Posted by FlyDude |
Oct 18, 2010 @ 08:02 PM | 33,049 Views
Our club hosted a Fun Fly this past weekend, and I had the pleasure of meeting Chris Carnes and watching him fly his Extreme Flight Yak. What an incredible pilot and a very friendly guy too. I'm still shaking after seeing him fly the "Snap To Hover" about 10 feet off the deck with this gorgeous 116cc aircraft.
Here are some photos.
BUD...
...Continue Reading
Posted by FlyDude |
Oct 18, 2010 @ 07:35 PM | 32,559 Views
Here are a few laps around the patch at the Funtime Virginia Aero-Nuts RC Flying Club. This video was taken on 10-10-2010. Sorry, but the time stamp on the video is incorrect. We forgot to set it. DOH...
BUD...
Posted by FlyDude |
Sep 20, 2010 @ 11:17 AM | 34,687 Views
We drove up to Bealeton, VA last weekend to attend the last day of a Fly-In at the Flying Circus Aerodrome. On the way up it was raining, but it turned out to be a beautiful day. I didn't fly as there is no open flying on the last day of the event. The DCRC club is there all weekend and does a noon demo on Sunday, prior to the the Flying Circus Airshow. My planes aren't big enough anyway. This is a Giant Scale IMAA event with an 80" minimum wingspan on glow/gas and a 25% scale minimum on electrics. It's a lot fun though, just to watch these guys fly.
BUD...
...Continue Reading
Posted by FlyDude |
Sep 20, 2010 @ 08:39 AM | 33,510 Views
I was home today watching the wind blow, so I thought I would update my Blog. Until a month ago, I had been flying in a sports field at a county public school. As my planes were getting a little bigger and faster, I started worrying about liability, if (when) something goes wrong. I finally stepped up to the plate and joined a flying club; Funtime Virginia Aero-Nuts in Petersburg, VA,
www.fvan.org. It's a wonderful facility and a great bunch of guys. Here's a couple of photos of the runway from last month when the grass was still green. My SHP now has 71 flights on the airframe and Loves her new home. My only problem is, with all this space to fly,
I NEED A BIGGER PLANE !!!
Posted by FlyDude |
Jun 07, 2010 @ 11:50 AM | 33,413 Views
This weekend was hot and windy. We normally get to the field before 0800, but even at that time, the wind was already blowing.
I logged two more flights on my SHP yesterday, and my first bad landing. The wind was about 6 mph from the South with gusts to at least 10. Inches before touchdown on flight #5, a gust caught her and she ballooned up about 6 feet. I wanted to avoid a spinner first arrival, so I eased in some throttle. The SHP touched down on the main wheels, but nose low. She tipped forward on the spinner and settled back on the tailwheel. My Pride was hurt but the plane was fine. After my hands stopped shaking, I put in a fresh pack and took her up again. Flight #6 was uneventful and the landing was smooth.
I pulled the cowl just to make sure everything was still tight. Thought I'd snap a photo of the Extreme Flight Torque Motor. I amazed at the power this thing puts out. It really hauls the SHP around.
'Till Next Time.
BUD...
Posted by FlyDude |
May 31, 2010 @ 05:54 PM | 33,383 Views
I logged two more flights on my SHP today. I adjusted the CG back to 3.50" and she feels much better. When inverted, the plane sinks gently and only requires a slight push on the right stick to maintain level flight. Initially, I was really concerned about landing this plane, but even at 41oz, she floats in. As long as I keep a couple of clicks of throttle on until touchdown, she sets down softly.
Still makes my hands shake though... I have a lot to learn with this bird...
'Till next time.
BUD...
Posted by FlyDude |
May 30, 2010 @ 05:07 PM | 33,254 Views
I finished my SHP late last night and put her up on the Maiden Flight this morning. It was windy and I was very nervous. This is the largest plane I have ever flown. It was just a short trimming flight, but it went well. I am comfortable with my 40" Edge after 91 flights on that airframe, but the 47" SHP feels completely different. Everything seems to happen a little slower. Even though the plane is 11 oz heavier, she really floats. I'll be glad to get some stick time under my belt, and get her dialed in.
'Till Next Time
BUD...
Posted by FlyDude |
May 09, 2010 @ 04:38 PM | 33,389 Views
Here's what I've completed so far.
I'm about done prepping the fuselage. I went over the motor box and gear plate with thin CA, all holes in the covering have been cut, tail servos are in, horizontal and vertical stabs are glued and the elevator is done. I hope to get the rudder/tailwheel installed this week and go over the airframe with my iron to tighten up the covering. I might finish her by June.
'Till next time.
BUD...
