indoor flying

[nitro125]

I was wondering if there are any places around the Huntsville area that allow indoor flying such as a gym or something. I would love to fly my Turmoil indoors but i have no clue as to where to go.

[ghee-grose]

I don't know of any place where you can fly indoors. sorry

[GLIDERGIDER]

I was wondering if there are any places around the Huntsville area that allow indoor flying such as a gym or something. I would love to fly my Turmoil indoors but i have no clue as to where to go.
Sure would be great if somebody would go to the Huntsville Parks and Recreation board meetings and bring the subject up as new business. Does anybody have any contacts with the city board? I'd be glad to go too to show support. This is the Space and Rocket Center of the South, you'd think there would support for this activity.

How about Madison City, anybody have contacts on that board?

The only electric indoor I've attended was in Tennessee, Tullahoma. About 4 years ago I drove up there and observed them fly in a gym in town. I'm pretty sure it was a winter activity. They were flying GumSwallow type planes and light foamys. I'm not sure if they still fly at their gym. Their webpage didn't mention it.
Dave

[Mars Flyer]

I had an e-mail discussion with a guy about a year ago who was trying to get a session in the VBC arena. I never heard from him again.

Although not exactly local there is a indoor event at Columbia TN in a couple of weeks
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=451007
It might be interesting to see how they do it. It is associated with a swap meet which can be fun as well. Rocket City RC used to have a good swapmeet but seems to have stopped.

Rob

[nitro125]

how far is that from huntsville

[nitro125]

thats only about an hour from here so i might go check it out it sounds like fun

[GLIDERGIDER]

I just got an email reply from the folks in Coffee Airfoilers in Tullahoma Tenn. Guys up there are still flying indoors at a local gym. Here is the response from their leader David Green. http://www.cafes.net/herb/
-----
Yes (we fly indoors) every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month. From 8:00 till 10:00 in the morning. The location is on the base at Arnold Center. I don't fly electrics that much. Contact Tom Hartvigsen at 931-962-0811 and he can give you directions to the location. If I can be of more assistance please feel free to call me 931-636-7926. Have a great day! David Green
------

[GLIDERGIDER]

This Saturday is the Indoor fly meet in Columbia Tenn.
Heres a link with Details.
http://www.columbiarc.com/swapfly06.htm
Dave

[dleviner]

Sure would be great if somebody would go to the Huntsville Parks and Recreation board meetings and bring the subject up as new business. Does anybody have any contacts with the city board? I'd be glad to go too to show support. This is the Space and Rocket Center of the South, you'd think there would support for this activity.

How about Madison City, anybody have contacts on that board?

Dave


Good Luck. Most gyms (parks, schools, and churches) have tight schedules in the winter months due to basketball practices and games.

[Mars Flyer]

Frank and I went up to Columbia to the swapmeet and fly-in yesterday. We had a great time inspite of the dismal weather. Here are my impressions.

The facility was very nice and there was a great turnout. The basketball court was covered with tables which were pretty much full. I counted only 3 vendors and the rest was true flea market. The equipment was almost entirely gas with a few electrics thrown in. It was fun to watch Frank "take a walk down memory lane" as he fondled the multitude of small gas engines from his control-line days. There were some museum pieces there. There were numerous large gas planes for sale with the largest being a 1/3 scale Cub. I picked up a few small items and tools. Frank can tell of his acquisitions.

After the swapmeet and auction the tables were cleared out and the indoor flying began. We were disappointed at the paucity of slow-flyers but the rest were entertaining. There were a number of helicopters going up and down, 3D foamies doing pretty much the same, and a gang of hopped up Slow Sticks which required the spectators to keep an eye out to avoid being hit. The Slow Sticks had their wing tips removed and were brushless powered. It was hard to tell if they were flying combat or just avoiding the walls and floor - which they didn't do very well. I would like to have the GWS prop concession at that event. I lost count of how many were broken.

The only slow flyers were a lovely stick and tissue plane, one of those CF and plastic wrap butterflies (which flew great) and a beautiful little DiddleBug which was the only "real" airplane flying in the event. The 3D foamies were fun to watch especially in the hands of the team flyers from Billy Hell RC and Hobby Lobby International.

