604556-213-thumb-Super-Cub-LP_0225_WingRubbe.jpg?d=1246054796

Don't skimp on them. You want the redundancy for when one breaks as they do occasionally.

I learned this lesson the hard way when I was a kid. I spent all my 5th grade saving up to buy one, and I started building it in the summer between 5th and 6th grade. Finally started flying the thing half-way through my 7th grade year. Granted it didn't take ALL that time to build, I had to stop when I needed the engine or the electronics (I had to save up for those too). We always took it out to the field in the back of my dad's truck, putting just enough rubber bands on just to keep the wings down after we strapped it in. One day, we forgot we only had 4 rubber bands on. Took off, got about 50 feet up and SNAP. Wings came down gracefully, the plane, not so much. Fortunately the engine mostly survived (had to replace the exhaust) and the electronics were 100%.

I'm almost sad at how cheap and easy to assemble these things are these days.

[worir4]

I took the glider looking one out for a fly and it broke after like 5 seconds... I have fixed it with some glue and will try again later. Can any one tell the the correct way to throw the plane?

[Endersmens]

I took the glider looking one out for a fly and it broke after like 5 seconds... I have fixed it with some glue and will try again later. Can any one tell the the correct way to throw the plane?

Increase throttle to full, launch into the wind, at a 10 degree angle. You can choose to throw with your right hand and have left on throttle, which will give you a better throw, but there will be a second from launch to when you get control from your right stick. If you throw with left, you can be on the controls when you launch, but you chance a worse throw. (unless you're left handed) Launch speed/force is dependent on plane speed. Your glider likely flies slower, so don't be trying to throw a fastball. Hold the plane, increase throttle and see how much it pulls. If it pulls hard, then you don't have to throw as hard. If it pulls lightly, it will take time to accelerate, so you want to try and throw it close to flying speed. Which for a glider will likely be slower. Imagine throwing a paper airplane, except a heavier one. That should be enough.

I cannot stress the "into the wind" enough. It not only increases wind speed which means more lift and closer to flying speed, it also means it won't lurch sideways.

I personally throw with the right, the 10 degree launch angle lets the plane level out or even slightly dive until I get my hand back to the sticks.

Edited October 19, 2015 by Endersmens

[worir4]

Thanks, I will give it a go at the weekend. Also I have my Dad to throw it so i can have full control but I think he threw it at a too high angle so it stalled and then crashed.

[Endersmens]

Thanks, I will give it a go at the weekend. Also I have my Dad to throw it so i can have full control but I think he threw it at a too high angle so it stalled and then crashed.

That is entirely possible. Make sure he throws at around ten degrees and it shouldn't stall. Just be ready with the right stick to counter any trim issues.