What did you fly today?

[paulrkytek]

I did the maiden on my new Freewing F-15C (ARF+) this morning, after doing a warmup flight with my "weathership" T-33. This F-15 has afterburner lights from Chris Wolf, and brakes which are good to have from our fairly short runway at 5,000 feet MSL.

I just did one flight with the F-15, especially after it took almost the entire runway to get airborne, which surprised me. I had a brand new Admiral 6S 50C battery and static full power tests at the field prior to the flight I used the first couple laps with the gear down and takeoff flaps set to make sure those flight modes were good. I then retracted the gear and flaps to get a couple laps at a higher speed. Brought it around for a landing which seemed to work out fine, using the brakes late in the landing rollout to make sure it didn't go off the end of the runway.

So, no damage or even a mark from this first flight, but I'm pretty concerned about the powerplant and ESC, which came out of my F-4 that had a landing mishap recently. It had been in that plane for about 3 years.

I think I need to remove the motor and ESC and go with something newer, and more powerful. I think my motor is an outrunner, and although it worked in the F-4 for such a long time, really needs a reboot. I don't think I'll try going with 8S with this airplane, there just isn't the room. I can barely close the cockpit cover with all that stuff jammed inside.

If anyone has any ideas on a replacement fan, (mine is 9 blades) ESC, etc,., I'd be interested to hear what you think. In hindsight, I think I should have just bought the brand new F-15 WITH the new inrunner motor and ESC, instead of trying to pull it out of a crashed airplane.

So, I'll stand down from further flying of the F-15 until I get a replacement of these parts.

I'll attach a couple of pics taken after this morning's maiden flight.

Cheers

Davegee

Looks like you got away with that one Dave. I suppose you could check up the thrust figures for the old F4 unit against the new F15 in-runner unit to confirm you will get more thrust before you splash the cash. You might have to find that info from someone like R.c. Castle or search Ali express. The model sits well on the runway with a good angle of attack so it looks like it is just a question of more power !!!! . ( I assume you did not want to risk more elevator in case it stalled on take off ). One of our members bought one of the older F15s a few years ago at a swap meet and he only had 5s batteries and was too tight to buy 6s and we fly off grass. The field could have been 3 miles long and cut like a putting green and it still would not have got off the ground.

[davegee]

I did the maiden on my new Freewing F-15C (ARF+) this morning, after doing a warmup flight with my "weathership" T-33. This F-15 has afterburner lights from Chris Wolf, and brakes which are good to have from our fairly short runway at 5,000 feet MSL.

I just did one flight with the F-15, especially after it took almost the entire runway to get airborne, which surprised me. I had a brand new Admiral 6S 50C battery and static full power tests at the field prior to the flight I used the first couple laps with the gear down and takeoff flaps set to make sure those flight modes were good. I then retracted the gear and flaps to get a couple laps at a higher speed. Brought it around for a landing which seemed to work out fine, using the brakes late in the landing rollout to make sure it didn't go off the end of the runway.

So, no damage or even a mark from this first flight, but I'm pretty concerned about the powerplant and ESC, which came out of my F-4 that had a landing mishap recently. It had been in that plane for about 3 years.

I think I need to remove the motor and ESC and go with something newer, and more powerful. I think my motor is an outrunner, and although it worked in the F-4 for such a long time, really needs a reboot. I don't think I'll try going with 8S with this airplane, there just isn't the room. I can barely close the cockpit cover with all that stuff jammed inside.

If anyone has any ideas on a replacement fan, (mine is 9 blades) ESC, etc,., I'd be interested to hear what you think. In hindsight, I think I should have just bought the brand new F-15 WITH the new inrunner motor and ESC, instead of trying to pull it out of a crashed airplane.

So, I'll stand down from further flying of the F-15 until I get a replacement of these parts.

I'll attach a couple of pics taken after this morning's maiden flight.

Cheers

Davegee

[shortround91]

Love the J-10 and my Mirage, just did a refinish on the J-10 to make easier for me to see. Both sweet flying planes

[Elbee]

Once again up early on my day off work so I able to get some flights on the old F-86 and the F-14.

Happy Memorial Day

DC, and the same to you, Sir. Rreat lookin' pair of fighters. Best, LB

[DCORSAIR]

Once again up early on my day off work so I able to get some flights on the old F-86 and the F-14.

Happy Memorial Day

[Hugh Wiedman]

Hugh, how do you transport your planes?
How do all of you guys transport your planes?

With wings off, 4 fit in the bed of my truck and the 5th (or 6th if I'm desperate to fly) in the back seat of a crew cab along with wing bags. Easy peasy. Learned long ago to take as many as possible in the event of an early mishap potentially shutting down my flying. This way I can have 5 mishaps before heading home. 🤣

[DCORSAIR]

Another early morning flight, lights looked great before sunrise, 5:45am-6:00am is the best time to fly here in CA., slight breeze down the runway and just the right temps...

[f4u ausie]

Thats funny lb,,, davegee 8s i like putin a blower on ya big block chevy, best bang for buck upgrade possible:joystick:an extra gear

[Elbee]

Hugh, how do you transport your planes?
How do all of you guys transport your planes?

Easy-Peasy. Best, Elbee

[Coconut]

Hugh, how do you transport your planes?
How do all of you guys transport your planes?

