All us newbie pilots, lets share..

[Grossman56]

Re: All us newbie pilots, lets share..

Thanks for the suggestion Bill, I did just that.
Anything to save some foam!

[Rocketeer]

Re: All us newbie pilots, lets share..

Greetings G56,

I hear you buddy.... I'm all about plane preservation.

Clear Skies

Bill L.
in Okla.

[RRlocoENGR]

Re: All us newbie pilots, lets share..

I am just getting into foam RC airplanes. I have just started reading some of the posts here on the forum and found this one, excellent idea! I have a Hobby Zone Super Cub with the Spektrum DX4e transmitter.

I am currently training via buddy box with my brother, he has been flying his Super Cub for about 8 months or so and his help has been very valuable. He has graduated to a Corsair, after having learned the hard way with the Super Cub. He has even mastered float operations with the Super Cub. He has rebuilt his Super Cub several times because he had no instructor. So far, with his help as my wired instructor, I have been out once and made about five flights without any crashes. I have only attempted one landing and he had to save me on that one. I intend to take it very slowly since he is willing to help me. I am searching for a better field to fly than the one my brother uses, it is a soccer field and there are goals and very tall light poles around the field. The grass is always really nice for takeoffs and landings, but the obstacles distract me and make me nervous.

I have seriously thought about getting a flight sim, but from what I see, I would have to get a better computer. I notice here on the forum mention of the Real Flight Sim, does anyone know anything about the Phoenix? I really believe a sim would help me. I am not afraid to work on my planes, as a matter of fact, I have stockpiled a lot of the replacements parts for the Super Cub. I just don't want to crack it up unnecessarily. I would rather be flying than repairing.

As most of my endeavors go, I usually get into it whole hog...I have already purchased a FMS 1450 mm P51-D "Petie 2nd". It is still in the box, but I am going to go ahead and put it together so that I can hang it in my office as incentive to work hard on getting good with the Super Cub. I have also ordered a Spektrum DX6/AR610 receiver and a battery to have my warbird ready when I am. I am also really looking at the telemetry systems with interest...LOL! I told you that I tend to get the cart ahead of the horse! LOL!

Thanks for lending an ear to my ramblings, I really would like any input, especially concerning the flight sims that are out there.

[Baron]

Re: All us newbie pilots, lets share..

I soloed on a Hobby Zone super Cub. It is a good first timer plane. I have the Real Flight sim and I trained using it but any flight sim you can afford will help. You have a long way to go before you jump into the Mustang P 51. It would be really sad and expensive to destroy such a great warbird in its maiden or after a few flights. Your next step could be the Freewing Pandora. You can configure it into 4 different set ups. I have it and it is a very good plane. High wing setup or long wing using either a tricycle landing gear setup or tail dragger. You have those four options. It comes as a four channel plane. I always order extra props and batteries. Most batteries can give you 5 to 6 minutes on average before you need to bring it in. Don't run the batteries too low and get a lipo battery safety bag. Use it when charging or carrying the batteries. I also suggest getting this for anyone flying electric powered planes. It lets you know how much remains in a battery. MotionRC sells this. Check it out G.T. Power 7S Digital Battery Capacity Checker / Tester

[RRlocoENGR]

Re: All us newbie pilots, lets share..

Thanks Baron, good advice I am sure. The P51 is just a mere office model for encouragement, trust me I would not want to damage it. Finding an instructor for training on the P51 will happen also. I am sure more planes are in my future as I learn. I will take a look at the Pandora when doing well with the Super Cub.

I agree with your advice on the Lipo safety bags, I have read all the warnings.

Thanks for the info!

[RRlocoENGR]

Re: All us newbie pilots, lets share..

Baron,

I took a look at the Pandora, and it does look like a good beginner and intermediate plane. Do you know if there are floats available for it? I see they have snow skis but don't find floats for water.

Thanks

[Rocketeer]

Re: All us newbie pilots, lets share..

Greetings,

Baron has offered very solid advise.

The only thing I would add to go along with his advise, as only an option, is perhaps to recommend you might investigate the Flyzone Sensei as a second aircraft as well .

Clear Skies

Bill L.
in Okla.

[RRlocoENGR]

Re: All us newbie pilots, lets share..

Thanks Bill, I will look at it.

[Grossman56]

Re: All us newbie pilots, lets share..


That the new girl in the stable, look at that for a CG!
Battery positions farely well as you can seeAnd I can slide it forward to the first cut out in the board without losng the CG
Hippie 64 and I were conversing and he gave me a good tip on the Pandora, what do you guys think?
He suggested setting the rudder a bit to the right to counter the pull to the left while taking off, but leaving the tail wheel centered. Sounded good to me.
Got the 50 Amp ESC for Pandora one. As Pandora two will be my high wing trainer,Pandora one is getting rebuilt as a permanent low winger. I'm thinking of mounting the ESC where the battery would normally be and putting the battery in the main compartment under the cockpit, since its easy to access when in low wing configuration and closer to the CG. I'd like to go a hotter prop with the 50 amp ESC I should be able to do that, but what about the motor? I'm thinking that I'll have a little nose weight to play with now, any thoughts?

[Grossman56]

Re: All us newbie pilots, lets share..

