Official FlightLine 1600mm P-51D Mustang Thread

[GliderGuy]

Messing with the FL P-38 ESC calibration with the (I knew better) props on. She came alive at 100% throttle and jumped off the workbench straight at me.

Instinctive reaction was left hand out to stop it from hitting me. Ended up with blood everywhere / floor, ceiling, walls. The bathroom looked like a surgical table.

The ER doc gave me a tetanus shot… no stitches. I spent months with a squeeze ball getting the fingers to function correctly again.

A lesson that will be long remembered!

Those P-38 props are SHARP as a knife! The P-51’s 16 inch prop on a more powerful motor….I shudder to think the damage it might cause.

-GG

[davegee]

Hah, but not a funny Hah.

Does anyone else have a uniform set of scars running along the inside of their forearm from adjusting a needle valve from the wrong side of the prop?

Ya only do that once unless you just like that kind of thing.

Scared the wee outta me and of course I was out at the field by myself.

What a moron I was that morning; bled like a stuck pig, no stitches just a really nice set of scars.

Best, LB

The chicks Dig scars! 🤣🤣

[Elbee]

Hah, but not a funny Hah.

Does anyone else have a uniform set of scars running along the inside of their forearm from adjusting a needle valve from the wrong side of the prop?

Ya only do that once unless you just like that kind of thing.

Scared the wee outta me and of course I was out at the field by myself.

What a moron I was that morning; bled like a stuck pig, no stitches just a really nice set of scars.

Best, LB

[davegee]

Thanx Dave ye that was couple years ago.. now

Still...you never forget something like that! Glad you recovered ok. Have you heard of Australian comedian Chopper Read? In some parts of the USA he is still very popular, great comic! He talks about his friend Bevan who cut his own arm off on a dare "Spot On, Bevan!!" (Just kidding).

Cheers

Davegee

[f4u ausie]

Thanx Dave ye that was couple years ago.. now

[Glazier808]

We just had an issue this past weekend when two club members were trying to do a throttle/elevator mix and they made the mistake of slaving the throttle to the elevator and it went to 50% throttle catching two of them…
one escape with only 14 stitches… the other was awaiting surgery for amputation of a finger 😳

always be diligent!

[davegee]

Yes. I accidentally reversed throttle on my spit setting up.. nasty went thru my leather work boots. Got my big toe really baad

OUCH!!! You ok, mate??

Davegee

[f4u ausie]

Yes. I accidentally reversed throttle on my spit setting up.. nasty went thru my leather work boots. Got my big toe really baad

[GliderGuy]

You will be pleased! Set her up by the manual.

AND for SAFETY…wait until you do all the ESC, TX set-ups BEFORE you install the prop!

PUT THE PROP ON AFTER ALL IS WORKING!

Update: Got 10 more flights this afternoon. 10-15 mph and gusty again. Only made one “no bounce” landing…little bounces on 9 landings..

Of course, the last one of the day was butter! 3.87V in the cells after 7 min of 75% throttle with a mix of full throttle aerobatic hot rodding.

-GG

[Aros]

Well I am tickled to announce I just purchased this puppy! I can't wait! By the sounds of it, she's a real jewel. I am looking forward to maidening when the weather improves. I bought the gyro version. I'm tired of losing jets, lol. Back to good ol' prop warbirds!

[Glazier808]

Finally OK winds…made 10 flights today.

Using High Rate 100% of the flight.

Finding that 1/2 flap and a somewhat “smart” application of the throttle (as opposed to a slow throttle application)…she jumps into the air before the P-factor and torque yaw her to the left.

Said another way, you can get by without any right rudder on takeoff, and she jumps into the air straight.

Kiddies…do not try that type of take-off power application if you are in a full scale P-51! You’ll find yourself chasing jack rabbits in the infield!

-GG

100% agree about take off. Once you find that sweet spot for throttle application, take offs are right down the middle with little or no p factor (making you look sooo good!)

I actually had a couple guys at the field this weekend ask about the takeoff and if I needed to apply rudder(because they look so smooth)

as glider guy stated this doesn’t mean that you don’t need to know how to use rudder when taking off in this plane…..

But there is a sweet spot in advancing the throttle where it will pop the tail up and give full rudder authority with little or no p factor

NOT ALWAYS, and probably not initially, but it will come

[GliderGuy]

Finally OK winds…made 10 flights today.