After observing the bedlam in the air and the carnage on the floor I knew I didn't want to fly my Gym Swallow there. You have to be willing to experience a mid-air and I'm not. Frank and I did take our GSs in as conversation pieces.

It was great fun and I'd highly recommend the 90 mile drive. You won't find a lot of hardware of interest to electric flyers but anyone who loves planes would enjoy seeing the variety there.

Rob

[Jim_Marconnet]

Frank and I went up to Columbia to the swapmeet and fly-in yesterday. .....

The equipment was almost entirely gas with a few electrics thrown in.....

Frank can tell of his acquisitions......

After the swapmeet and auction the tables were cleared out and the indoor flying began.....

The only slow flyers were a lovely stick and tissue plane, one of those CF and plastic wrap butterflies (which flew great) and a beautiful little DiddleBug which was the only "real" airplane flying in the event.....

After observing the bedlam in the air and the carnage on the floor I knew I didn't want to fly my Gym Swallow there.............

It was great fun and I'd highly recommend the 90 mile drive.......

Rob
Glad you two went and had a great time. Next year let's get organized and take up several vanloads if there is enough interest. Had I known some were going up, I might have asked to go along, or to drive my van.

I wonder if the equipment for sale was mostly gas because that's all they do up there, of if it was because people wanted to unload it in favor of switching to electrics? One time Frank at R/C Hobbies mentioned that his gas sales had all but dried up.

Too bad you two did not get to fly after all -- anticipation and disappointment - but at least no destruction to rebuild after.

Surprised to hear of no Aero Aces there. I'll bet that would be fun!

Next year is a long ways off, of course, but hopefully by then I'll have my Atmopod built and know how to fly it. With the DX6 radio so no frequency worries; and the way this is built; there is nothing to worry about flying it anywhere in calm air. With all the winter we've had, I'm looking forward to something I can fly indoors or out.

[Moonbeam Six]

Good report, Rob. Unfortunately, neither of us brought a camera, but the word picture is very accurate.

For future planning, AMA membership is required to fly at such an event. Had I been a member, I might have waltzed Debbie around the arena a few times during a lull. As Rob said, it was no place to fly anything that you'd put any time into building or cared anything about. It was crazy, but fun to watch. The lack of organization and control was a bit disappointing. Thankfully, there were a few sane flyers with airplanes that depended on their wings for lift.

The swap meet was great. Lots of old stuff. I even found a couple of old K&B .049s like my first .049 when I was about 12. Anyone else ever fly a McCoy .35 Redhead? It was also a nostalgic experience digging through boxes of antique propellers (and remembering the pleasant times associated with this brand and that). Yes, they brought back a lot of fond memories of days when life was simple.

Aside from a couple of tools, wheels, props, and a new spinner for my ARF CL Nobler (still ITB), I bought a House of Balsa "2x4" glider/sailplane. I didn't need another plane, especially a different kind of plane, but it looked like a neat true balsa kit to build. Now I am considering my options, which include build it stock, extend the wing, build an optional power pod, or build it lighter with a built-in motor. Regardless, building it isn't high on my priority list now.

All in all, it was a very enjoyable day. Thanks for the invitation, Rob.

Frank

[ghee-grose]

Dad, was the gym very big? Compared to the gym we flew in Friday night?

[Moonbeam Six]

Not by much, if any.

[ghee-grose]

That doesn't sound like a very ideal place to have a gathering like that then.

[ChromeDome]

............... Anyone else ever fly a McCoy .35 Redhead? It was also a nostalgic experience.........
I have one somewhere in the attic. Mine never ran very well and was hard to start. I switched to a Fox 35 that ran well for me. The McCoy was a beautiful engine with the polished crankcase and red head, but the Fox ran better. The Fox is still bolted to a control line Top Flite Flite Streak (designed by George Aldrich). I'll get it down and post a photo soon.

[Moonbeam Six]

ChromeDome,

Hey, you gotta do more than just get it down for a picture. You'll have to get it ready to fly when the weather gets warmer. I have an ARF Nobler still in the box, and a Ringmaster kit to build when the spirit moves me. I love flying control line planes, and used to do a lot of it. You never know, we might get some of the Renegades interested in control line planes too. My Nobler will be powered by an OS Max .35 that was in my original Nobler (built in 1967). And I still have the Fox .35 that I bought used in 1965. It powered a Ringmaster for many hours of fun. I have CL engines to power a whole fleet of planes.

