April is sWARm month

Just a few quick snaps of my new combat plane

I've been wanting for some time a wing that I could easily swap components into and out of for testing. Somebody here a few weeks back posted some pics of a plane that they used zip ties for the servos and maybe the motor mounts? I can't remember who you were- Raise your hand and take credit. This was not my idea. Chico John or somebody also talked about how their club routinely runs the 3530 1700 KV motors and 2200mah batteries in their Assassins... They got me thinking. I'm ADD, my ideas don't always produce

I got bored the other night. Cut a big sweep in the wing and glued the halves together (hot glue is my drug of choice). I liked the way it was shaping up. I could''t find any Formica but I had some ply laying around. Cool, motor mount base is ply. My friend Bruce uses a piece of ply on top too. I liked the looks of his so I borrowed his idea too. It looks cool all rounded out and everything.

I had to cut some of the trailing edge out for prop clearance because of the sweep. It looked like it was going to make the shock cord installation difficult. So I continued deviating from standard CTH building techniques. I used a very small piece of fiberglass rod at an arch (maybe 1/16th?)- you may still be able to see the reference line in the pics. Just pinned it in place, slit the EPP and CA'd it in.

My Widowmaker has become kind of a beater plane. I've broken the carbon spar 4 times. I decided to try something different. I took a Reaper spar and bent...Continue Reading

Yet again more UnCivil War Fpv footage!
You could get the idea that this was and FPV meet
Love the air to air.
Watch all the way to the end!

SWARM (6 min 23 sec)

One Year? Already?
Jake and I started flying about one year ago, last October. We are still progressing in our learning curve with this hobby. We've had some setbacks along the way including a propeller injury and some catastrophic crashes. For the most part we have been able to fight back the discouragement and continue progressing and having fun. Since last year we have another Ninja flying with us! Zach is progressing well and rocking that Supercub around the sky! Hopefully the upcoming poor weather season will get us excited about building and getting ready for spring!
There are some people that have been super helpful in getting us started and keeping us going.

Extremewing.com -Adrian, thanks again for helping us right from the getgo
PlaneInsaneRC.com -Ryan, it's always a kick to fly with you and you are a great source for parts for the planes we like to fly!
CrashTestHobby.com -Lee, you have always been patient to answer question after question. Your planes have helped us progress with confidence!

All the guys from the Utah Flyers Organization. Hooking up with you guys has been such a great booster for us. You are a great bunch of guys. Darren, Todd, Scott, Jon and the list goes on. I have flown in two UnCivil wars now. Some of the most fun I've ever had. Thanks Everybody!

-Ninja

OK- this is just wayyy too much fun.
I can't believe I didn't do this sooner!

I gotta find a parachute guy!

tom_supercub_drop.mp4 (0 min 42 sec)

Some updated pics including the updated config with a 22mah battery and a homemade (inspired by Flitetest and Dumb_Thumbs) bomb drop. Bomb drop consists of one HXT900 servo, three rubberbands and a few drops of some hot glue. Gotta find me a parachute guy!
This is my setup now:
x2 HXT900 servo (one more if you count the bomb drop)
Detrum40a ESC
Hobbypartz 1400kv Rocket series motor (Exceed RC Rocket Brushless Motor 3010-1400KV for RC Plane)
Custom RC Supercub motor mount (from Heads Up RC)
2200mah Gensace lipo
GWS DD 10x6 prop
OrangeRX 6...Continue Reading

High Speed Collision (4 min 56 sec)

RC Combat Event - sWARm Fall 2011 (3 min 44 sec)

sWARm Fall 2011 (5 min 17 sec)

Not my plane, check out that flight line- Great turnout perfect weather- Carnage!

SWARM 2011: Through the Limbo (3 min 55 sec)

Team Ninja!


Blue cub!

The UFOs (Utah Flyers Organization) is hosting their 5th annual UnCivil War combat Swarm an Fly In this Saturday.
Take the directions with a grain of salt. There is a lot of road construction in the area.

OK- I've gotta get better about taking in flight pics and vids...
So before flying it I went ahead and fixed/reinforced the cowl that I already had. Extreme tape ROCKS. I did have to trim about 1/4 inch from the cowl to get it to clear the motor and the prop. The Hobbypartz motor is a little shorter than the motor the Custom RC motor mount was designed for. Found a problem while testing, the firewall was pulling away from the plane under throttle, yanked it off and hot glued it back on. Replaced the missing landing gear.

x2 HXT900 servo
Detrum40a ESC
Hobbypartz 1400kv Rocket series motor
Custom RC Supercub motor mount (from Heads Up RC)
1300mah Gensace lipo
Master Airscrew 9x6 prop
OrangeRX 6 Channel

Flew great. Lots of power (too much?) I looped it at takeoff but it flew great and only needed a click or two of trim to get it flying hands off. It was already sundown when I took off so I didn't get to fly a full pack out but it flew like a dream. The repairs and upgrades have made this plane a great flyer. I can't wait to get some more stick time on this plane
Team Jetpack Ninja approved.!...Continue Reading

I recently bought a couple of these for testing on our combat planes.
One concern I had was would I be able to reverse the shaft like I do on the Turnigy motors that we are used to using. There isn't the extra e clip groove on this shaft like there is with the Turnigy motors but I was still easily able to do the mod using a wheel collar on the backside of the shaft.
I will do a review on this motor once I have some more flight time with it.

Doing some testing on a new wing design.
Gotta remember never to just trust two rubberbands, I've taught myself this lesson more than once.
Full speed power dives trying to induce some flex in the wing.
Wing looks great, fluttered down gracefully. OK, watching the fuse eject was graceful too, just more violent.
BTW- a little Extreme Tape and bend the motor mount back where it belongs (and a new prop) I was able to keep flying and continue testing for the rest of the afternoon

A few weeks ago one of our friends set an old Supercub out at the sod farm with a sign in front of it that said FREE. couldn't beat the price and other than a bunch of 100mph tape on the wing and a cracked cowl (landing gear and transmitter MIA) the plane looked fine.
Stripped off the duct tape to find only minor wing damage. Patched the missing foam with Gorilla Glue and retaped the wing tips and the wing saddle areas with Extreme Tape.
Took out the stock electrics and put in an OrangeRX 6ch receiver and couple 'o hxt900 servos.
Modded the battery bay to accept the Gens Ace 1300mah batteries that I use in my combat planes.
Used a Custom RC Parts Supercub motor mount from Heads UP RC to mount a HobbyPartz 1400kv Rocket Series motor. Hooked it all up to a Detrum 40a ESC also from HobbyPartz. I've only got good things to say about Heads UP RC and HobbyPartz. They will be getting more of my business in the future.

All I am lacking to fly is an 8x6 or 9x6 prop. If it flies well I will finish it off with a new cowl and some landing gear and the TeamJetPackNinja logo. CG looks a little too far back as of right now but I am still minus a propeller, cowl and landing gear. I'll likely need to add a little weight up front at least for now ...Continue Reading

Another widowmaker at the farm

Grim Reaper, sod farm