ryoder Posted March 30, 2015 Report Posted March 30, 2015 My friend and coworker has a bunch of RC airplanes and a couple of helicopters. Today I flew his easiest to fly high wing called the Apprentice. There was a strong crosswind today so I flew the pattern with a very aggressive crab angle. I got the hang of it and did an ok landing in that wind. I didn't use the rudder at all but the airplane can take a lot of side load since it weighs about a pound. It was a great way to get my fix while the Mooney is waiting to get the prop inspected and engine cluster repaired. 3 Quote
Hank Posted March 30, 2015 Report Posted March 30, 2015 I went the other way. Rubber band free flight to U-control to RC, then to full scale. It's tough to land an airplane in front on you, even before becoming a pilot. Be careful flying towards yourself, left & right are reversed, move the stick toward the low wing. Stalls, rudder and most everything else are the same, just smaller and further away. It's a great hobby! Quote
par Posted March 30, 2015 Report Posted March 30, 2015 I have been waiting for the local field here (Navy OLF Fentress) to open up on a weekend when I can make it out there. I have a pretty fast ritewing and Falcon 120 with an electric ducted fan on it. I would really like to fly them more than I do these days. Sure wish I could shrink myself and climb into those damn things sometimes. Quote
N33GG Posted March 30, 2015 Report Posted March 30, 2015 RC is a blast. You can even drink on final approach!!! Great fun. 1 Quote
ryoder Posted March 30, 2015 Author Report Posted March 30, 2015 I went the other way. Rubber band free flight to U-control to RC, then to full scale. It's tough to land an airplane in front on you, even before becoming a pilot. Be careful flying towards yourself, left & right are reversed, move the stick toward the low wing. Stalls, rudder and most everything else are the same, just smaller and further away. It's a great hobby! I play a lot of video games with dual stick controls and used to play rc pro am on the nes so I have no problem with the airplane coming at me. I just put myself in the cockpit and the turns come naturally. When it's right overhead I have trouble so my friend had me keep it at least twenty feet out. I am slightly sunburnt today but it was a great time. Quote
AndyFromCB Posted March 30, 2015 Report Posted March 30, 2015 I've always had a blast building them. Then crashing them. I don't think a single one lived more than a day or two... 1 Quote
Danb Posted March 30, 2015 Report Posted March 30, 2015 719n doesn't everyone drink on final approach Quote
ryoder Posted April 1, 2015 Author Report Posted April 1, 2015 My friend sent me this link to a 201 kit. http://www.cambrianplanes.co.uk/ourshop/prod_819533-CA18-Mooney-201-Executive-rc-plane-kit.html Quote
RocketAviator Posted April 1, 2015 Report Posted April 1, 2015 Here is a highly modified Cambrainplane scale fully fly able model of my Rocket with working lights and retractable and steerable landing gear The Cambrainplane model does not come with steerable nor retractable landing gear. Also had issues with laminated wings 3 sets in from England all 3 cracked and split within a few hours of taking them out of packing. They did send me replacements. I finally just laminated my own, had to get it completed by Mooney Homecoming last year. Was great fun but a lot of work. I also had trouble with Canopy, had to make a mold to thermoform a replacement after I slid my seat back into the model on a trip..... Argggg! 3 Quote
Mcstealth Posted April 4, 2015 Report Posted April 4, 2015 Did you have to add forward or aft balast for the added servo and retract weight? Quote
Hank Posted April 4, 2015 Report Posted April 4, 2015 I can't answer for Lacee, but balance is often achieved in this size plane by sliding the battery pack inside the fuselage. It's a great project! It's a great looking project! Quote
RocketAviator Posted April 4, 2015 Report Posted April 4, 2015 Did you have to add forward or aft balast for the added servo and retract weight? Hank is correct the best a builder can do is NOT to add any uncessary weight. I my case I restructured the tail portion of the fusuloge where I placed the battery and 2 servos as far aft as possible. I also installed a smaller fuel tank in the nose. Even after all that to get the CG correct I had to add a small 2 oz counter weight in the tail section.... i.e. my eqivelent to the 19lb ballast they added to my Rocket lol Was a lot of work but I sure enjoyed it and it was a bucket list for me... The cost was far more than could be justified but you know cost justification is not something all of us in GA are historically known for! 1 Quote
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