Mark this day !!
Pandora 2 got in the air and landed several times today
I felt as if every one of you guys were with me as I maidened her. All the free advice from all of you guys and all the people at MotionRC made this dream a reality!!
Realize that this is something I've wanted to do for a LONNGG time and here I am.
She still tends to wander to the right on takeoff, but the field is big enough to allow for that. I watched Pilot Ryan take his off a few times and tried to emulate his throttle advance time, which is fairly quick. She hopped into the air fairly well, after tracking off to the right. Hearing all the advice in my head, I took her up to a three mistake altitude and got on the trim controls. She actually was pretty good, a little nose light and a slight tendency to roll, both of which were easily trimmed for. circled a few times to get the feel of aileron control, no suprises thanks to Realflght 7. Did some slow flight into the wind to get a feel for that , then stood back and enjoyed,landing was uneventfull. Just followed what I'd learned in the Sim and on Ol' Weedwacker. Got a slight bounce and then settled her down.
Three batteries later, no problem and, even better, no damage!!
I'll tell you one thing though, she's alot more slippery in the air than the Super Cub. I haven't flown a Pandora without the Minwax treatment (Smucked one up, but that doesn't count) so I don't know if that is a factor or not, but she flies like a dream with a Minwax coating.

Thanks again to everyone, I feel like I just passed a major exam!!
Dan

[Grossman56]

Re: All us newbie pilots, lets share..

OH, and last but not least, my wife Diane took all the pictures. We got up, drove a half hour to the fiels, ran three batteries worth of flying time, packed her up and came back home.
Got home at 8:45 am.
What a gal!

[Rocketeer]

Re: All us newbie pilots, lets share..

Greetings Grossman,

I'd say you NAILED the CG.
The flight also indicated you nailed it as well.

Congrats on the successful outing and Kudo's to Mrs. Grossman!!
Not only did you get your wife to go to an RC field (a rarity and a feat in itself), but she took awesome shots of your awesome day.

Buddy, it just doesn't get much better than that.

Thanks for all that you've shared today. The internet can be a wonderful tool.

Clear Skies

Bill L.
in Okla.

[Hippie 64]

Re: All us newbie pilots, lets share..

That's fantastic Grossman !!! Pandora 2 looks great . Spent Saturday flying , my wife used her phone to video it . She's so supportive of her 50 year old child . I had to stop between batteries to wait on my hands to stop trembling , yea I know noobs ha . <smiley image="smiley_good.gif"/>

[Rocketeer]

Re: All us newbie pilots, lets share..

Greetings Hippie64,

Ok, you guy's a really putting the pressure on with these wives going along to the flying field!!!
Seriously, that's awesome and I'm truly jealous......

I'm hoping to see some of that video soon.

Clear Skies

Bill L.
in OKla.

[Grossman56]

Re: All us newbie pilots, lets share..

So my next step is to get her to actually fly an airplane. Maybe once you have them hooked!
Seriously, I know I have a real rarity, but she does it willingly and I always give her the option, we're a team and she's got an investment in this as well.
She's also quite the shot and doesn't hesitate to kick my butt with her Ruger Super Blackhawk!!

[Grossman56]

Re: All us newbie pilots, lets share..

Yeah, good idea Bill, hopefully Hippie will post it, the next best thing to being there!

[Grossman56]

Re: All us newbie pilots, lets share..

Hey Hippie 64, what were you flying in the video? Have you tried the Texan yet, or are you waiting a bit.
I'm looking at modifying Pandora One as you know and wil fiy her first for a while before the P51.
I'm thinking of using the receiver I have in the Mustang for Pandora one and installing a Spectrum Ar 635 which is a 6 channel receiver with a built in AS3X gyro. Sounds pretty sweet and the video shows how to set it up.
There are no reviews on it yet, but I'm thinking if it gives me another layer of protection between me and the ground when I finally get her up in the air, well so much the better. You can also turn the gyro off if you want, but you can also set the gain on it, so you can ease off it as you gain experience.
Sounds like a good idea for us white knuckle flyers!

[Hippie 64]

Re: All us newbie pilots, lets share..

Hey Gman , I'm flying the Pandora in high wing. I'm still not ready for the Texan yet but it looks at me everyday saying "come on give me a try " . Iam starting to get to where it only takes one cigarette between batteries to stop shaking so it will still have to wait .
Let me know on Pandora 1 ,I want to see video or photos of her screaming thru the air . The Gyro thing sounds good . Keep me informed ...


P.S.<smiley image="smiley_happy.gif"/> my white knuckles are producing white hair

[Grossman56]

Re: All us newbie pilots, lets share..


Ain't nothing like the real thing
Bob Hoovers Mustang, now owned by Evergreen Aviation.
This would be an interesting piant scheme, easy to see for sure

[Grossman56]

Re: All us newbie pilots, lets share..

Hey Rocketeer, you bought a Waco didn't you? What did you think of if. I've been eyeballing one myself (don't tell the wife!) and was wondering what your impressions were on the build and the flight?
Keep in mind, I have some projects already in mind for the winter(s) ahead. Pandora One, I'm also thinking of getting the Freewing P 51 with the sound system, peeling all the decals off and getting some of that chrome film one of the guys used on his airplanes and doing the whole Mustang in it. Since I have a spare set of Pandora wings, I'll try coating them first.
All very exciting, but the idea of a Waco really appeals as well.
Maybe I can win one !?