First Real Maiden
So I tried flying my plane yesterday. Probably 2-5 mph winds, breezy but it didn't seem too bad. Still, I'm a beginner and the planes not trimmed yet, but I tried it. Charging the batter took about 20-25 minutes. Once it was charged, I put the battery in and checked the controls. The elevator was sticking and no motor when I tried taxing on my way back inside. hmmm. Well, I took it inside, removed the wing, and checked the elevator for binding. I figured out that I had gotten the speed control into programming mode or something similar so I reconnected the battery and it was back. Next I played with the Transmitter I'd played with before, and I found I had reduced the ability to move the elevator, ahh. Crank that back up and it was back in flying shape.
So I go out to the field next to my house, I try taxing real quick, works ok. I set the plane out and throttle her up and off she goes. She verred right in takeoff so I corrected and had her going straight again with the rudder. Then when I was trying to bring her back around, I was having trouble. My skills, a breeze, and some more were probably to blame. She spiraled down and hit pretty hard, I didn't see the impact through a tree. I ran most of the distance, and checked her out. I also went ahead and tested the controls, they all semed to function except the motor. I managed to bust the prop shaft, but the propeller survived ;-). My solder on the connector to the speed control had broken, probably in the impact.
The damages don't seem to be too bad though. Fuselage needs re gluing, the motor remounted, prop shaft replaced, and the left wing glued back together. Well, she'll fly, maybe this weekend. I went home happy actually. A little embarrased, but happy. I built her, she got up, and I've been reading alot about the crashes to fly yourself in RCgroups. I checked the transmitter once more, and realized my controls were pretty screwed up. Like 50% alieron one way, 100% the other. I didn't realize they were dual controlled, so I fixed them before I could forget about it. Aileron is really low, like 45%, everything else 100 I believe. I'll fly 3ch once or twice, hopefully ;-). Well I'll keep you up to date.
So I go out to the field next to my house, I try taxing real quick, works ok. I set the plane out and throttle her up and off she goes. She verred right in takeoff so I corrected and had her going straight again with the rudder. Then when I was trying to bring her back around, I was having trouble. My skills, a breeze, and some more were probably to blame. She spiraled down and hit pretty hard, I didn't see the impact through a tree. I ran most of the distance, and checked her out. I also went ahead and tested the controls, they all semed to function except the motor. I managed to bust the prop shaft, but the propeller survived ;-). My solder on the connector to the speed control had broken, probably in the impact.
The damages don't seem to be too bad though. Fuselage needs re gluing, the motor remounted, prop shaft replaced, and the left wing glued back together. Well, she'll fly, maybe this weekend. I went home happy actually. A little embarrased, but happy. I built her, she got up, and I've been reading alot about the crashes to fly yourself in RCgroups. I checked the transmitter once more, and realized my controls were pretty screwed up. Like 50% alieron one way, 100% the other. I didn't realize they were dual controlled, so I fixed them before I could forget about it. Aileron is really low, like 45%, everything else 100 I believe. I'll fly 3ch once or twice, hopefully ;-). Well I'll keep you up to date.
posted by Robert Zaleski at 10:22 AM
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