Frank

[ChromeDome]

ChromeDome, Hey,.................... I love flying control line planes, and used to do a lot of it. You never know, we might get some of the Renegades interested in control line planes too. My Nobler .......
The nice thing about contol line that you don't get with RC or free flight is that you actually get to feel the airplane on the end of the lines. :) Until someone has tried it, they don't know what they are missing. CL has dropped in popularity with the coming of easy RC but it is still there. Electric CL is showing up in the magazines now.

Hope we don't get reported to the moderator for sacrilege like this since this is RCGroups. ;)
Tom

[Moonbeam Six]

Hey Tom,

Reported!?! After all we are Renegades!

You are right. It was the lack of control "feel" of the plane with RC that was the initial negative that kept me from going to RC years ago. I could have just as much fun watching someone else do it. That Nobler really had a nice feel to it.

Frank

[ghee-grose]

I get too dizzy spinning around in circles though... AND I don't like to keep up with how many loops I do. :D

[Moonbeam Six]

Keeping up with the number of loops you do isn't a problem. You just do a few outside loops occasionally to untwist the lines. You can "feel" if the controls get a little sticky, and that will tell you to loop the other way. Just wait till I get the Nobler flying.

[Miderror]

The nice thing about contol line that you don't get with RC or free flight is that you actually get to feel the airplane on the end of the lines. :) Until someone has tried it, they don't know what they are missing. CL has dropped in popularity with the coming of easy RC but it is still there. Electric CL is showing up in the magazines now.

Hope we don't get reported to the moderator for sacrilege like this since this is RCGroups. ;)
Tom

CL alive and well here.
My F2D set up for some group fun here and over in GA.
I think there are 8 of us with this design. We run 25s
just kicks.

[Moonbeam Six]

Don,

I didn't know you did control line! Is there any kind of modeling you don't do?

I a delighted to find there are more folks than me that have flown them, and are still interested. It certainly motivates me to get down the Nobler kit and get it ready to fly.

Frank

[wheatfly]

Yeah I don't think there is much Don hasn't done. If you get into something Don is like yeah I did that a few years ago, I'll have to pull my stuff back out. However I don't think he has done much indoor microflight stuff. I bet that is too boring for him though. :)

[nitro125]

ive got a unbuilt flight streak arf and a fully built but no time to fly banshee with a fox 35 in it. I love c/l.

[Jim_Marconnet]

Just this AM I thought of a Madison church that I know of with a carpeted fellowship hall one basketball court-size square (yes, it has the backboards that go up and down). Very high ceiling. No obstructions that I remember besides the backboards, except the decorative wood beams clear up at ceiling-level. The only windows are very high up, and have darkening paper or something over them.

They have all sorts of community activities there. Boy Scouts, etc. Yes, there is a raised stage up front.

I'd like to contact them about possible periodic indoor R/C flying there by our "club". But I would like to have some idea before going in what we would like.

What is the name of our "club"?

Fly two hours at a time? longer? shorter?
Weekday evening? What day would be preferable?
Saturday? Schedule probably iffy.
Sundays would most likely be out. But we could ask about the afternoon.

Weekly?
Every other week?
Monthly?
Year-round or winter only?

We might need to be flexible schedule-wise, since a lot goes on there. A regular time might not be possible, but perhaps schedule a time a week or two ahead of time.

How many flyers might we realistically expect to participate? Remember this is in Madison.

I don't personally see flying a SS in there. Does anyone have something suitable smaller that we could show them that we could demo-fly in the approval process? I wonder about helicopters?? They could cause some damage. Of course my Air Lark has carbon blade guards, so no problem there. But it would not make much of a demo.

Of course Aero Aces - but what other indoor planes do we have available that would make us look "serious"?

If we had a site, how soon could we realistically go fly there with something more than Aero Aces?

Any thoughts suggestions before I/we go make a pitch. Who else would like to help organize this?

We might have to move folding chairs and/or put them back afterwards to have a clear space.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Dream a little! Do you know of a similar or better place?

