Originally Posted by rchank

My grand daughter has been wanting to see Papa fly the "big white plane", so we went out to the wide open countryside a few days ago. It was a bit windy. My wife was taking video but was having trouble following the plane when it was up high. I brought it down low for some fly-bys and enjoyed flying the plane close to the ground.

http://vimeo.com/30736190

Nice camera work Mrs Hank!
I'd love to live in the states............

Originally Posted by ozair

AJ, when you do fit the EK2-0704 to your SkyS can you please take a few photos and give some details on the installation.

Will do. BTW-I hope you got all the information you need on CG balancers that you need. If you have the money, the one you are romancing is a good one. Also, the homebuilt ones are good, too, IMO. Your call. Meanwhile, I have to get those videos from yesterday edited and posted. Each one has a lesson on one particular facet of flying the SkyS. IT was fun to make. I hope folks will find them informative and/or useful.
AJ

Can someone tell me the difference between the Bixler/SS and the AXN. Both are sold by Hobbyking but look the same bar the nose cone?

IMO the AXN is alot prettier, but other than that they seem identical. Anyone out there that has both and can tell me any differences

Originally Posted by Jam1e

Can someone tell me the difference between the Bixler/SS and the AXN. Both are sold by Hobbyking but look the same bar the nose cone?

IMO the AXN is alot prettier, but other than that they seem identical. Anyone out there that has both and can tell me any differences

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Ok. Having said that, here is the easy fast answer. The two planes have a different length, windspan, and AUW just for starters. The plane has a large following which testifies to its popularity. In short, it is just one more pusher type airplane. That is the only think it has in common with the SkyS/Bixler. If you like the Clouds Fly better, I totally understand. I have one and I enjoy flying it, too. With the smaller WS, it is easy to just leave in the car for those opportune moments that present themselves for flying. If you would like to know more, HERE is the thread. You will see my handle there often.
AJ

Originally Posted by ajbaker

Will do. BTW-I hope you got all the information you need on CG balancers that you need. If you have the money, the one you are romancing is a good one. Also, the homebuilt ones are good, too, IMO. Your call. Meanwhile, I have to get those videos from yesterday edited and posted. Each one has a lesson on one particular facet of flying the SkyS. IT was fun to make. I hope folks will find them informative and/or useful.
AJ

Thanks AJ. Money is no problem as you know I'll just put it on Gene's Card but I am still undecided. I have just completed building Ron's CG machine and hopefully that will do the trick, time will tell. I am looking forward to your flying the SkyS videos.

Originally Posted by ajbaker

True. But, I think his is a desktop.
AJ

Nope. Lapper. Don't worry about it....it's medieval, has had every upgrade it's capable of running, & more. It's just that ONE 3D graphics shader that guy uses....it runs other 3D apps like a champ. M-S Flight Sim 'Century' lives in the DVD drawer! Hell, I've run M-S Combat Flight Simulator on it....only thing that suffered was the frame rate when you had like 15 Messerschmitts after the bomber squadron you're escorting. I'd bet it'd handle RealFlight, but I ain't about to "afford" that either.

Here's the reply from the DeskPilot developer:
"Hi,
I'm sorry you're experiencing this problem. I'm afraid there is no simple/cheap solution. The notification you're getting is a warning that the graphics card doesn't support the required shader version 2. There is not much I can do about that since the technology I'm using requires that. I hope this clears up things and I'm sorry there is no simple solution.

Cheers from Belgium,
Davy Loots
"

Originally Posted by StarHopper44

Nope. Lapper. Don't worry about it....it's medieval, has had every upgrade it's capable of running, & more. It's just that ONE 3D graphics shader that guy uses....it runs other 3D apps like a champ. M-S Flight Sim 'Century' lives in the DVD drawer! Hell, I've run M-S Combat Flight Simulator on it....only thing that suffered was the frame rate when you had like 15 Messerschmitts after the bomber squadron you're escorting. I'd bet it'd handle RealFlight, but I ain't about to "afford" that either. .............................<SNIP>
"[/I]

Oh well. I am sorry it didn't work out. But, I feel better for having tried. Oh, all is still good. Get GENE's credit card from ozair and get yourself a really nice "machine". GENE can afford it and you deserve it for your Sky Surfer videos.
AJ

Originally Posted by ozair

Teddy, have a look at this video (about 1.25 min mark onwards) and you will see this cg machine in use. It appears that the plane is placed on the small ball tipped "feelers"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QUIVMGsxcU

In this video if they are flaps, then why are the going UP instead of DOWN.
I can't imagine what the effect of them would do.

