UGH, I have returned..... Tired, but what a great time! I love indoor flying. I really wished I could do it more often and didn't have to drive 2.5 hours for the experience. It is well worth it, however something close by and more frequent would just rock. I think I am a better pilot indoors than out. The foamies have no wind to deal with and the confined space makes you really think about what you are doing. You can't just toss the sticks around without consequences. I have tons to talk about, but will save it for the show.
Today we followed up the indoor with a trip over to
The Rams Club / Riverside RC . As I mentioned in my post before I left, this field ROCKS. Now, I have flown at maybe 15 fields total to included Hodges Hobbies and have to say this one is my favorite! SEFF rocks and you can't top that, but as far as an everyday flight field, this place is like RC heaven. Found out there is approximately 400 acres of open field in front of the flight line. You can take a plane out and not up for a change and you have zero obstacles (other than the ground) to be aware of.
So, I pull out my fresh new Ritewing Demon XT and work out the CG and throws and such. Preflight, then preflight, then a couple of extra preflights and confirm all is good
Nervous? Oh man the knees are knockin and the palms are sweaty. Wait for the flight line to thin out and give her a blast of WOT. Yeah, that got everyone's attention at the field. I go and give her a toss at WOT and reach back for the TX and dumb thumb the throttle stick to zero. I must have bumped it or something, but the wing does a nice nose in cartwheel down the thankfully muddy runway. Give it a check, no damage at all! Gotta love foam cores and the riteway build! Wipe off the 1 inch mudline off the top and bottom and repeat the toss and repeat the dumb thumb!! WTH!! Ugh! But, I realize it quick and hit WOT again fast and she just misses the ground and takes off like a rocket. Couple of clicks of down elevator, a little right aileron and things seem great. Do some testing, feels good, WOT circuits around the field... LOUD FAST and ohhh so sweet. Rates are a bit too high and she is touch at WOT, but manageable.
Larry reminds me, aren't those the first time run on those Lipos... I agree and bring it around for a test landing, feels good but touchy, OK, around again and bring it in low but fast to prevent the stall and grease her in.... UH, 200 feet away
.. Yeah, I wanted to be safe and not overshoot the runway, but I fell way short of that. Still good landing just came up way short of being close.
Walk over to check it all out and open the bay to disconnect the lipos and do a temp check. Look inside, feel, woah, something is steamin over here, but not the lipos. Well, my Series adapter I made is obviously not rated for the current I was putting through it. Check below!!
Another minute at most and it would have been a flaming ritewing!
Great day at the field. I still have a ritewing unblemished and learned the importance of heavy gauge wire!