If we had a regular indoor flying site, besides the Atmopod I'm building, I'd build something meant for indoor flight.

If anyone wants to call me about this, PM me or look me up in the Huntsville/Madison phone book.

I'll swing by there this weekend to check it out physically, if possible, but I won't say anything to anyone till we have our ducks lined up.

A late-breaking (crackpot!) idea for the glider and slope-lovers. We could possibly get one of those big box fans, set it up out in the middle of the floor, pointing vertical, and have an indoor thermaling session. But without the sharp rocks and the walks of shame, not sure how much fun that would be. :rolleyes:

Jim Marconnet

[GLIDERGIDER]

Fly two hours at a time? longer? shorter?
Weekday evening? What day would be preferable?
Saturday? Schedule probably iffy.
Sundays would most likely be out. But we could ask about the afternoon.
Weekly?
Every other week?
How many flyers might we realistically expect to participate? Remember this is in Madison
I don't personally see flying a SS in there. Does anyone have something suitable smaller that we could show them that we could demo-fly in the approval process?
Jim Marconnet
2 hours sessions if possible
Twice a month
5-6 guys
Types of flying: slow flyer laps, 3D foamys and slow stick combat
Mostly winter because of the weather

[Ken Fidler]

Don,

I didn't know you did control line! Is there any kind of modeling you don't do?

I a delighted to find there are more folks than me that have flown them, and are still interested. It certainly motivates me to get down the Nobler kit and get it ready to fly.

Frank


Sold my control line a few months ago; probably should not have since there are more of you out there with them.

I flew them when I was 7 or 8 years old before starting R/C at 11. Then about 6 years ago I got back into it with my friend Bert and then Don. Word of advice do not let Don near your lines (or let him borrow them) , he will shorten them for you without you really knowing how short (he changed mine from 25 to 15 feet, I flew it once then was sick) :)

Ken

[ChromeDome]

The city has built a large gym in Fern Bell Park off Whitesburg Drive that is not well known. There is no obvious sign to it and it sits back off the road. It is behind Whitesburg Middle School. It has two full gyms, a weight room, and a general activity room. I stopped by Friday afternoon and there were three guys shooting baskets in the West gym. The East was empty. After chatting with the people on the desk for awhile, they let me fly in the empty East gym. They are careful people and no one had ever asked to fly there before so they looked over the AeroAce for awhile and discussed it and decided it was OK. The facility is very nice and they want to keep it that way. The flying ws fine there. Plenty of room and not drafty from the HVAC. There seems to be an open gym every day except Saturday. Probably booked for games then.

Their rules are interesting and might by tough for us Renegades. Some are:
"No spitting."
"No bouncing balls off the wall" (Luckily it doesn't mention airplanes.)
"Use clothes for the purpose that they are intended"

It was tough but I stayed on my best behavior so may get to fly there again. I'll post updates.

[Jim_Marconnet]

The city has built a large gym in Fern Bell Park off Whitesburg Drive...

It was tough but I stayed on my best behavior so may get to fly there again. I'll post updates.

Thanks so much for checking this out and letting us know.

My latest thinking on indoor flying is to involve planes that obviously could not possibly hurt anyone or damage anything.

[nitro125]

do u think my tumoil might be too big and they might consider it dangerous since those aero aces are very tiny?

[ChromeDome]

do u think my tumoil might be too big and they might consider it dangerous since those aero aces are very tiny?
The problem at the moment is that no one at the gym knows anything about model airplanes. I think it is much easier to get our foot in the door with AeroAce size or rubber power or Gym Swallow type slowfliers and then move on to the 3D later. The nice thing about AeroAce or rubber power is that it is obvious that they are so small and light that they can't hurt anything. That makes it easier to get permission to fly.

[nitro125]

i kinda fiqured that they didnt know anything about rc planes. But i dont have a plane like the aero ace because i couldnt find one out of the 3 wal marts and one toys r us i tried. but it would be worth a try for me to just ask anyway. There is a realy really small gym by my house that is used for little kids basketball games but when i say little i mean little. I dought that you would want to fly anything bigger than one of those aero aces in there . But lately it seems like the gym is always closed and i dont know anyone who has a key.

