Rave longer aerobird challenger flying time

[RC Sumo]

Ken.....dont forget with the extreme you have to use the bigger batteries. Just another cost to consider when jumping to that plane......I am still tempted by buying one on the same channel as my ABC. I think this is my first post on RCGroups, I have been logging and posting on RCUniverse. Good to see more quality postings in here as well. I have been enjoying my ABC's drop module immensely. Currently I rigged a ling to carry about 10 of those little paper snaps that you throw on the ground. Great little simulated carpet bombing....giggle factor through the roof.

[Wingtips24]

Ken,

I figured out the hard way about the weight CG thing. My last few flights were succesfull because I added some weight to the rear since I had put so much on the front. It flies nice and level now and no longer has a tendancy to nose down anymore. I was having trouble at first with the plane dipping into a dive then going up at such a steep angle it stalled then dove again but this time too close to the ground game over I lose. I would make repairs and crash because of weight again in the wrong place due to repairs. I now do hand toss glides 4 feet off the ground with no power to see what will happen. I change the CG accordingly as well as test my repair work( via mini purpose crash) before unpurposful crashes. I made a nice new foam nose for my yellow bee and it works like a charm. The plane came in for a crash at about 15-20 mph and simply bounced off the ground. It was great I used foam and spaced it with air and then more foam so that the planes front surface would not recieve the blow directly but disperse it to stronger parts of the fuselage.
They really can crash hard when there commin down. I also read about the death spiral. What is that? I think I might have experienced that. I was flying one time about 3 weeks ago and had it the highest I ever got it. I decided to cut the throttle cause I was having trouble seeing it's orientation and it's a 2 channel so I knew it could get away from me. I decided to let it glide back down and it did but in a big wide circle (was not balanced that time and I figured I'd fix it when it came down) that began to tighten like toilet drain. I was enjoying the circle figuring great I don't have to guide it down it's just circling me...Cool.... No not cool...Soon that delicate pirouette had picked up so much speed I could not controll it and it covered the last 1/3 of the distance back to the ground in about 2 sec. It hit and I knew it was bad. That was when I lost the whole front. My question is ...is this the deadly spiral you speak of because it seemed like it got into something irrecoverable.... by me at least. If so what do you do to get out of it?
Also for this scotch mailing tape you told me about where do you get that from I have never heard of it. And awsome idea about the aerobird extreme and I will stay away I know that is too much for me right now. I noticed in the yellow bee I have that there is a crystal in the plane that is removable and one in the remote that is removable. How come you cant just exchange these for the ones in another plane and fly it. I know you can't probably but whats the science behind it?
I am off to the store soon to get me some gorilla glue, Ima gonna stick somthin togethur ( evil grin). Moo haa haa!

[Ken-Ohki]

Rc Sumo

I included the battery in my list of stuff to buy to part out a extream ;p you will of course have to change the battery adapter plug, but the abc charger will charge the abx as well. just takes a little longer. Not to mention, you could parellel 2 abc packs and get more mah for a little less weight. or just use some other batterys if yo have them on hand. Make it do what you want it to ;P

I like the snaps for a bombdrop payload, Ive been toying with adding a drop bay on my SS for about a week now, But I just havnet had time to do it. Definilty gonna try them for a payload.

Ken-Ohki

"I make things do what I want them to, The hell with what they are designed to do."

[Ken-Ohki]

Yep, That sounds like a death spiral to me. Sometimes you just cant pull out,, Hence the term "Death" spiral. the only thing to do is to try to steer out of it. Level out by apply oppisite rudder. If you have a elevater on your plane, Pushing the nose down at the same time will also help. In the 2 chan planes, you might have to apply power to get enough wind over the surfaces to turn.

I get my tape a CVS, A local drug store, FOund in the stationary/office supply section.

Eyeing that transmitter crystal huh?? here we get into a little more of a what you can do vrs what you should do or what is legal to do.

First off, that little crystal just controls what frequency the radio/reciver operate on. This is pushing my area of knowlege, But. As far as I know, it is legal to change the reciver crystal, It is not legal for you to change the radios crystal,, That has to be done at the factory. Something about tuning the transmitter to transmit on a specific crystal/ frequency. changing chans in R/C isnt like just changing channels on the tv or CB.

