Maiden Flight MTI Cobra, & quick go with Stork II

[Cones]

Hi,

Finally managed to test fly the MTI Cobra today after waiting 3 weeks for decent weather.

Wind approx 12 MPH, Temp about 3 Deg C.

First flight by my good friend Roger. Tracked very straight on the winch line. Very good zoom. Possibly better with a slightly more rear tow hook setting but that can wait until I have a go at launching it myself.

Slight down trim adjustment to the pitch, it may be very slightly tail heavy. The handling is very neutral with no tendency to pull out of any selected stick input. Opposite stick inputs are a must after each turn is initiated. Very small control inputs required for turns although the controls are not over sensitive.

Crow braking caused the model to pitch up so more down elevator compensation was added for the subsequent flights.

Model now brakes with slight nose down tendancy (Mutch Better).
Landings are easy with the brakes on.

Model will fly very quickly indeed with the wing in reflex. Situations where you just think to yourself that you never get back from are easily solved due to the speed it covers the ground at.

All in all very happy with the model and look forward to many more flights (Hopefully with some lift available to see how well I can climb with it:) )

My friend Roger has just bought a Stork II and he flew this for the second time today. He let me fly it for the second flight and I am very impressed with its performance. Not as fast as the Cobra but not far off when in reflex. Very good launches off the winch with good height and good zoom (Due to very good pilot, Roger:) ) Floats around with very low sink rate. Hardly any lift available today but still pushing over 8 Minute flights. Will have to see how Roger perfoms with it in the F3J league this season.

All in all a very good days flying (Too bl**dy cold but we cannot have everything I suppose :D )

Mark

[tempest411]

Is the Cobra really worth it compared to the less expensive competition?

[Cones]

Hi Tempest411,

I think it depends a lot on what you want the models for. If you fly comps a lot then it is possibly worth it from a performance point of view although there are models out their just as good as if not better than the Cobra. What I like about this model is that it is very good at almost everything. Thermal, Slope flying, Speed runs and Aerobatic flying. It is even used for F3F pylon racing.
I have got mine for sport flying, mainly thermal with a bit of slope flying when I can, I may decide to do comps eventually.
The main reason I bought mine was that I know several people that fly them. I was able to fly one before I bought one as well.
The people I know that fly them are very close to the manufacturer and I actually met the guy that made my model when I bought it. That said it is still a very well made model. Most of the work has been done at the factory. All that is required is to fit the servos to the fuz and wings. Push rods are pre fitted for the V-Tail. The control horns are pre-installed on all the wing surfaces. All you need to make up are the pushrods between these and the servos.
The fit of the Wing and Tails is perfect and all the fixing points for these are pre done. Fitting the battery is quite fun as the nose is very tight. The pack must be made as a 3 triangle with one cell in front. Model setup is done using a pre printed template due to the all moving trailing edge on the wing. I think the model is worth evey penny but it does depend on what you want it for.

Mark