Posted by FlyDude |
May 02, 2010 @ 10:38 AM | 33,382 Views
I've got 85 flights on my 40" Edge now and wanted something a bit larger. The classic 3DHS 47" Extra SHP seemed like a logical transition. I got the kit a few months ago and have been putting off assembling her. I started this morning. I'm slow at these ARF builds, so I hope for a June maiden. I'll post back in the coming days with a progress report.
BUD...
Posted by FlyDude |
Apr 18, 2010 @ 06:07 PM | 33,851 Views
Spring is here, and what a beautiful day it was. Here is a video of some "relaxing" stick time after logging a couple of flights on my 3DHS Edge 540.
My flying buddy Atone1 gave me this IFO for my birthday last year. This is one of his scratch built, custom designs, highly modified to handle outdoor flying conditions. She is a sweet flyer.
BUD...
Posted by FlyDude |
Mar 14, 2010 @ 10:37 AM | 33,657 Views
Here is my first attempt at aerial video. This was shot last weekend with the little $20 key chain cam attached to the belly of my old Miracle 900. The cam and mount added about 20gm to the airframe. The plane was a little tail heavy with the cam on board. This is not a very powerful aircraft, so the added weight and CG change made her harder to fly.
BUD...
Here is my second attempt shot a couple of weeks later. With the CG adjusted farther forward, the plane handled much better, but the performance noticeably suffers with the additional weight.
...Continue Reading
Posted by FlyDude |
Feb 22, 2010 @ 10:46 AM | 34,245 Views
We finally had some nice weather this weekend. By noon, the temps were well into the 50's and the wind was variable from about 3-8 mph. These clips were shot with the little keychain cam attached to my hat. The quality ain't the greatest but it's fun to mess with. On landing, the wind changed on me at the last second and the Edge drops in from a couple of feet up. Thankfully, these airframes are tough. Dang those Deans can be hard to get apart.
BUD...
...Continue Reading
Posted by FlyDude |
Feb 16, 2010 @ 08:41 PM | 34,068 Views
We've had 3 more snow storms since Christmas. One of 10.5", another of about 6" and the last one that dropped 3". I grew up here and I don't ever remember 3 significant snowfalls in one winter. I shouldn't complain, as I have friends in Northern VA that have been hammered with snow, measured in feet.
I've only gotten to fly twice since Christmas. I don't mind the cold, but I'm ready to see the grass again. My planes are dusty and my thumbs are rusty.
I bought one of the little Key Chain Video Cams that have been advertised on the web lately. When the weather clears, I want to use it for some aerial video. I did some tests in my shop last weekend and here is a short clip.
BUD...
Posted by FlyDude |
Jan 03, 2010 @ 02:32 PM | 34,116 Views
By the Sunday after Christmas, most of the snow had melted and we decided to go flying. The field was a mess. The grass was very spongy and there was standing water everywhere. Our dirt runway was 2" of mud. I really wanted to fly my Edge, so I found a place to take off and figured I'd worry about landing in 8 minutes or so. I didn't want to stick the wheels in soft ground and rip the gear plate out, so as usual, I was nervous on final. My Flying Buddy pointed out an area of pretty solid grass very close to where we were standing. After one go around, I managed a nice 3 pointer on this little piece of firm ground. This was flight number 69 and I was glad to get her back down in one piece.
Winter is not letting up here. Some kind of cold air mass is blanketing the region, and will remain in place for the next few days. At 9:30 this morning, it was barely 20° with 15mph winds. I'm trying to fight boredom with the computer, the camera and my Dog.
Here is the only stick time that I'm likely to see for a while.
Posted by FlyDude |
Dec 19, 2009 @ 04:55 PM | 34,541 Views
Thankfully, we got to fly last weekend, because it ain't gonna happen today. We got nailed last night with one of the largest snowstorms we've had in many years. I measured about 8" this morning. To those that live farther North, this might not seem like much, but it's quite a bit for Richmond. I'm getting too old to stay out in it all day like I used to, but it is pretty. Hopefully, I can get back behind the sticks next weekend.
BUD...
Posted by FlyDude |
Dec 12, 2009 @ 07:55 PM | 34,910 Views
The older I get, the less I like the cold weather. This morning, it was forecast to be about 30° at 9:00 AM but the winds were calm, so we decided to go flying. We got to the field about 10:30 and it still wasn't even 40° yet. I flew two packs in my Edge today, totalling 68 flights on the airframe. It was overcast and the sun was low in the sky. On the second takeoff and climbout, the sun got in my eyes and I lost the plane for almost 2 seconds. It seemed like an eternity. I was about 60' up in a slight righthand bank and the plane disappeared. I held my control inputs and waited on my eyes. She was banking right and headed towards the ground at over half throttle when my sight returned. OK, correction needed QUICKLY here, level wings and PULL UP... NOW.