[Jim_Marconnet]

do u think my tumoil might be too big and they might consider it dangerous since those aero aces are very tiny?
I assume you have a Turmoil, as pictured below.

If so, my guess is that a mere look at it would drive the tiny Aero Aces out of the sky to cower and whimper in a corner with the dust-bunnies! :rolleyes:

But what do I really know about the brave little AAs?

Some day I'll fly one and find out for myself how brave and indestructable they are! :)

[ghee-grose]

I'm telling you guys.... quit looking around and go to Target "IF" you want to buy an Aero Ace! They have them at WalMart on University Drive, South Parkway, and in Athens.... but they are $39.99! They have had them for the last 3 weeks at one of the two Targets in HSV for $29.99 and I've proven this with several phone calls to check stock. Try it sometime... they will let you know if they have some there.

Like I said.... IF you want one, go get it. Just spend the measley $30 and see for yourself. I guarantee you will be loving the little plane!!!

[ghee-grose]

As for the Turmoil indoors...

If you are a good 3D pilot and can easily do good harriers and rudder turns (meaning - making 180 degree turns with rudder, using the ailerons to keep the plane level) then you shouldn't have a problem flying in a single court gym. If you can keep it hovering/harriering around you outside on a calm day without going very far away from you for minutes at a time, then you are probably ready for indoor flight.

I think ChromeDome is right... maybe not a good time to try it in the gym he found... yet, but it may come with time. :D

[Jim_Marconnet]

I'm telling you guys.... quit looking around and go to Target "IF" you want to buy an Aero Ace! They have them at WalMart on University Drive, South Parkway, and in Athens.... but they are $39.99! They have had them for the last 3 weeks at one of the two Targets in HSV for $29.99 and I've proven this with several phone calls to check stock. Try it sometime... they will let you know if they have some there.

Like I said.... IF you want one, go get it. Just spend the measley $30 and see for yourself. I guarantee you will be loving the little plane!!!
I went to both Huntsville Targets yesterday with no AA luck! I asked a clerk about them. None in the back, and they have no way of knowing what will be on tomorrow's truck. Seems like the only thing to do there is to keep checking back with them.

I've not looked for them at the Wal*Marts. Perhaps I should just bite the $40 bullet. The gas I burned yesterday was worth something, but it was such a beautiful day, but clearly too windy to fly, so I just had to get outside somewhere with Pat. We drove up over Monte Santo Mountain, dodging all the colorful (and foolish!) bicyclists!

[ghee-grose]

If you mind wasting gas, then pick up the phone and call before you go. It probably will take 5 minutes or more to get somebody from the Toy Dept on the phone but it's worth it to me to know they have them before I drive over there.

I'm about to post some cool pictures from our indoor flying adventures yesterday with our Aero Aces.

[ghee-grose]

Some good shots I took of Dad's Aero Ace in flight. Reeeeaaaaal close :cool:

[ghee-grose]

And here are some shots of the goofy fun we had. Some of these are man-to-man combat done the right way, and one of them is of me trying to catch mine with my mouth. :p .... I never was successful with it though. :o

And a picture of Drew flying his AA around. :D

[ghee-grose]

Oh yeah, we did some great aerobatics with them too. I'm talking about snap rolls, double snap rolls, waterfalls, 2-second knife edge and inverted flight!

For a clue on how we got that to happen, see the above pictures... see if you can figure it out. :D

[Jim_Marconnet]

Some good shots I took of Dad's Aero Ace in flight. Reeeeaaaaal close :cool:
Thanks for the good advice (phone first and be patient while they check stock) and the great fun AA photos.

I have no idea how you did the aerobatics. Unless there are intermittant localized drafts like from a heating/cooling system or something like that.

Am real envious of your GYM!

I tried to get up early this AM to fly my SS on the way to work. Realized when I went outside running too late with the trash that I should have just had an AA to fly in my front yard just after sunrise when it was near-calm. Or even in the dark, since I have a bright street-light in my front yard. Live and learn and keep at it till I find one or several!

[ghee-grose]

:D Look at the next to the last picture where the AA is in my face.... notice what Andy is doing in the background?