[davegee]

Great you got out to do some flying with your fleet. You have such a nice field to fly from. I have never done a 8S battery set up yet, and at my field elevation of 5100 feet, not to mention what the density altitude becomes with hot summer weather coming on, I might like to do a test airplane someday on one of my jets to see if it improves performance much for me.

I just got a new Freewing F-15. I had one a long time ago, but forgot how cramped the fuselage is for batteries and electronic stuff. I have electric brakes and afterburner lights set up and, talk about putting 10 pounds of stuff on a 5 pound bag!!! But it did barely fit in. Maiden next week.

cheers

davegee

[Hugh Wiedman]

Here's a pic I took of my B-2 back on its maiden flight 2 years ago. It was "lost" in my computer files and I just found it. I had a friend actually fly this flight while I manned the camera. It has great presence in the air. Up here, it's hard to take inflight pics as I am usually flying the airplane and I don't have a camera man with me.

Davegee

Great Shot Dave! And paulrkytek outstanding looking Panther.

Got out yesterday after a long time not flying due to miserable and windy weather. Had a rather odd bunch of planes to see if I could remember which direction on the TX was up. The Euro/F16 & F4 are all 8S, flown on SMC HiV 8S packs. Still feel the 8S F4 is one of the best flying aircraft in my hangar. The FW 190 is balsa made by Aces High/Extreme Flight and flies incredibly well for 12 minutes on a SMC 6S HiV 5900. I also put 2 speakers and the Model Sound System in it and that sounds great, even has the 13mm guns and 20mm cannon sounds. Unfortunately, he's no longer in business and has closed down like the other sound guys. :triumph: The SU-30 flies on 2 SMC HiV 4400's for over 5 minutes, which makes it worthy to take out to the field, although it is still not has nice to fly as the FW Mig 29 with TV. Fortunately, no mishaps this time around, but there's always tomorrow. :hugging:

[Grossman56]

I'm hoping for a windless Monday as well, time to put BBD back in the air for a salute to the vets. She always does such a great job and she's my reminder of exactly why I got into this hobby in the first place. Don't forget that June 6th is the 80th anniversary of D Day as well!

Grossman56

[davegee]

Whilst waiting for our main field to dry out enough to be able to cut and roll the grass before I can fly my warbirds or edf jets I have been flying the Havok and a couple of scratch build chuck and ducks. ( 630mm edf with 40mm 12 blade 4s fan and a 570mm delta.) Also the Panther hand launch. It looks like a couple of weeks yet before the field will be ready to cut!!!

Planes look great, paulrkytek! I especially like the Grumman F9F Panther. I hope they come out with a larger scale version of it someday, I'll buy one.

Cheers

davegee

[paulrkytek]

Whilst waiting for our main field to dry out enough to be able to cut and roll the grass before I can fly my warbirds or edf jets I have been flying the Havok and a couple of scratch build chuck and ducks. ( 630mm edf with 40mm 12 blade 4s fan and a 570mm delta.) Also the Panther hand launch. It looks like a couple of weeks yet before the field will be ready to cut!!!

[davegee]

Here's a pic I took of my B-2 back on its maiden flight 2 years ago. It was "lost" in my computer files and I just found it. I had a friend actually fly this flight while I manned the camera. It has great presence in the air. Up here, it's hard to take inflight pics as I am usually flying the airplane and I don't have a camera man with me.

Davegee

[Elbee]

davegee a fitting tribute, Sir. Best, LB

[davegee]

Last couple of days I've gotten in a few flights. I took my B-2 Spirit out yesterday as the winds were pretty light (the only conditions that I'll put it up in the air) along with my T-33 as my faithful "weather ship."
This morning, I flew my FMS Penrod and Sam and E-FliteThe Hun Hunter from Texas. Both flew great, although I had a crack in the plastic mount for one of the main gear on P&S that cracked on landing. Shouldn't have done that, I was trying to execute a two-wheel, tail low landing, which I screwed up and converted it to a three point, which probably put a little more stress on the gear. I think there had already been a crack in that cheap plastic part that finally gave, but I have it glued up now and should be ready for another flight next time I take it up.

Being that next Monday, May 27 is Memorial Day, my flight with the B-2 Spirit took on a little bit of personal meaning for me. I changed the markings on the main gear doors from the stock to Spirit of Missouri, which is based (as all B-2s are) at Whiteman AFB Missouri. I was born nearby in Warrensburg while my dad was stationed there as a B-47B Stratojet pilot in the 1950s during the Cold War with the Soviet Union. If the weather is nice on Monday, I might take it out again to fly it. It's just a cruiser, but really looks great flying past in the air. I logged my 35th flight on it yesterday.

[Wild Man]

This is what I flew TONIGHT My new mini Draco night Flyer LOL!!! needs a couple more lights on the tail like big brother Draco has

[Wild Man]

I took these three out to fly today and set all three up to use as Instructional Aircraft. My older brother helped with the Three to make sure I had them correctly slaved to my IX20 as Master and a DX9 for the slave all flew great and my brother got a little time flying the B-25. just getting ready for the Season. An older gentleman out riding his bicycle stop by and I gave him a couple flights with the Aero Scout. We had a light North wind of 8 to12. I took up the little mini Draco, a Little breezy and I landed it in 3 feet the mini Draco is a blast.