All ended well, but it was yet another lesson, in how quickly things can go wrong in this hobby. My flying buddy took this photo when we got back to his house. I was very happy that she went home in one piece.
BUD...
Posted by FlyDude |
Dec 06, 2009 @ 12:35 PM | 34,816 Views
It seems that winter has arrived here in Virginia. We had some brief snow flurries last night during a cold rain. This morning, I awoke to blue sky sunshine and almost zero wind, but it was about 30°, so I decided to stay home. Here is a video from last year, of me flying my aerobatic trainer, The Miracle 900. Nothing fancy, just some casual "Sunday Flying". The clouds were really pretty this day.
BUD...
Posted by FlyDude |
Oct 25, 2009 @ 11:15 AM | 34,473 Views
Here in Central Virginia, once again, our flying season is coming to an end. I get the feeling we are facing a long cold winter. It's been two weeks since I've flown my Edge. Rain and or wind has kept us grounded. After work, I've been flying some of my slower planes in a small field near my house, but by the time I get there, I only have about 30 minutes of daylight left. Oh well, I guess a little flying is better than none at all.
I have 58 flights on my Edge now. It was windy here, most of the summer, but we got some good flying in. I still haven't learned any 3D, but I've gotten more comfortable with inverted flight and can fly some decent knife edge passes (still up high). My Hammerheads need work to look smooth, and I've been flying some combination figures like the Reverse Half Cuban Eight. This maneuver is less scary than the standard Cuban Eight as the plane is upright on the downline. Eventually, I want to develop a routine, flying smoothly from one maneuver to the next. I am in awe of the pattern guys that can do this stuff. Correcting for wind is the key and I have yet to develop that skill. For a while, my landing skills were improving, but here lately, I've had mixed results. Some are nice, occasionally I grease one, but I still bounce her on a regular basis. I will say though, the original landing gear and gear plate are still in the plane. That alone, attests to the durability of these kits. I'm not bragging, and I don't want to jinx myself. I'm just
...Continue Reading
Posted by FlyDude |
Jul 08, 2009 @ 12:03 PM | 34,511 Views
We are well into our "Flying Season" here in Central VA, but the wind just never stops blowing. Normally, we fly very early, trying to have the wheels up by 7:00 AM or so to enjoy some calm air. This year, even at that time, it's already blowin'. Sure we've gotten some flyin' in, but my budget for planes and parts is tight, so I tend to lean towards caution.
My Edge has 32 flights on the airframe now. I've encountered 3 incidents (So Far) that could have been really bad. The first was described in my earlier post, when a gust pushed her over onto the canopy. I didn't have enough altitude to pull under so a quick half roll to upright and some throttle got her out of trouble.
The second was when my DX7 went into low battery alarm just after takeoff. I'm new to this radio, and I didn't know how long I had. I quickly turned the plane around and made a rushed (emergency) approach. I over shot my normal landing area, and set down into about 8" tall grass. The plane stopped abrubtly and flipped over. I'm seeing Gorilla Glue and New Landing Gear in my future at this point. I did "The Walk" and she was intact. There Was No Damage. I couldn't believe it.
The third incident was about a month ago. I was getting more comfortable with the plane and was attempting some low speed lower altitude harrier flight. I'm new to 3D and post stall maneuvers, and still prefer to fly high and fast. Well, she was in a sloppy low alpha harrier, flying slow about 35'
...Continue Reading
Posted by FlyDude |
Mar 29, 2009 @ 10:59 AM | 35,034 Views
Once again, all flight operations have been cancelled. Some kind of front is moving up the East Coast bringing high winds. Currently the wind is 15-20 from the SW with gusts to 28 mph. It's about 70 though, so thats nice.
I was fortunate to get 4 more flights on my Edge last weekend. This plane is a rush to fly. She feels extremely precise, but is docile on low rates. The power of the little Reaper GR-25 is amazing. I have yet to use full throttle while airborne. I have been concentrating so hard on the landings, that I forgot how quickly things can go wrong in the air. I was attempting a harrier, slowing the plane and bringing the nose up. I had not transitioned throught the stall, when a gust hit the plane and pushed the nose straight up. I watched it for a second, thinking wow it's standing on it's tail. Then it went on over onto the canopy.
Luckily I was 3 mistakes high. I went hard over with the right stick and the powerful ailerons rolled it upright and she flew out. This was my first loss of orientation and control with this plane. All ended well, but it was a wake up call. I have great respect for those of you that
Fly Low.
Hope to get behind the sticks next weekend. I've got a lot to learn with this bird.
BUD...