Pandora

[bignuggets]

I am ordering the Pandora today and my question (actually 3) is I want to use my extra Eagle A3 Super gyro, so is there enough room in the body to mount it? Since I live in the Pacific Northwest, there is a lot of wind usually 5-8 mph with occasional gusts. How does the Pandora handle the wind? Do I really need flaps? Thanks,

Bignuggets

[Hippie 64]

Re: Pandora

The flaps will catch a lot of air . I added but never use them . As far as handling the wind its a big plane with thick main wings . It catches air but if your talking about 5-10 you'll be fine . You can fly in higher winds but it will move about some because of the wing design .
This is a very tuff built plane . It takes bumps and bruises very good . Main wing has spars with very little flex . If your considering I highly recommend it. You can't go wrong with it . Any problems just ask , anyone here will help you .
And yes plenty of room inside .

Bryan

[WintrSol]

Re: Pandora

I have an Eagle Tree Guardian in mine, which tames the winds well. The Pandora handles up to about 10mph pretty well, but I usually wouldn't take off above 8; with the stabilizer I'll take off in 13mph winds, no problems. Flaps turn the Pandora into a kite; I can head into 15mph winds, put the flaps down, and chop the throttle, and it just hangs there, sometimes moving backwards. Using them during landings can be tricky, if you have to land in crosswinds, but, winds straight down the runway, and you can land vertically, as gently as a helicopter.

[Grossman56]

Re: Pandora

I'm a big fan of the Pandora as well, as anyone who follows my newbies lets share post. I say this after I've had two major crashes with Pandora One and Pandora Two. Both my fault, by the way. P-1 actually burned out her ESC, fire and everything, that was because, I believe, I still had some throttle on. The only thing I lost in that crash was the ESC and a Prop. There was a thin spot in the foam from the fire so I loaded Gorrilla Glue into it, put an FMS 50 A ESC into it, revamped the ESC and Battery positions and put foam wheels on it instead of the stryofoam stock wheels. She flies low wing with flaps, she's a little slow for my liking so I'm searching for a more aggressive prop, since I can do that with a 50 Amp ESC.
Pandora two lawn darted on me, again my fault, I was trying to correct trim and did something wrong without three mistakes worth of altitude. I fly her high wing, completely stock, only having to replace the prop spinner and the prop itself. Bottom line, one tough airplane, likes to float so have a good size strip at least when you are starting out, flaps make her float a little more and you'll need to have a little elevator adjustment, not much mind you. Hippie 64 and I fly ours a lot, don't hesitate to ask, check out my posts as I have a lot of first hand info there as well.

By the way, I live in Wyoming and we have winds!!! I don't use a gyro in either plane.


Grossman56

[Lon]

Re: Pandora

I learned with the Pandora early this year, and fly it almost every time I go out. A good warm up before I fly my Mustangs.
Everything the guys said about their experience with their Pandora is just what I would say. I've had some bouncy landings. My 10 year old nephew spiked it into a Iowa corn field. Bent a small section of elevator. Had him back into the air with it 5 minutes later. From the start, I've used just the big wheel landing gear. Started out in the high wing configuration, and moved to the low wing soon after.

You'll love it!!

Also. I added the flaps. don't need them. But fun to use.

[Grossman56]

Re: Pandora

As a matter of interest, did anyone notice a big difference in handling when transitioning from high to low wing?
P-1 was was so modified, but flew very docile-like. Of course I was worried, not ever having a successful flight with her, now with low wings, different wheels, and different ESC in a different position and the battery located in a totally different position, all mods dreamed up by a newbie like myself, guess I had reason. I just CG'd her and took her up. No trouble at all, and I didn't notice any difference.

Grossman56

[WintrSol]

Re: Pandora

I started with it in high-wing, tail-dragger, then switched to low-wing. Not a lot of difference, but there is a subtle change in roll stability, because the weight is above the wing. Not much, just enough to notice when hanging on the wind without the stabilizer on.

[Lon]

Re: Pandora

when I switched from high to low wing. Just the difference in the expected configuration....left the battery in the same location. Handles great.

[Grossman56]

Re: Pandora

I would have left the battery in the original position, but the velcro strap got burned in the fire, and when I replaced the wheels and tires, the cg when crazy. So, instead of trying to put the new ESC under the battery board, I installed it where the battery used to sit and put the battery under the canopy. Good old Walmart hobby section had the same straps that the battery hold down used to have, so I put two on her to make sure. Still had to add a bit of weight to the tail to get her CG'd up, but she flys beautifully.
It's actually very handy having the battery under the canopy.
By the way , do you think I could go an 11x9 prop with a 50 Amp ESC?

Grossman56