Park Hawk at 6000' ?

[Tom Smith]

Leaving for Colorado tomorrow morning and found room in the van for my PH. Will they fly at that altitude. Castle Rock Colorado is about 6000 above sea level. I have flown plenty of other electrics out there that I have bought along while visiting my son Mike and his family, but the little triplets would go nuts seeing my Park Hawk fly. Anyone have an answer for me tonight, because tomorow morning at 5am, we're outta here. tom

[KeithK]

Tom,

Yes, they fly but at 6000+ft you need 8 or 9 very good aaa cells, or better yet, 2 or 3 cell li-poly's. I like the etec 1200's so much I quit using the aaa's. Did you see the meet in Longmont (above Denver) this Saturday? I think it is called mile high on the events list, also KonstantKrash has posted about it elsewhere.

Keith

[Sean Kinkade]

Tom,

I predict she'll be struggling to fly with the stock battery. You'll need the 2 cell lithium or else a 9 cell NIMH.

By the way, your post brought a pleasant flashback of a memory from 1987 while I lived in Denver. I used to drive my Jeep up the steep mountain roads towards Fort Collins and there was this bluff I used to park at and daydream about flying an RC ornithopter off of in the warm summer sun. One day I will go back there and fullfill the daydream from my past.

Good luck with your flights,

Sean

[Tom Smith]

How the heck are you. Long time no see. We will be arriving on Friday to visit with Mike and VChris and their 2 1/2 year old triplets. I have been flying my PH with the supplied 8 cell pack here at sea level it flies great, but was wondering how it would do in Castle Rock. I do have 2 e tec 1200 packs that I use in other planes. They are the 2 cell ones. Will they work in the PH. Is it worth hauling it out west to fly it, or will it be marginal at best. We gotta meet and fly again like we did a few years ago with Doug at the soccer field. Send me a # I can call you at, or call me at Mike Papula's on Rockyview Dr in Castle Rock. I think he is listed in the book. Tom

[Tom Smith]

So these 2 e tec 1200 2 cell packs I have will work in the PH. I nwver was sure how many amps the darn thing draws because to hook up a whatt meter to it and hav it flap seemed impossible. If my 2 ounce lighter e tec;s will work, I will bring her along for the trip. Heck, i can always throw one of the wifes suitcases out and make even more room in the van. Pleas let me know if my packs will work in the PH. Regards, Tom

[Matthew Cotten]

Hey Tom,look at the last reply from Sean in the thread below this one called cybird and Sean writes about the 2s 1200 back working just fine but from my experiance 3s would still climb out like mad even at higher alt like what your talking about.The amp draw with 3p li/pos goes way up past 7 amps though and would probable hurt the 1200 cells in this configuration.Hope this helps.Matt

[Matthew Cotten]

P.S.-I chased my slow parrot through 3 feilds of about a half mile after frying the pixie 7p speed controller due to to many amps on 3s 680 pack.It kept going and going .I almost had a hart attack chasing the dam thing,I felt like a dog trying to catch an eagle--I didn't have a chanse! It finally landed after the solder exploded and droped the motor leads.My buddy and I had a good laugh after the whole thing was over and I cought my breath!Anyway.Matt

[KeithK]

Tom,

I know mine flies well even at 8500+feet with an etec1200 3cell pack. I use these packs in several planes so I don't have any 2 cell packs to try. I rarely use full throttle (although it is fun doing full-throttle outside loops) but when I am showing off to a crowd, the motor gets very hot and the battery is getting quite warm. I have a pixie-20 speed control and don't mind replacing speed 300's.

PM'd you with the #.

Keith

[Tom Smith]

The rest of the story ! ! !

My Park Hawk flew just fine at 6,300' in Castle Rock Colorado, even with the stock battery pack. The flight was about as long as it is at sea level, which is where I live in NY. Only thing I noticed with this pack is the landings were a bit harder. Higher wing loading due to the thinner air I guess. With the 2 cell e tec 1200 pack, the power was about the same as the stock 8 cell nimh's, but the flight was twice as long, and the landing was much softer with the 2 ounce weight reduction. But either way, she flew great, and the folks in the park at Founders Village went nuts over it. This thing is really a crowd pleaser, and if there isn't a crowd around when you start the flight, there will be when you finish. Thanks to all for the help and encouragement.

Tom

[Jerry Rose]

Okay Tom. Now you've done it. I've got an Uncle who lives near Pikes Peak, Colorado. I don't know when, but I've got to go there with my ParkHawk and give it a try.

Did you get any photos of your high altitude adventure?

[Tom Smith]

No photos. That was rather a non event. Where I flew the PH though, it is only 40 miles north of Pikes Peak, and that monster mountain is always in plain view. Have at it, but I took the cog railway up there a few years ago, and man is that air thin. Thought I would pass out.
We also have a daughter who lives in Breckenridge, 9600', and we went to visit her for a few days too. I have already flown electric powered planes there, but on the way back to Castle Rock, via the long route, we pass over the continental divide at Hoosier Pass, 11542', and this time, on my fourth try in as many years, the winds were light and I managed a flight on my GWS Beaver, all stock, with e tec 1200s. She flew great, and Elaine took some shots of that flight, but with her 35mm camera, so I have to wait a bit to see those pictures.

If I can make one statement, these electrics open up all kinds of windows of opportunity to fly in places you never dreamed of before. I am totally hooked on electrics. Tom

[Jerry Rose]

Originally posted by Tom Smith
I am totally hooked on electrics. Tom

I put my gas machines away 5 years ago, and never looked back. The nice thing is that electrics have come so far so quickly! Back then they were good enough, but now they are superior!
:cool: