Check to make sure the servo or wire is not sticking. I had that problem on the Drake for the first couple flights. The elevator would not center due to some binding in the wire. A simple bend in the wire fixed that for me. Other then that it's a fairly docile plane on the stock setup.

Steve

I found that the servos mounting screws had become loose. I therefore siliconed the servos to the servo tray and tried another flight. No improvement in rudder authority. However, the rudder servo is chattering so the problem may be in the servo. I am using Bluebird 303 (4.1 gram) servos which I have used in a number of parkflyers with the same power setup. I will try another set as soon as I repair some damage to the motor plyon.

Tom

To secure servos, I use goop -- best stuff, just a dab and it is stuck. Also to stiffen the tray a small piece of carbon fiber never hurts and weights almost nothing.

Tom...does your Drake seem unresponsive to rudder or slow to respond to rudder?

My drake seems to turn extremely slowly. Changing to amount of rudder travel has no effect which confuses me greatly. At very slow speed I can fly figure 8's and circles, but above half trottle it is very hard to control.

Thank you for all advice
Tom

Tom...could you post a few pics here of your drake? Head on, top and side views?

I hope these images help. I am sure that I have done something stupid, but I just can not see what it is.

Thanks
Tom

Tom, it's hard to tell, but in the first picture, it looks like there might be some wash-in in the left wing. The pic is a little fuzzy, so I'm not too sure.

Tom, sounds like the push rods are flexing with the higher air loads...you might try holding the control surfaces and moving the sticks while observing the pushrod installation.
One servo output arm is not centered. Have you measured the movements on each servo?
My larger Drake electric had no turning issues. It used a fairleaded wire set up....art

Zeke, you are right about the wash-in. I stripped the wing to fine out why and found that the wing was cracked in 3 places. Repaired and recovered. I was also off a tooth on the elevator servo arm when I put it back on. I have removed and reintalled everthing electronic and will try to fly the MiniDrake when the winds calm down a bit. I have high hopes.

Thank you for the advice
Tom

Sucess
With the wing repaired the plane is much more responsive. She is a graceful flyer that must be treated in a graceful manner. Thanks to one and all for the advice.

Tom

Excellent news! Congrats Tom!

Maidened the Mini Drake today! It flew fantastic. We're using the Suppo BL1510 motor and Suppo 10A ESC available here:

http://www.altitudehobbies.com/brush...kv-suppo-a1510

This is a great setup...provides PLENTY of power and is still very lightweight. Great flying plane, taxiing and landing is super smooth!

Garret

Originally Posted by Garret H

Maidened the Mini Drake today! It flew fantastic.

Congrats Garret! Do you have any pics you can post?

So I went to go test the Drake on water yesterday. It was a cool day but calm and I wanted to test it out before heading down to SEFF.

Everything checked out and there was a 5-6mph breeze coming across the water. Nothing too bad. I set the plane in the water and did some taxi tests. It wanted to weather vane of course but it still steered decently.

Unfortunately when I was trying to turn around to line up for my take off I had some issues. The breeze kicked up at the wrong time and as the plane was sitting crosswind and the plane flipped over. I had brought a couple other planes in case this happened to help bring it back in but lucky for me there was a guy in a canoe close by to help.

Nothing hurt but my ego and it dried out quickly in the sun. I'm going to let the motor dry out throughly and we'll test it again.

Steve