Secondly, as I understand it, there are wide compatability issues, like negitive or positive signal shift.

Lastly, the recivers in the 2 chan and 3 chan RTF ( ready to fly ) planes that come with there own radios are often AM, and on bad frequency like 27mhz. We prefure FM in this sport. These planes often use PCM (pulse code modulation) to control the plane. SO many pulses per milisecond or some such figure. Getting a Prapriatory reciver to operate from a "real" radio is hit or miss at best. and in most cases wont work becuse you cant get a crystal for a "real" radio on a toy frequency.

I buy my gorilla glue at sears in the tools section. Have fun playing with the glue.. It sets in about a half hour, in 4 or so hours its set and in in a fewmre hours hard cured. It isnt fast but it is effective. I generaly let whatever sit overnight. energency and field repairs alwsy get the 5 min epoxy or Tap.


Ken-Ohki

" I make things do what I want them to, The hell with what they are designed to do."

[Wingtips24]

Ken,

(I edit ) I must have blanked on the scoth tape I have rolls and it is one of my main stays in repairs also. Went flyin yesterday evening, youd think I would have learned by now not to fly in any wind with a two channel. Didn't break anything but I got a few scares especially when it dissapeared oner a hill and I was left standing there in silence remote in hand and no sound but the wind. But sure enough it was on the other side of the hill on the ground upright facing me as if to say I was wondering if you were comming back! Ha Hee He.

I will also wait that time for the glue I do tend to get anxious to fly especially if flight was interupted to to a crash. Thansk for all the transmitter info, yea I did have my good eye one that little crystal and a grinch like smirk on my face. I am going to do some research on that transmitter you mentioned and feel free to recommend some others as well cause if I got one I definitely see the value of getting a good one so I might be willing to put down a few extra bucks for one if it had a few crucial features or was just a better remote on sale.

Any way I'll write some more later just wanted to shoot somethin off this morning. have a good one. By the way the names Julian, I wans't sure if folks posted stuff like that much but I kinda feel like after all your advice it would not be polite to not even let you know who you been helpin.
Also wanted to know if you have ever flown or heard much about the new Vortex Extreme. Good bad indifferent. I was thinking of trying to make a tail wheel for the ABC when I get it too. Do you think this will disrupt it on takeoff? Many thanks as always.

[Ken-Ohki]

Pilot error is the chief cause of a Death Spiral, Overstearing, or failing to handle a gust of wind. Followed by electronics failure as a close second. All you can try to do is Steer out of it. If its pilot error, you at least have a chance. Applying opposite rudder is all you can do on a 2 chan job, useing full throttle might give you a bit more control.

The only Radios you will hear me recomend are Hiteck. That isnt to say they are the best, or the only one thats decent. But it is my prefured manufacturer. It is definitly worth getting a decent radio from the get go if you are gonna advance in this hobby. If its just something to do every so often,,, maybe you could get away cheaper, but if your sereouse, Spend the cash. A flash 5 or even 7.

I do not have first hand knowlege of the Vortex Extream, It looks like simply a larger copy of the vortex. Wich of course looks like a 2 chan ABC with a traditional tail. If this is true, I would say stay clear for the same reasons I said stay clear of the Aerobird Extream.. But again, I do not have experience with That bird. I do see it comes with a 27 MHz radio ( bad ) and ony a 600 mah battery pack.

Make a tail wheel? my ABC came with one, I dont use it ,, but it came with it. Every so often I will put the landing gear on if I want to do touch and goes, or if I want the bird to stand up. But I almost never fly with them. I almost always hand launch the ABC. The main reason I dont use the gear is that my ABC ( like many others ) tends to not shut down completly when at 0 throttle. It often runs slowly. And if the wheels are on, when I land, it can roll for some time,, and not usualy straight either,, SO I just pretty much leave them off. They really dont affect flight all that much.


Ken-Ohki

" I make things do what I want them to. The hell with what they are designed to do."

[Wingtips24]

Told you I had questions. HA ha I read somewher that you can change out the props for the ABC and that you get better gas milege and also it goes faster. Have you expiremented with changing props at all. I like the mod one guy did on the wheels. I really want to learn to take off and land so I think I'll get some of those large grass tires. I just love how you can make these RTF's your own with your own Mods. Everybody like sto have something a little different Know what I mean.

Also have you ever experimented with different motors for the ABC or do you feel that it provides enough get up and git! Also what are your thoughts on instructors and such, I don't have one so I have been out flying and crashin on my own but that will soon change as I talked a buddy of mine into purchasing his self a plane. It should be here by now, sad to say now that I know alot more I would have told hime to get another plane. It was a 2 channel cheapie but he don't need to know that quite yet. Got to let him bite the hook first then I'll tell him to get his wallet again and follow me to the great place where dreams are sold.

I am still waiting for replacement parts for my yellow bee. I also ordered them before learning a bit more but it is a good little bugger though, it has taken it's hits and stil took a fix. Still on the first wing and tail though with out glue it would look like confedie I'm sure. HAaa. Too windy to fly today, I must say I have never been so into weather in my life. Most people cheer at a nice day with a warm breze but I am like No no no and folks just look at me weird. Anyway I am out of here. I work at the University of PA in the Housing department. Have a good day.

[Ken-Ohki]

7 cell 1100 mah packs here

http://www.batteryspace.com/index.as...ROD&ProdID=850

[Wingtips24]

thats great thanks

[guy5927]

Ken,
you are one of the first ABX-buyers ...you've had quite som time to testfly it ...

I'm most probably am ordering mine this week ... my trusty ABC has 50 + flights now, so I'm ready for the Big Bro ....

Any advice or guidelines when stepping up from ABC to ABX ?

[Ken-Ohki]

Sorry, Ive been away fishing all weekend

I have not changed out my props, nor have I tried any other motors,, still all stock except for a bit of tape. the plane weighs about a pound, and I get 9 oz of thrust out of mine static, I feel it is suffucent. If I ever burn out my motor, Ill most likely stuff somehitng in there,, but im not sure what.. maybe the 580 that came with the extream hehehe.

Instructors..... Hmmm.. With great hesitation and fear of inflamitory responces from others..... I tought myself to fly. Before I ever put a battery in my remote, I already knew how to fly, my dad used to design airplanes/systems for the military He has explained flight theroey in detail to me as a child.. and ive been on flight sims since they were created for home use. My first flight I almost lost it in the wind, but kept control and learned something I didnt know about flight. SInce then, I have taught my nephew and 3 friends to fly, 1 of them isnt doing so good, but it isnt from lack of instruction. I did not need a instructor to fly, My friends needed some help. SO my answere to you is this..... If you feel you need one, If you think you might... You do... If you feel you dont, you probably dont, However be prepaird to pay for your arogance with replacement parts. At the stage of the game I am at now,, I probably would benifitt from a few hours of time with a qualifyed instructor, Now that I know what my questions are, his answeres would actualy mean something to me. But it wouldnt be basic flight instruction,, More like arobatic instruction, becuse that is what im messing with. As far as I am concerned, 1 and 2 channles planes were my instructor.

---------------------------------------

Guy5927-- this parts for you

I am asuming you have read up on the ABX stuff on this forum, so I wont go into detail about it flying faster, Demanding soft landings, and definitly not for beginers.

For an experienced pilot, NP. for someone who is still inexperienced, STAY CLEAR!!

Fore someone who has a aerobird already I say this.. " You already have a plane like that, But somehting else"

get a radio and a SS, or Estarter or something that will be a better investment of your 200 -240 bucks depending.
-------------------------------

Ken-Ohki

"I make things do what I want them to, The hell with what they were designed to do."

[Wingtips24]

Thanks Ken I too love fishing. You mentioned the word "static" what does that mean and also I just ordered an SS which should be here next Wednesday. I got it with the 400 motor in it. I know they usually come with 100c or 300c. But he said he saw it with a 400 c and naturally I thought Bigger = better. What is the difference between these motors and should I have gotten a 300c.

I also noticed in a video I saw of the SS a guy was hovering the thing in mid air with his. Can I do that sort of stuff with my SS the way it comes or was his likely moded to death. It seems you can set these up alot of different ways from what I can see, some folks getting 30 and 45 minute flights.

