New FMS Firefly

[Iowa54]

FMS had a new Night flier      Will MRC be carrying it ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=SSNOC1CP-ow

[Alpha]

RE: New FMS Firefly

Hi Iowa54, yes we'll be carrying the Firefly. It looks like a fun flyer for dusk and night ops. As soon as we have confirmed information we'll publish it on our website and add it to the Coming Soon section. Stay tuned!

[Iowa54]

RE: New FMS Firefly

Hi Iowa54, yes we'll be carrying the Firefly. It looks like a fun flyer for dusk and night ops.  As soon as we have confirmed information we'll publish it on our website and add it to the Coming Soon section. Stay tuned!

Thanks for the heads up. Any idea on a price?

[Konrad]

RE: New FMS Firefly

When I first saw this model I though it looked like a low winged FSK Chubby Lady.

I flew a Clancy Stagger Bee with rotating tips for ailerons. They worked well until close to stall. Near a stall they caused early tip stalls (control reversal). I wonder if this model will exhibit this behavior.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgLoHbXUZ24

[XF-15DCC]

RE: New FMS Firefly

Interesting with the ailerons. I wonder how close you need to keep the plane by you to be able to pick up the color of the lights. I'm asking this as wouldnt the farther away make the lights look like one color?

EDIT: must have been thinking of another aircraft. With all those different light modes you shouldnt have a problem.

[Loneflier]

RE: New FMS Firefly

Hi Iowa54, yes we'll be carrying the Firefly. It looks like a fun flyer for dusk and night ops.  As soon as we have confirmed information we'll publish it on our website and add it to the Coming Soon section. Stay tuned!

I like this one, very nice video there, and it has that Golden Age look to it with the open cockpit and low wing set up. I'll be ordering one of these!

[Iowa54]

RE: New FMS Firefly

Hi Iowa54, yes we'll be carrying the Firefly. It looks like a fun flyer for dusk and night ops.  As soon as we have confirmed information we'll publish it on our website and add it to the Coming Soon section. Stay tuned!

I like this one, very nice video there, and it has that Golden Age look to it with the open cockpit and low wing set up. I'll be ordering one of these!

I agree with the looks, Golden age neon LOL I'll be ordering one also. Looks perfect for those last few minutes of light flights.

[Flygirl]

RE: New FMS Firefly

When I first saw this model I though it looked like a low winged FSK Chubby Lady.

I flew a Clancy Stagger Bee with rotating tips for ailerons. They worked well until close to stall. Near a stall they caused early tip stalls (control reversal). I wonder if this model will exhibit this behavior.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgLoHbXUZ24

Chubby Lady?? Hey! That's me! LOL!

Never seen a plane with moving wing tips as ailerons. Kinda cool!!

[Konrad]

RE: New FMS Firefly

I apologize.
The PC movement obviously hadn't reach the Czech republic when the model was named.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21l25_wtBwE

[Flygirl]

RE: New FMS Firefly

I apologize.
The PC movement  obviously  hadn't reach the Czech republic  when the model was named.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21l25_wtBwE

Ha! I kinda like the name... :-)

Kinda like the plane too... Cute and different. Thanks kiddo for posting it!

[fhhuber]

I recently got a FireFly.

The original fuselage had the plastic motor bearer ring installed improperly resulting in left + excess down thrust angle.
Result was the airplane could fly, but took a hard left on takeoff and required constant re-trimming for changes in airspeed Rapid application of throttle pulled the nose down and to the left.

When I reported this, MotionRC contacted Horizon and I was shipped a replacement fuselage.
Comparing the 2, the part of the motor bearer with the thin section is down on the replacement and to the left on the original.

Replacement fuselage cured the "bad habits" with throttle and takeoffs are able to be done straight, even with a moderate crosswind.

Looking at other reviews I noted that there's a weakness in the landing gear and it showed up when I made a landing in tall grass. The landing gear mount broke and pulled out of the foam.

I have solved this issue by installing a 1/8 inch aircraft plywood plate at top-center of the wing. My plate is from leading edge to the forward wing cam-locks Long screws through large washers, the plate, original landing gear mount and the landing gear, then nylock nuts (aircraft nuts) hold the gear on. I went with the same size metric screws (diameter/thread) but black hardened steel cap head screws, just long enough to have 1/4 inch come out below the aluminum landing gear. (3 threads showing after going through the nuts)
I expect a really hard landing could snap the plywood. (hopefully before ripping out a chunk of the wing).

Something has to break first... Glue joints to EPO tend to pull apart to easily for depending on them to hold landing gear on.

As shipped (if the airplane is not miss-assembled) its a very nice flying airplane that has gotten a lot of compliments at the club's night-fly events. It would also work well as a trainer, since it is very stable and predictable.