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Took my 'lil plane out flyin' today...

PostPosted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 8:27 pm
by Boss_BlueAngels
Hello everyone, just thought it'd be fun to post some pics of me flying my Christmas present. :D   Went out for some fun in da snow!  Wohoo!  

Very fun little plane.  Depending upon how you set it up, it can be quite easy to fly with slow responses, or completely wild.  Slow speed handeling is superb as seen in this pic.  
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And it also has quite a pop to it at higher speeds.  Did I mention this thing tracks as straight as an arrow!?
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During a couple flybys I made the antenna (black thing hanging from wing) drag along the snow for a good 30 feet, and one time the wing even hit the snow, but thanks to our freezing rain last night, it didn't stick to the snow, just kind of drug, and kept going.  
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Here I am flying inverted... well, doing an outside turn anyway.  I tried doing an outside loop with the plane, but evidentally the elevons don't go up very far and kinda splated on the top after this pic. lol  
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Oh yes, here I am descending from that outside loop... LOOK OUT!!
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I like to call this my high alpha pass... looks like it, but really I'm doing a loop. lol
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Here I am coming around for a high speed, low altitude pass.  Man, this thing really turns on a dime too!
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Well, hope you guys enjoyed these... there are more to come in the future. lol  

Re: Took my 'lil plane out flyin' today...

PostPosted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 8:31 pm
by beaky
Cool. Is this the electric job I read posts about earlier? How many channels do you have for control?

Re: Took my 'lil plane out flyin' today...

PostPosted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 8:48 pm
by Boss_BlueAngels
Yup it's the same one.  Just 3 channels, then one extra (I guess... not really sure how they worked it out) for a laser thingy that you can attach for dogfights.  If "hit" with the laser your engine dies for about 10 seconds.  Fun stuff I guess... haven't run into anyone else with the same plane yet.

Re: Took my 'lil plane out flyin' today...

PostPosted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 9:04 pm
by Insert Name Here
Meh, I could fight you.. probably lose, though. I got the Firebird Commander.. ;D

Re: Took my 'lil plane out flyin' today...

PostPosted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 9:09 pm
by Ben_M_K
Very nice pics. You may remember that I lost my RC Firebird Commander the day I got it.  :'( Have you had any problems with this on going up on anyones house?

It was my mistake to fly it near woods. :-/ But I really want another one.

Re: Took my 'lil plane out flyin' today...

PostPosted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 9:28 pm
by Boss_BlueAngels
Yeah, that must have really sucked.  I've been lucky and haven't gotten it stuck anywhere.  I've crashed it into things, but never gotten stuck.  But my DAD... now that's another story, he was VERY lucky and flew it into the top of a tree... but somehow the thing just kept bouncing from branch to branch.  Not a scratch on the plane... but I did have to balance about 15 feet on a fallen tree to cross a creek to retrieve the plane.  I'd say it was a good 10 feet up too... that wasn't fun.  lol  (but, the way my dad was going... it would have ended up on the otherside of the highway... so, I'm glad he hit the tree.

That's cool you've got the Commander, that's a nice one.  My dad has the Firebird. lol  Not very maneuverable.  I'd take ya on. lol  

Re: Took my 'lil plane out flyin' today...

PostPosted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 10:12 pm
by Insert Name Here
[quote]
That's cool you've got the Commander, that's a nice one.

Re: Took my 'lil plane out flyin' today...

PostPosted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 10:33 pm
by Nexus
Wow, that seems so cool!  ;D
I always wanted an RC plane (Okay..I actually wanted a helicopter, a Bell 230) but they are kinda expensive and I tend to break stuff  :(

Re: Took my 'lil plane out flyin' today...

PostPosted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 4:01 am
by Hagar
Hehehe. Flying in the snow. This brings back memories of when I was a keen slope soarer. The flying site is an old hill fort with a big ditch & ramparts around the edges. When there was snow around we used to touch our gliders down at the top of the hill, slide all the way down & do Harrier-style "take-offs" from the ramparts.

Re: Took my 'lil plane out flyin' today...

PostPosted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 4:10 pm
by chomp_rock
[quote]but they are kinda expensive and I tend to break stuff

Re: Took my 'lil plane out flyin' today...

PostPosted: Thu Jan 20, 2005 7:37 am
by mosquito633
The coolest RC plane i ever saw was in a model shop near where i used to live.  It was a p-51 mustang run on petrol.  This baby was great and it went like the clappers!!..

THe maker followed it up with a Zero of the same scale.

exspensive but it was fun to touch for just that brieff second

Re: Took my 'lil plane out flyin' today...

PostPosted: Thu Jan 20, 2005 9:51 pm
by TacitBlue
I have a Kyosho electric 2 channel helicopter, it is hard to fly, and the only thing I managed to do with it was crash a few times untill I ripped off one of the landing skids. I think I would do much better with a fixed wing plane. How much did this one cost Boss?

Re: Took my 'lil plane out flyin' today...

PostPosted: Fri Jan 21, 2005 3:38 am
by Hagar
the only thing I managed to do with it was crash a few times untill I ripped off one of the landing skids.

Familiar story. I've seen it so many times. Chap goes into model shop & spends loads of dosh on the most unsuitable model + all the equipment. The big day comes when he takes his pride & joy out to the nearest open space, also completely unsuitable. Next thing you know his expensive model is either at the top of the highest tree, lost for ever or

Re: Took my 'lil plane out flyin' today...

PostPosted: Fri Jan 21, 2005 6:10 pm
by TacitBlue
Thanks for the advice Hagar, luckily my helicopter didnt cost to much (about $100), and it is still flyable, it just lands lop sided.

Re: Took my 'lil plane out flyin' today...

PostPosted: Sat Jan 22, 2005 2:12 am
by Boss_BlueAngels
That's awesome you had a helo!  What kind was it, for $100 I may give it a try!  Always wanted one, but don't really wanna fork out $700 for a helo I'm probably gonna destroy within the first 2 seconds.  (I've already invested over $2,000 in my gas planes. lol)  

Anyway, my plane was $170 RTF.  Pretty good little plane.  Not sure if I mentioned, but when letting my gf and friend fly it, I've had to re-glue the nose about 4 times. lol  If it wasn't for the breaks having snow all over... would have been ready to fly within minutes.  And I also gave it my fare share of crashes, so it's a remarkable little plane.  I really think that anyone who reall understands how airplanes move and work could teach themselves how to fly this plane.  (Just do a lot of flying with the Tower view doing figure 8's to get used to aircraft flying toward you)

Also, I agree with customhybrid... it is best to go to a cub... BUT, with the Hobbyzone/Parkzone aircraft, they have a few that are designed for people with zero experience.  My dad has one actually and he's been doing great.  Best overall plan is really talk with someone at a hobby shop... they'll point you in the right direction.

Oh, but be cautioned... it isn't only the beginners who rekit planes... I've augured a few engines in myself.