How much space?

[RCTyp]

Hi all.

I have just planted my second Megatech AirStrike and have a Hanger 9 Alpha 0.60 on the way. I am wondering just how fast that thing will go and what size area I will need to fly it.

I have two fields that are about 150 by 400 feet surrounded by 4 foot high fence (it sure hurts to hit the fence with the AirStrike). Then there is at least 100 feet beyond the fields until you hit trees.

Once the plane is in the air I have about 600 feet by 600 feet before trees.

Do you generally fly a plane like the Alpha above the trees? (the airstrike had a tough time getting that high).

Are those fields big enough for take off and landing? ( I know that bigger is better)

My wife is already freakin' about me getting a gas plane because she is afraid it will scare our horses (they got used to the electric plane very fast). I would hate to have her say "I told you so" about the field size.

Thanks.

PS. I sure hope the Alpha is a better flyer than the AirStrike. It had a very hard time climbing. Once I got good enough to loop it (intentionally) I ended up breaking the main wing due to the forces.

[Vanning]

First, the Airstrike - or Groundstrike as ive heard it called, is infamously overweight/underpowered. Flying the Alpha will be like night & day.
Glow planes like this one feel sooo much different, particularly in their momentum. I overshoot the landing on a 1000'+ field often. My electrics i can typically land at any given time within a few feet of myself.

A 150x400 field sounds wayyy to small to me.
I strongly urge you to hook up with an instructor for the first couple flights and fly at a much larger field...maybe 2000' square. Then you can make the determination yourself based on how it feels.

[marshallcowboy]

The alpha is going to fly just great but the area your flying in is too small for a plane of that size. The alpha will get up over the trees with no problem. Landing will be abit of a problem though, you gonna need alot of room to set up for a final approach. Coming in over the trees and trying to get it to drop down will be tough. Do like said above and find a club to fly at and get an instructor, would really hate to hear about the alpha becoming balsa dust.
MC

[abenn]

I agree 100% with MC: In our club we take off and land on a football field (say 150ft x 300ft), but we've got about a mile of clear space next to it that we actually do our flying over. You'll get off in the space you've described, but without a clear line, into wind, for a nice long final approach, landings are going to end in tears.

[RCTyp]

Thanks Vanning, Marshall and abenn.

Looks like I will find a club to learn with the new plane. I too would hate for it to end in a pile.

Now I need to find another electric to fly at the house! I think I may head to the store right now (I am not exactly patient).

Typ

[abenn]

Looks like I will find a club to learn with the new plane. I too would hate for it to end in a pile.

Now I need to find another electric to fly at the house! I think I may head to the store right now (I am not exactly patient).

Typ

Good moves ... :D

[Vanning]

It seems that everyone has a different experience with clubs. Ive enjoyed mine. Decent guys, Ok field, cheap dues. The events are fun too. We challenge a neighboring club to an annual RC baseball game (a spot landing competition). We get our arses handed to us every year, but who cares - its a day outta the house. :D
The pic below is the doorprize i won for attending the holiday dinner this year. Everyone got something, of equal or greater value. Even the wives!
Some clubs arent that nice - feel it out first.

Anyway, i digress.
As for getting an electric, yes, you most certainly do...it'd be a shame to let all that land go to waste.
May i highly recommend the GWS Estarter.
A. its cheap
B. flys rather nicely!
c. easy on the eyes
d. In my opinion, it handles REMARKABLY similar to my .40 trainer. Excellent practice. It'll speed up your learning curve with the instructor. Did for me.

[Vanning]

The above post might be confusing...the above pic is a Tower Uproar .40 kit.

The Estarter looks like:

[RCTyp]

Thanks for the recomendation on the plane.
I did not go to the store, instead I went to the closest flying field (http://www.richmondarearc.com/). No one was there. Doesn't everyone have president's day off work?

Just for completeness I thought I would post pics of:

- The dead Airstrike complete with duct tape on the main wing, electrical tape on the tail, missing landing gear (read that as broken off) and a now non-linear fuse. There are other less obvious repairs.
- Field A for flying (need to get rid of those lawn ornaments)
- Field B for flying

Regards

Typ

[BillLumberg]

How about a Hobbico Avistar here? There are a few obsticles, two soccer goal posts on either end of the soccer field, and a few scattered light poles. I think it's doable, but might be tricky lining up the final approach, any opinions? Oh, the soccer field is pretty compact dirt (when its not muddy).

[ivanc]

I wouldn't fly on anything but a dedicated model airplane field with a frequency stand. I just don't want someone to turn on his transmitter on my channel and crash my plane on someone's head or property - even the AMA insurance will not apply in such a case. What I see here (BillLumberg's post) is a DEDICATED SOCCER field surrounded closely by busy streets, buildings, parking lots, etc. I don't understand as to what do you refer to as being a runway???!!!
Even if you don't have any accidents there will be a lot of angry individuals (soccer moms!!!) - that's something that we all do not need - we'll lose even the few fields that we have.

[BillLumberg]

Its actually completely deserted during the weekdays and surrounded by mostly empty industrial complexes currently, but I see what you're saying. Good call.

[Vanning]

Deserted or not, i do agree that that field is too close to surrounding businesses/cars/streets.
You'd likely be able to fly electrics parkflyers there with no problems or omplaints, but not a slimer.

[fhhuber506771]

Minimum space for a .40 trainer... 1500 ft X 600 ft. (flying area) 300 ft X 50 ft no obstruction landing area. No obstruction over 3 ft tall for 200 ft either end of the landing area.

You want 1/4 mi (preferably 1/2 mi) to the nearest building in line with the runway, and preferably nothing you would mind the airplane hitting within 1/2 mi in any direction from where the pilot stands. If the plane is more than 1/2 mi from you... you lost it.

Someone who is GOOD can keep a .40 trainer over a football field. But its not really an adequate space for safety.

[mbk11]

Yeah forget the soccer field....those light poles will be the death of your plane....I stupidly tried to fly an avistar at a soccer field when I first started out and crushed it in about one minute.....there are just way too many obstacles to worry about.


Matt