[dee-grose]

Gary forgot to mention the aerobatics on launch that we discovered yesterday. Take the little AA by the wingtip and fling it like a frisbee. Experiment with different wingtips, throwing it backwards/inverted etc. Give it full throttle before you throw. The poor little plane will tumble and flop around something crazy and usually roll right out, sometimes in a vertical climb. The torque usually rights it rather quickly. Once last night I got mine in a vertical climb and it did probably a 8ft tailslide right back down to the floor. The battery was getting low so it didn't recover. No damage though.

Oh yeah, the AA box makes a great aerobatics inducer ;)

Andy

[UAGrad2001]

What kind of flight time are you all getting. And what amount of throttle are you all using. For the first few minutes mine sees very strong but after that I have to keep it at max throttle to keep it in the air. Comments???

[ghee-grose]

I get about 10 minutes of flight time... the first 7-8 minutes it only takes the first click of throttle to maintain level flight. After 8 minutes or so it takes the next step of throttle to maintain and so on until it cuts out about the time full throttle no longer keeps it up.

[ChromeDome]

....................We drove up over Monte Santo Mountain, dodging all the colorful (and foolish!) bicyclists!
Hello Jim, I'm a charter member of the restart of the local bike club. (Founded 1892, restarted 1972 after a long dead period.) The colorful cyclists I understand. I'm very proud of my school-zone-yellow jersey. I'm concerned about what they were doing that was foolish. I'll discuss it at the next bike club meeting because the club is pretty large and I'm sure some of them were there Sunday. Let me know. I didn't get out on the bike Sunday. We went for a walk instead.

I did bike-commute to UAH today so missed flying this morning.

[ChromeDome]

I get about 10 minutes of flight time... the first 7-8 minutes it only takes the first click of throttle to maintain level flight. After 8 minutes or so it takes the next step of throttle to maintain and so on until it cuts out about the time full throttle no longer keeps it up.
Ghee, sounds a lot like mine. I've never timed a run but mine has never cut off automatically. Mine flies well at about 1/2 throttle for a good while when fresh but gradually looses power and finally won't fly at all. It lands itself. But never an automatic cut.

Next time I fly I'll time it.

[dee-grose]

Chrome, Jim may have been saying they were "foolish" from the fact that they are pedaling a bicycle across a mountain!?!?!? :D

[ghee-grose]

Maybe that's it Andy... as you know, I like to go Mountain Biking as long as the mountain isn't too big. :D

[Jim_Marconnet]

Chrome, Jim may have been saying they were "foolish" from the fact that they are pedaling a bicycle across a mountain!?!?!? :D
It was not that they were doing anything additionally particularly foolish besides pedaling up the mountain.

IMHO just cycling up that steep mountain with the combination of narrow road, no shoulder, constant curves, huge overlooks where a body would never ever be found, much less rescued, and a lot of typically short-sighted and too often inconsiderate car drivers is in and of itself really dangerous both for the cyclists and the cars. Yes I saw the sign at the bottom to "share the road". And I did, many times going up and later down the mountain.

One cyclist I had to follow quite a ways due to constant oncoming traffic finally turned off up the closed section of the Bankhead Parkway. That IMHO was a much safer place to cycle. My $.02.

[nitro125]

I have to have one. I saw that video someone posted uop here of one of those little things flying in a very small ofiice or something. Im gonn go to the target on University Dr and see if they have them. I am not a very good 3d pilot yet but the tumoil does very very small rudder turns and it flies very slow and stable, so i guess that helps. I cant really hover it that good because it doesnt seem all that fun to me i mean if i wanted an aircraft to fly on its prop i would have boughjt a heli. i just like how acrobatic they are and small for those quick un planned flights. i think it would be neat to fly it inside though.

[ChromeDome]

I went with Jim Howell while he trimmed out some of his indoor rubber models and flew his new Air Hogs AeroAce, supposedly for his grandchildren. (I used that excuse also but I don't have any grandkids.) The video is 1 minute. No music on this one. We flew in a large room being converted into an auditorium.
Video is here:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=472278#post4967369

[ghee-grose]

I have to have one. I saw that video someone posted uop here of one of those little things flying in a very small ofiice or something. Im gonn go to the target on University Dr and see if they have them.

