This morning I maidened my Night Radian FT 2.0m.

Although the manual recommended CG is 2.5", it should be too far forward, I set the CG 80mm, 3.15". For getting this CG, I put a Hyperion G5SV 3S1300mAh 50C pack (104g) and extra 30g lead in the nose. AUW comes 974.5g.

the first flight:
flying time 47:25, power-on time total 3:57
Fair, moderate north wind 4 to 6m/s. Many strong thermals. I had to spiral dive with full-up elevator several times.

the second flight:
flying time 30:45, power-on time total 3:01
Fair, light north-east wind 3 to 4m/s. Many thermals.

the third flight:
flying time 37:10, power-on time total 3:02
Fair, light wind 2 to 3m/s. Many thermals. The wind direction changed from north to south.

Since my Night Radian is so docile, so stable, and so easy to catch thermal, I really enjoyed relaxed thermal soaring.

For the full-power climbing, it is better to disable AS3X, IMHO.


cvlex

Yesterday morning I maidened my Opterra 1.2m as an electric sailplane: flying with the sequence of power-on climbing and power-off gliding.


-Opterra 1.2m PNP kit with the stock motor and ESC
-Spektrum AR636 AS3X receiver
-Turnigy A-SPEC 3S2200mAh battery (196.5g)

AUW: 932.5g

Short piece of plastic tube is glued at the CG mark of each wing panels (see the picture below). For checking CG, I attach a piece of fishing line through the tubes and hang the airplane upside-down. This method is precise and makes it easy to check the CG at the flying field.

The AS3X flight stabilization system is activated only during the launching and the landing.

the first flight:
flying time 5:10, power-on time total 4:23

Test flight. Cloudy, cold, 4 to 5m/s wind, no thermal.

the second flight:
flying time 16:00, power-on time total 5:02

Cloudy, cold, 4 to 5m/s wind, no thermal.

the third flight:
flying time 16:10, power-on time total 5:02

Cloudy, cold, 4 to 5m/s wind, no thermal.

the fourth flight:
flying time 31:10, power-on time total 5:03

I moved the CG slightly aft for this flight.
Fair, slightly warm, 3 to 4 m/s wind, many thermals.

My Opterra 1.2m flies so well. With some thermal assistances, over 20 minutes flight might be easy, IMHO.


cvlex


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Yesterday, I maidened my Puck RC flying wing from Segelflugmodelle Gerten. The airplane is very docile, not twitchy at all with AS3X flight stabilization system (3 axis gyro) . The stabilization system does great job especially during landing.

My friend Takaya took a short vid and several pics.




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My Puck flying wing from Segelflugmodelle Gerten is now ready for maiden.

specs:

wing span: 1500mm
wing area: 27.3 sq.dm
AUW: 635g
factory recommended CG: 160mm to 185mm from the nose

RC gear:

2 Hitec HS-65MG for elevon
Spektrum AR636 AS3X receiver
4N1500mAh NiMH pack

construction:
Obech sheeted foam core two-piece wing
Balsa sheet winglets


I finished the surface with water-based Urethane varnish.

Yesterday I maidened my Multiplex Heron RC sailplane at Sasayama.

Although I purchased the RR kit, I removed the ESC and the folding prop blades and installed a 4.8v2300mAh Ni-MH battery pack for the receiver/ servos.
I also attached a small lead block just behind the electric motor to get proper C.G. position.

My Heron flew so well. Easy to cruise, easy to thermal. Great in the air.

The wing fixing system is also great. At the landing of the third flight, I hit the ground with the left wing. Then the wings popped off and no damage at all.

My friend Takaya took several pics and short vids. The following vid shows the maiden flight and landing.

Today I maidened my Ahi at Mt. Dohdaira in medium wind conditions.

Rolls and loops are so easy. Very very fun to fly.

The short vid bellow taken by my friend Takaya shows my Ahi dancing with RCRCM Tucan.

Yesterday, January 1, I maidened my Graupner/ SJ Micro Magic RTR Racing on Saiko in light wind conditions.

cvlex

Yesterday I maidened my Gooney flying wing at Mt. Dodaira.

Although the WNW wind was a bit too strong for the maiden, around 7 to 10m/s, my Gooney flew so well.

After a while, I tested AS3X flight stabilization system. Very very stable. The AS3X is helpful under gusty wind conditions, especially during landing.

Specs

wing span: 1518mm (60")
length: 817mm (32")
wing area: 41.3 sq.dm (64 sq. in.)

2 x KST DS125MG
Spektrum AR-636 AS3X receiver
Turnigy 4.8V 2300mAh Ni-MH battery
HobbyKing Discovery Buzzer

AUW: 1137.5g (40.1oz)

Control settings

Aileron: +16mm / -13mm
Elevator: +10mm / -10mm
Neutral: 1.5mm up at the elevon root-end
CG: 66mm
#The CG and the elevon neutral should be fine tuned.

AS3X settings

Aircraft type
Wing: Elevon
Tail: No rudder

Roll (aileron)
Rate Gain: 60% ABS
Head Gain: 20% ABS
Priority: 100%
D/R: 75/75%
Expo: 20/20%

Pitch (elevator)
Rate Gain: 60% ABS
Head Gain: 20% ABS
Priority: 100%
D/R: 60/50%
Expo: 20/20%

My friend Takaya took several pics and short vids:


cvlex


----...Continue Reading

Today I flew my Angela in medium wind conditions.

The airplane is very very docile, not so twitchy for a flying wing.
The butterfly/crow is very helpful for the spot landing.