Ken I have also been seeing people talking alot about stress fractures on the slow stick. Things like wings bending. What is that about. In fact what can you say are some of the likely issues I will face with my SS. How do the motors hold up somepeople say they replace them quite often, should I go ahead and get a few. How much do they cost and does this happen mainly because of the mods people put onm them. I am looking for at least 25 miute flying times and if motors are not too expensive I don't mind replacing them. I was surprised to hear they can burn out like that. May have to go brushless one day. BTW what do you use hot glue for on planes why not epoxy?


I have been using that FMS simulator, it was really hard at very first till I figured out how to get in the air now it is getting increasingly easier. I jhave heard so much about that Flash 5 you recommended so I am going to save and get that, good price too! I just rebuild my 2 chn yellow bee, cheapie I know but I had ordered the parts and it has flown well for mee. It wa sfunny I had to use all my strength to rip apart the appoxy body to get all the insides for the new frame. Man it was tough built like a tank. Anyway hope you enjoyed your fishin trip.

Tips

[guy5927]

okay,

let's say I buy a Hitec or Futaba basuc 4 ch radio + servo's ... how do I know in what airplane the servo's fit ?

That's why I like the bird-range..... out of the box and in the air ...

I quite frankly am afraid of having trouble buiding in the servo's and putting together an ARF .is that difficult ?

[Wingtips24]

guy,

I am by far not an expert or even advanced for that matter but I could probably answer your question somewhat. The main difference between the RTF's and the build or Almost Ready to Fly ATF and the build kits is that you can choose your parts for it. It just gives you customizing options since this is such a hobby of opinion and preference you can shoose just about any set up you want depending on your needs and desires. You will have alot of choices on what equipment will fit with what. You could always post what you bought then see what replies you get back on good planes to match.

I'm not possitive but I believe that their are industry standards which mean that you are choosing more the brand that you like with many of the options based on perfomance cost etc. I know as far as servo's go there are the rgular size ones and mini ones and I imagine as the plane gets bigger you pick the set up in that planes size range which can remove some of the guess work in choosing parts. Basically once you figure out which size plane you want your stuff can also now be chosen from a certain size group also. Ken is this right, let me know if I just need to shut up.

Any way with so much help out here you shouldn't have too much trouble finding a flight pack as I believe it is called to match your plane. What is best seems to be a matter of opinion. Anyway I hope that helps you some. I am just learning myself but I can say the more I read the less intimidating it is. You hear folks talk about the same setups on a certain plain and you get an idea what to get after a while. My suggestion is to read alot and ask alot of questions to help remove that overwhelmed what do I do feeling.

Tips

[Ken-Ohki]

Static means on the ground.

the 400 will be ok for the SS, allot of people use that motor. it will have a bit more power, a bit shorter runtimes, but should last longer then the 300. It will also be a bit more weight.

I do not believe it will hover stock,, but it will be dam close.. in the right wind it will harrier. maybe even without wind with the 400. You would have to overpower a motor with voltage or build super lite to make a stock ss do tork rolls.

Motors do burn out,, runing 8 or more cells will kill on it,, running full throttle all the time will kill on it. it all depends on how hard you abuse it and how you set it up with components. those motors are like 10 bucks a piece .

Issues witht he SS are Few,, the wings are its weakest point and need to be reinforced. allof of people say to get brass tubing to replace a weak aluminum one that comes stock. I used 2 sections of fiberglass rod, some string and epoxy ( becuse its what I had on hand ) and my wing is solid, You could dam near hang glide with it hehehe. other then that, some have statd teh tail is weak, and reinforce it with bamboo,, I will direct you to the ultimate Slow stick thread for those details,, no point in me writing all that infor ehre when such a good job has been done over there.

People getting long flights liek that are most likely using those Li-Poly battery cells. something you should stay away from for awile. search out Li-poly and read if you want to know more about them.

Hot GLue has its uses too, it isnt as messy as epoxy and dosnt require mixing, or set time, FUll strenght as soon as its cool, BUT it is also heavey in my opinion. but , like many other things, it has its uses.

And I did have a good time onmy trip,, didnt catch anything, but it was fun anyway.

Laters
Ken-OHki

"I make things do what I want them to, The hell with what they were designed to do."