From: Michael Moore grizzman(at)concentric.net
I have some pictures of my maiden electric um-er-flying machine -
Since I haven't been flying in 10 or so years I wanted to start out with something hopefully slow and easy to fly, quick to get together, and fun. I happened across the SKYFLEX 2000 that I bought from New Creations. Mr. Massey also made me up a 7 cell 1700 SCRC pack to go with it.
I have to say that this is a good choice for beginners. I opted to try it without a trainer or instruction because I'm stupid and impatient - but lucky! The first flight was great. With the motor turned on (it has ON and OFF) the thing climbs out at about a 30+ degree angle and is nice and forgiving when I throw too much control into it.
It climbed very fast (in my eyes anyway) and I circled it a few times then brought it in. Without power it descends at about a 30 or so degree angle. The first landing was right down the runway; untill it tipped over at the very end, but I don't count that.
The second flight was fantastic. I became a tad more courageous and flew out farther and did some circles and figure eights untill amidst a steep turn a rubber band broke (my excuse anyway) that holds the sail to one of the frame spars and the thing went into a spin from about 250 feet up straight down into a tree!!! The End I Thought! Funny thing was that it sustained not a bit of damage. The battery shot out along with the canopy cover and that was it. No scrapes, scratches, bent sail tubes, sail holes, nothing. So, I recharged and went back up. I'm not sure how long it will run per flight as my nerves could not allow me to test this machines limits just yet and I was happy just to get it back with juice to spare.
I flew two more good flights and had another minor crash before calling it a day. In the photos you can see the only damage it sustained, a bit of green smudge on the nose from grass smearing on it as a result of the second crash. Other than that - long lives the SKYFLEX. It was great fun to fly and built like a rock, but lighter, and I wish to enter it as a possible beginer flying machine. I haven't flown any others to compare - but it sure was great fun.
I did have problems, especially near the end, with severe steering servo glitching. So, after I took the victory pictures, I dismantled the thing to put on some motor capacitors which I hope do the trick (I paid attention to the EZone Digest). I may also possibly put a small speed controller in as well since it actually has too much power for me when turned on full blast.
Mirage 550 probably the next project -
As always,
thanks for EZone!
Mike from Louisburg, N.C.