Tips:
Keep speed.
Never fly in weak lift or in poor wind conditions.

My friend Yoshinori and Takaya took a short vid:


cvlex

Today I maidened my Angela 2m from RCRCM.

Although the wind condtions was not so good, 3 to 4m/s wind, my Angela flew so well. She looks cool in the air.

Settings:
Aileron: +/- 10mm
Elevator: Aileron+Flap +/-8mm
Butterfly: Aileron 8mm up, Flap 25mm down
Neutral: Aileron+Flap 2mm up at aileron tip end
30% EXPO for aileron and 35% for elevator.
CG: 65mm (65mm - 68mm factory recommended)

My friend Takaya took some pics and a short vid: from 3:00 launching, then cruising, from 5:47 landing.

https://youtu.be/1wtFtrL9rFE?t=3m

cvlex

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RCRCM Gooney flying wing, glass+carbon standard version, color scheme 02.

I am looking forward to the strong north wind to come this winter.

wing span: 1500mm (59")
length: 817mm (32")
wing area: 41.3sq dm (640 sq in.)
wing aspect ratio: 5.4
wing dehedral: 0 degree

Factory recommended CG: 66mm(2.6") to 70mm(2.8") from the wing leading edge

2 x KST DS-125MG servo for elevon
Spektrum AR636 6ch AS3X receiver
Turnigy 4.8V 2300mAh Ni-MH battery
HobbyKing Discovery buzzer

AUW: 1178.5g (41.6oz) with CG 66mm (2.6")

I attached DEANS 3 pin connectors with 0.8mm(1/32") ply mounts to the fuse. Wing-side connectors are free.

152g(5.4oz) nose ballast (lead shots) is requiered for 75mm(3") CG. Another 65g(2.3oz) lead is required for 66mm (2.6") CG.

For checking CG, I suspend the airplane with a short piece of fishing line attached to the 0.8mm hole at the CG point.

...Continue Reading

RCRCM Angela sailplane, glass+carbon standard version, color scheme 02.

wing span: 2000mm (78.7")
length: 817mm (32.2")
wing area: 34.9sq dm (541 sq in.)
wing aspect ratio: 11.5
wing dihedral: 3 degrees

factory recommended CG: 65-68mm (2.56" - 2.68")

4 x KST DS125MG for wing
1 x Hitec HS-65MG for rudder

JR RD735 7ch 2.4GHz receiver
Turnigy LSD 4.8V 2300mAh Ni-MH pack
Hobby King Discovery buzzer

I mixed 68g(2.4oz) lead shots and 4g(0.14oz) 30min epoxy and poured them into the nose. The CG comes 71mm(2.8") from the wing leading edge.

Another 10g(0.35oz) lead is required for 68mm CG and 20g(0.7oz) for 65mm.

AUW: 1318g (46.5oz) with 65mm CG


...Continue Reading

I sailed my Joysway DragonForce 65 with Catsails A and short keel in light wind conditions.

I do love watching the relaxed sailing over ripples.

cvlex

Joysway DragonForce 65 with Catsails A running in medium wind conditions.
I took a short vid from the bridge over the reservoir.

cvlex

Today I sailed my DragonForce 65 with C rig in strong wind and high wave conditions.

cvlex

Today I sailed my DragonForce 65 with C rig in slightly strong wind conditions.

cvlex

I sailed my DragonForce 65 with Catsails A and short keel in medium wind conditions yesterday.

The first vid shows my DF with Catsails A and the stock long keel.
The sails keep good shape. The visibility is also good under the sun.

The second vid shows my DF with Catsails A and the optional short keel.

...Continue Reading

Today I flew my XK K110 with Futaba T10J in moderate wind conditions; around 2 to 4 m/s wind.
The heli is so stable, not so twitchy even in 3D mode, the tail holds so well and back-flips are easy.

The flight characteristics are similar to Walkera V120D02S or Blade 130X.

Great little heli!


Futaba T10J settings

Model select:
RX> S-FHSS

Reverse:
all NOR

Parameter:
TYPE> HELICOPTER
SWASH> H1

Condition:
IDLE-UP
1> OFF > SwG > DOWN
2> INH > SwE > DOWN
3> INH > SwF > DOWN
THR-HOLD
> OFF > SwF > DOWN

D/R, EXP:
Aileron: D/R 100%, EXP40% for normal and idel-up
Elevator: D/R 100%, EXP40% for normal and idel-up
Rudder: D/R 100% EXP 0% for normal and idel-up

TC:
normal: 0-100-100-100-100
idel-up: 100-100-100-100-100

PC:
normal: -11/-3/+6/+28/+60 (-4 to +14 degrees)
idle-up: -46/-20/+6/+28/+60 (-14 to +14 degrees)
throttle hold: +6/+6/+6/+6/+6 (O degree)

*the PC values may vary with the length of the three servo/swash rods.

Gyro sense:
MIX> ON
CH > RUD UP > AVC100%
(CH5) CNT> -------
TYP> GY DWN> NOR100%
SW> SwG
(UP )
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Pre-flight adjustments:
I adjusted the pitch servo horn level and check the swash with a swashplate leveler. The main mast is 2.5mm diameter, I extended the leveler for T-Rex 150DFC.

Then I adjusted the pitch -4 to +14 degrees for normal, -14 to14 degrees for idle up.

For pitch measurement, check the following page:
...Continue Reading

I saild my Joysway Dragon Force in very very calm conditions the day before yesterday, in the morning.

cvlex

Yesterday, January 2, I sailed my Joysway Dragon Force 65 for the first time in the New Year on Saiko.

cvlex