Ever Wanna Call it Quits?

[Splat]

Fellow flyers, I’m ready to toss in the towel…

So I’ve been flying off and on for most of my life, my dad flew r/c and I learned from him. I’m not new to r/c but I’ve had a couple of expensive crashes within the last couple months that have made me rethink this hobby.

There are three things in common with these crashes:

1. They were all 2nd hand aircraft bought from Facebook groups.
2. They were all flying new Futaba receivers with a T6K radio.
3. All lost at the same flying site, a soccer field with neighborhoods on two of the four sides.

Crash 1 was a refurbished FMS F7F Tigercat I got on trade, got it repaired and repainted and it looked sweet. Took it to the field and had two functional test flights that kept the flying relatively tame. Just pattern flying with nothing crazy. Flew and landed great. 3rd flight I decided to get a little crazier and flew some aerobatics, slow rolls some verticals. I was about halfway thru my flight when I took it up for a hammerhead and when she went nose down, I lost all flight surfaces locked and apparently lost signal. Couldn’t recover and she went hard in…total loss. I don’t know what happened, if something shifted or came loose inside but against two successful flights and the third flight she was lost.

Crash 2 was a used Eflite DRACO 2.0. I didn’t have to do much to this bird but install my receiver and charge my batteries. I took it to the same field I lost the above Tigercat at and got her ready to fly. Aborted my first take off because she nosed over in the thick grass but second attempt, she started her roll and then lifted off the ground with half flaps. I started to climb out and then she locked and lost signal. No response to controls. She nosed over and went hard in from about 30 feet, total loss.

Again, I had checked the flight controls and thought I installed the receivers properly with the antenna leads 90 degrees off and away from electronics and not touching anything etc… I range checked the radios without any apparent interference. I have flown other models at this same field with Futaba receivers with no problems. I have a 50mm MiG-17 that has the antenna popping out the backside of the canopy and flies well there, so I don't know if there is a difference with that one's mounting that has saved it so far.

I don't know if there is intermittent interference from the houses, 5G or wi-fi signals that are messing with my Futaba? I don't see any towers or anything. It's just odd and frustrating. I'm thinking of ditching the hobby or maybe just ditching the Futaba and getting a newer Spektrum NX8 and start using those receivers?

Any thoughts?

[kallend]

" Ever Wanna Call it Quits?"

No.

[Evan D]

Yes, but totally different reasons. FAA, local government, local site/!club rules or odd enforcement of rules and the “peanut gallery” and their gossiping. Plus it was getting so I couldn’t fly because others expected me to set up planes, test fly, etc.

Ive sold off a few things, down to only 92 aircraft. And fly very early or other times when others aren’t around as much.

[Aros]

I wouldn't quit a hobby you enjoy but I totally understand it can be frustrating at times. I've lost too many models over the years from everything from Dumb Thumbs to bad servos, loss of signal, etc.

Personally, I would try switching your receiver/radio combination. There also simply could be some Bermuda Triangle-ish action at that section of your flying field. I've known many who have had weird things occur at the same area of the flying fields over the years. Hard to say for sure what the true cause is but that's my two pennies. Hang in there!

[tab28682]

I don’t care for flying sites with nearby neighborhoods. Might be part of the problem.

I’d find another more isolated site. Preferably a designated RC flying site.

I see you are range checking, which is important.