Using High Rate 100% of the flight.

Finding that 1/2 flap and a somewhat “smart” application of the throttle (as opposed to a slow throttle application)…she jumps into the air before the P-factor and torque yaw her to the left.

Said another way, you can get by without any right rudder on takeoff, and she jumps into the air straight.

Kiddies…do not try that type of take-off power application if you are in a full scale P-51! You’ll find yourself chasing jack rabbits in the infield!

-GG

[GliderGuy]

A 7 minute flight at 75% throttle and several full power aerobatics and fast passes leaves a bit more than 3.8 V per cell…like 3.83 V. (6000 mAh)

She sure makes you look good. I botched my first landing today and bounced up about 3 ft and a wing dipped.

She settled back in with some aileron application to level the wings and made a butter landing!

A bit gusty…on another landing from about 2 ft up, she dropped. Full back stick and she settled in for another butter landing!!!

Coming in with 1/2 flaps and 30-35% throttle in today’s gusty conditions.

I love this bird! 10 flights today.

-GG

[GliderGuy]

I'm flying a 5300mAh HV and come down with more than 3.8V/cell after 12 minutes.

Evan…that confirms my suspicions. When the wind stops blowing 25 knots, I intend to fly a 75% to full power aerobatic flight for 7 min (my current timer setting) and check the voltage afterwards (6000 mAh).
As noted in prior posts, 1/2 throttle cruise flight leaves 3.95 V in the cells after 7 minutes.

If anyone has done something similar, let us know. We can begin to bracket this bird’s flight time.

PS…Please report cell voltages vs % because cell voltage is the critical parameter of a LiPo battery.

-GG

[Evan D]

I'm flying a 5300mAh HV and come down with more than 3.8V/cell after 12 minutes.

[Glazier808]

Glider guy,

I’ve been running a 5000 6S
50 C spectrum smart battery. I’ve set my timer for six minutes and often do a couple more passes before landing. Seven minutes would be my guess on most of my flights
I’ve been flying pretty aggressively at 75% and above throttle settings.
Battery Voltage after flight has been so far 24% at its lowest and usually averages around 35%. If I’m just cruising around at half through the whole flight, I’ll land and it’ll be over 50% at times
I found that the plane will slow down and land very nicely without flaps. It also lands nicely with flaps as well. It’s gonna kinda depend on your wind conditions and personal preference
I have been flying with all the recommended rates other than ailerons which I dialed down about 20. %
30 % expo on ailerons and elevator

takeoff and landings have become so routine and easy that it’s almost humorous. I haven’t had a plane make me look so good at takeoff and landings like this one does

I’m holding about 25 to 35% throttle on final. With 25 to threshold and feather in with elevator for buttery smooth landings which for me are always on the mains with a nice run out

overall the plane flies very light, while it’s not a speed demon, but it’s pretty damn fast and most people at the field have mentioned its speed

[xviper]

Won't fit. The Spit has a round root and the Mustang a flat root.

I believe the two prop adapters are different lengths as well. That's why I also bought the P-51 prop adapter to go with the Spitfire motor (comes with the prop adapter for the Spit).

[GliderGuy]

Dozen more flights today, man it just keeps getting better!

I couldn’t charge batteries fast enough lol

Love this plane!

What are you discovering is the secret sauce after a good number of flights. I’m staring down a 25 knot wind today! Sigh!!!
Battery size
length of flight
style of flight
time of flight
Post Flight voltage
flaps yes/no on take-off and landings
power setting on final
Servo Rates
expo
etc

Thanks,
GG

[Evan D]

Won't fit. The Spit has a round root and the Mustang a flat root.

[marty 72]

OK. Just remember, this is with a light in my mouth and holding a mirror and the phone camera. So, backwards and upside-down. 390

Thank you Nuts and Bolts (BTW, I lived in Abq for 9 years). The motion site still has the motor listed as 340 kv, but the replacement part as 390 kv.

FlightLine P-51D Mustang 1600mm (63”) Wingspan Warbird with Gyro - PNP [FLW307PG] Motion RC

So, you may all be wondering why I care? I have the Flightline Spitfire 1600mm, I'd like a bit more top speed for runway passes. Well, now I know the spitfire has the same power system (390kv) as the new P51, but a 16x10 4 blade. I'm thinking of buying the 16x12 4 blades (FL P51) and see if they fit the spitfire prop adapter.