Originally Posted by Jim Duda

The "access hole" makes the rudder adjustment easy.

Lol! Nice solution, though..
..a

I just ordered a radian at the local hs in Lubbock TX. Are there any radian owners on here from the West Texas area.

It's been about 15 years since I flew any rc planes. I used to fly a Falcon SR, 1/4 sc Super Cub, and a few plane my dad scratch built. I would like to have someone with some experience with the radian when it gets here to help get it trimmed out for the first flight.

Also I've been following some of the comments on flying the radian in wind.
Have I made a mistake? The wind is rarely below 10 mph in this part of the country. There are no hills mountains or trees to slow it down.

JS

JS,

I think you will enjoy the Radian just fine. I'm in Texas, but no where near close to Lubbock. Just outside San Antonio. The wind may be a problem, but try to get some flight time in the morning or evening when it's not humping so hard. If you have any flight experience at all, I think you'll be able to handle the Radian. Give it a few test glides (no throttle) to trim it out, just a firm level shove into an open field--into the wind of course. This will give you an idea if the elevator and rudder need trimmed for a good glide, get it going straight and it should land about 30 yards in front of you without proposing.
When applying power the first time, start with a glide launch and then feed in a little power, maybe half. This should give you a gentle climb and you can start steering it around and going up. When you build some confidence, give it a little more power and steepen the climb angle.
The wind may be a problem as I know it can really blow up there. Find a steel rod (from Home Depot or similar) that will fit inside the Radian wing spar tube. This will provide balast right on the CG, and allow better performance in the breeze. I flew my Radian at Galveston this summer with a similar arangement, and could stay up in the sea breeze and not worry about getting blown back over the highway.

Hope this helps, is there anyone in Lubbock to help this guy?

David

David, how much ballast do you rhink you would need in say a ten MPH wind?
-COle

Originally Posted by anti-gravity

David, how much ballast do you rhink you would need in say a ten MPH wind?
-COle

10 MPH, no ballast required.... FWIW, I did an experiment recently, put a GPS watch in the Radian and flew it in very calm air. The watch did add weight, and shifted the CG a bit forward, likely putting it to the stock position.

I found the average speed of 16 mph was a good speed to fly. It flew well between 12 and 20, when exploring min sink and max penetration.

How you ballast depends on conditions, sometimes even on a windy day, ballast just gets you down quicker. While increased wing loading may help handling, in general, with ballast your objective is to increase your speed enabling you to move across the sky, out of bad air, into good air.

Experiment to get a feel....

The steel rod in my tube weighs 6 oz., and allows flying in a pretty strong wind.

About 4 oz is what I was using--actually a spare 3 cell battery taped inside the canopy and shoving the battery that was plugged in as far aft as I could to maintain proper CG. This moved my balasted CG a little forward from my no wind CG location.

Thanks for the advice guys.

The shop said it probably be in Thur. or Fri. Not sure I'll be home early enough Friday to pick it up. I'll keep you posted.

I may also go over to the old farm next weekend and see whats hanging in the barn. Last time I looked there were still 5-10 of dads planes hanging from the rafters. He used to build em an I used to break em. Not sure I want to risk those that are left. Maybe if there are a couple I dinged back the I'll see how durable they still are.

Thanks again

Jay

Quick flight showing how I play boomerang with my Radian. Catches were not so good but still fun. Will try to get something better.
Cross-posting to cover both Radian threads.
-Allen

Decided to remove the video. If you have quoted it in your post, please also remove it. Thanks

Boy, Allen, you make that look easy.
(I know from experience that it's not)

Are you on motor up to the last seconds?
Was there any wind at all to deal with?

Originally Posted by lilleyen

Boy, Allen, you make that look easy.
(I know from experience that it's not)

Are you on motor up to the last seconds?
Was there any wind at all to deal with?

Dead calm. No wind at all. Only way I do it. I will probably get flamed for posting this but someone asked a while back so I recorded it.

Its fun to do. Depending on approach altitude I usually leave the motor spinning until about 5 or 10 feet out. Its moving so slow it is very easy to catch, either under the belly or any part of the wing.

I don't know why you should get flamed...I catch mine nearly everytime to avoid landing in cactus or scrub brush....

Nice video

Sitting down, prop on, plane coming directly toward you, noob that will try this and get hurt...

Personally, that really looks like fun! And yes, Allen does make it look easy.

KC

Originally Posted by KC

Sitting down, prop on, plane coming directly toward you, noob that will try this and get hurt...

THAT's why I took the video down. One thing to write it, another to show it.

Ok guys, If i were to go and get another canopy, cut it so I could put my camera under it, and take vidoe with it would it work?
the camer weighs 8 oz, i will be able to get it so the heavies part is up next to the battery(the planes) I Will have to move the ESC to get it to sit under the canopy.
With this info. do you think it would work?