That was my video. :cool:

You better call Target before you go to see if they have one. They open at 8.

[Moonbeam Six]

Who needs a gym or auditorium!?! I did a successful lap plus around a 15'x17' room a couple of times last night with my Aero Ace. Several attempts were less than a lap, however.

MB6

[Moonbeam Six]

Okay, guys, let's kick 'em up a notch.

MB6

[Jim_Marconnet]

deleted

[ghee-grose]

Great idea Dad!

[Moonbeam Six]

Ghee,

It even had an actual glide to it with those wings attached. And, instead of "mushing" along close to a stall and being supported by the props, it was "flying" on the wing. You'll love it when you see it.

I first attached the wings without sweep, but it didn't fly right due to CG too far aft. Then I re-attached the wings with sweep, and it flew beautifully.

MB6

[ghee-grose]

Wow... you got the thing to glide? That's an accomplishment! Now that you have blazed a trail, maybe the rest of us AA owners will experiment??? :D

[ghee-grose]

Dad, I think you or Andy mentioned putting the electronics from an AeroAce onto a balsa glider. I found somebody who has done that!

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=469552

[Mars Flyer]

I finally broke down and got an Aero Ace at Wal Mart. Yes I know, they are 10 bucks more there but I got tired of driving to Target and looking at the empty shelf. If you can find a Target sale paper with the price listed you can get Wal Mart to price match (at least the checker lady told me that).

I have an orange channel C. The maiden flight was in my rather small living room. I actually made it around a couple of times. Then went outside this evening and flew the battery down. She porpoises a lot and I've added an aluminum sticker to the nose for the next flight. I had to pluck her out of a tree. Can you believe that is the first time I've ever even touched a tree with an RC plane? I just never fly near trees. This thing is going to be fun.

Rob

[nitro125]

What walmart did you go too and how much exactly was it?

[Mars Flyer]

What walmart did you go too and how much exactly was it?


The Wal Mart on University just west of Rideout Rd. They had a bunch of 'em. The price is $39.97. Target is just a couple of blocks west of there so you might want to check there first, then go to Wal Mart if the shelf is bare - as usual.

Rob

[ghee-grose]

I'm telling you guys.... quit looking around and go to Target "IF" you want to buy an Aero Ace! They have them at WalMart on University Drive, South Parkway, and in Athens.... but they are $39.99! They have had them for the last 3 weeks at one of the two Targets in HSV for $29.99 and I've proven this with several phone calls to check stock. Try it sometime... they will let you know if they have some there.

Like I said.... IF you want one, go get it. Just spend the measley $30 and see for yourself. I guarantee you will be loving the little plane!!!

I say again.... ***read above until you get it*** :o

[Johnnie Paul]

My son saw the following video last night, and is wanting one for his B'Day now...

http://www.dacaur.com/vids/aeroace1.avi

[Jim_Marconnet]

I called both HSV Targets today checking for AAs. The Jones Valley store guy said they had just ordered some more, and hoped to have them in in a few days or so. Happy Hunting!

[Jim_Marconnet]

Rob flew his AA this AM outside at NDD along with the much larger SSs and the flying wings. That took a lot of bravery. The little plane was thrown about noticeably from their prop-wash! Looked like a real hoot!

[Jim_Marconnet]

I ran into a video of THE next plane for indoor flying. It's hard to see in the video, but the prop is somewhere in the middle of the wing, something like the Atmopod I'm building ( so so slowly!), but obviously very different, with a variable pitch prop!

MIMOYAK stands for (MI)ddle (MO)tor (YAK).

http://www.indoorpylon.de/videos/mimoyak.wmv

It's not available yet. I'd still need a gym.... And most importantly, where in the would I find a suitable pilot?? :)

[wheatfly]

Jim. Great video!!

[ChromeDome]

Ghee,

It even had an actual glide to it with those wings attached. And, instead of "mushing" along close to a stall and being supported by the props, it was "flying" on the wing. You'll love it when you see it.

I first attached the wings without sweep, but it didn't fly right due to CG too far aft. Then I re-attached the wings with sweep, and it flew beautifully.

MB6
Here is my interpretation of Frank's AeroAce Plus. Since "Nothing exceeds like excess", I put an even larger wing on. The wings are made from take-out boxes from a good restaurant. They were heat formed to an undercambered shape that approximates a Jedelsky airfoil using the undercut bottom of the box.

Power to push the larger wing was not a problem, but stability was. The wing area is now way too large for the tail area. The plane is unstable in pitch and has strong dutch roll.

I flew it in two different gyms in my neighborhood. A short video from each is attached. With the instability it looked like it was dancing, so I call it waltzing with an AeroAce.
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=477214#post5019710

The plane needs smaller wings or larger tail surfaces and/or a longer moment arm. I don't know what I'll try next.

[ghee-grose]

Looks like a nice mod... you will perfect it soon. :D

[GLIDERGIDER]

<....add nose weight>

Great music.

[Moonbeam Six]

Tom,

I am glad to see someone else curious as to what improvements can be made to an Aero Ace.

The wings that I used were tapered. Mine was surprisingly stable, after I got the CG about right by sweeping the wings a little. It was not very responsive to turn commands, however. I thought a little more dihedral would help that, but haven't had a chance to experiment any more with the idea. I think my next more serious experiment will be with sheet balsa wing extensions.

Frank

[daddiozz]

went to target today here in atlanta and picked up one of these planes...also noticed they had another plane ,an f-16 version ,have any of you guys had any experience with this one?

[Jim_Marconnet]

I got an Aero Ace!

Actually I got 2, one for me and one for Scott, so we could fly together. Scott put the wing decals on his, but I think I'll leave them off mine to save a little weight and to avoid the "bumps and creases" that the instruction say "will adversely affect the plane's flight."

Now we need some calmer weather to try flying it outside in our front yard. We tried flying just a little in the family room, but the room is clearly too small. Besides, we were supposed to "get a parent's permission to fly it indoors", and my Mom is on a trip in England!

[dee-grose]

I've flown a friend's AirHog F-16. Definitely not the slow, indoor flyer that the AeroAce is. We couldn't even make it turn tight enough in a single-court gym. We took it out back in a big field and I was able to control it a little better, but it still wasn't great. It is a LOT different than the AA. It only has a single stick which controls throttle and turning. It needs a LOt more room to fly too...I'd suggest at least a football field or bigger. I'm sure with some practice you could get it to fly good, but I didn't have much luck with it. I'll take an AeroAce any day over the F-16.

Andy

[Moonbeam Six]

Jim,

Glad you and Scott are now in the AA Squadron. You will love them.

I can also see that your read the instructions. I found the tip on determining the direction the wind (that your are not supposed to fly in) is coming from, to be really clever.

Frank

[ghee-grose]

This is a great site. It gives shorcuts to different topics on the Aero Ace that are hidden deep inside the monster threads.

http://www.eflightwiki.com/eflightwiki/index.php?title=Silverlit_X-Twins_Airhogs_AeroAce#slow_down_the_xtwin.2Faeroac e

[Moonbeam Six]

This is a great site. It gives shorcuts to different topics on the Aero Ace that are hidden deep inside the monster threads.

http://www.eflightwiki.com/eflightwiki/index.php?title=Silverlit_X-Twins_Airhogs_AeroAce#slow_down_the_xtwin.2Faeroac e

And, if that isn't enough, try:

http://www.Wattflyer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2453

MB6

[ghee-grose]

Hey guys.... I just ripped the wings off of my Aero Ace last night to try it out. Let me tell you, this makes it a much better plane. It will still fly slow, but not quite as slow with the two wings. It turns much better and glides are more like a glide and not a nose dive.

If you are interested in removing the wing, take your time and follow these steps. If you do it carefully you can actually put the wing back on there if you don't like it.

#1 Carefully pull the wing strut loose from the top wing leaving it attached to the bottom wing.

#2 With a firm grip at the base of the wing start bending it downward and it will slowly start pulling loose from the glue joint. (the wing fits into a little notch in the fuse)

#3 Once the glue starts letting go you might bend it up a little to help it release. Just watch for any tears to start in the foam, if so pull from a different direction.

Put it this way... the first wing I removed from mine I tore it. The second one was a clean removal. After that I did Matthew's and they came off perfectly.