Originally Posted by ajbaker

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Ok. Having said that, here is the easy fast answer. The two planes have a different length, windspan, and AUW just for starters. The plane has a large following which testifies to its popularity. In short, it is just one more pusher type airplane. That is the only think it has in common with the SkyS/Bixler. If you like the Clouds Fly better, I totally understand. I have one and I enjoy flying it, too. With the smaller WS, it is easy to just leave in the car for those opportune moments that present themselves for flying. If you would like to know more, HERE is the thread. You will see my handle there often.
AJ

Thanks AJ,
I wanted an easy to fly relaxing model for a change. So going on all the imput on this thread i've picked the right model.
However, me being me, it will have around 35amps of "ooompth" as they say! I've had to strengthen up the airframe and it will obviously be a little heavier than stock, but thats ok with me.
All the mods so far are down to the great ideas from other people on this thread. So thanks to them!
Picture of stronger hinges used and fibre tape to reinforce control surface hinge. Excuse the poor picture main camera is broke..

Originally Posted by ajbaker

Oh well. I am sorry it didn't work out. But, I feel better for having tried. Oh, all is still good. Get GENE's credit card from ozair and get yourself a really nice "machine". GENE can afford it and you deserve it for your Sky Surfer videos.
AJ

I tried to use Gene's credit card today and it was not accepted. Anyone got one that works?

Originally Posted by Flypoppa

In this video if they are flaps, then why are the going UP instead of DOWN.
I can't imagine what the effect of them would do.

Your right FP, this guy thinks they are flaps but his configured them as spoilers, oh well I am sure that eventually he will work it out.

Originally Posted by Flypoppa

I tried to use Gene's credit card today and it was not accepted. Anyone got one that works?

Yes I will send you the one I have, especially now that his on his road trip, he won't realise what has happened until he reaches Florida.BTW SH thinks that its a beer carrier that he is driving but its a horse float

Originally Posted by bicyclemonkey

I have the Great Planes CG machine. I used it for a while but went back to using the old finger method. There's almost no friction on the pivots and I've balanced small foamies on it with no problems.

+1

Be aware that it can be a bit of a bear to use on some planes that have gear, or struts under the wings, that might interfere with the uprights and horizontals on the balancer. It can be done, but it takes a few tries to figure out which direction is going to work. Also, the horizontals (the calibrated plastic rulers) can be hard to get along with. They always seem to want to be in the wrong place when you are trying to set the plane in place.

But it does work very well if you're patient.

Erkg, it doesn't balance on a point. On top of each support there is a ball joint supporting a plastic piece with a flat rubber pad on top of that to support the wing.

Gord

Originally Posted by Gordks

+1

Be aware that it can be a bit of a bear to use on some planes that have gear, or struts under the wings, that might interfere with the uprights and horizontals on the balancer. It can be done, but it takes a few tries to figure out which direction is going to work. Also, the horizontals (the calibrated plastic rulers) can be hard to get along with. They always seem to want to be in the wrong place when you are trying to set the plane in place.

But it does work very well if you're patient.

Erkg, it doesn't balance on a point. On top of each support there is a ball joint supporting a plastic piece with a flat rubber pad on top of that to support the wing.

Gord

Thanks Gord.

Originally Posted by ajbaker

I agree. I have one of those low-tech balancers, too - Fits my needs just fine.
+++
Gawrsh, yor'un is a whole lot more hi-teckier than mine!

Actually, I am working on a tekkier version. Basically, a small pair of identical wood squares with one hole in each (just slide 'em apart to fit the plane); a couple of 1/8" dowels just long enough to hold the plane off the deck, & planning to trim the tips down to around 1/16" to contact the wing as small-ly as possible, & each with a seamstress-type tape measure attached that you just pull forward to read where the rod tips are resting, relative to the leading edge. For each new plane, eg ones with landing gear, just make another set of upright rods so it also will just barely clear the deck - the base(s) are adjustable by merely positioning. And it'll all fit in a quart-size ziplok bag for takin' to the field.

I have one other trick up m' sleeve I ain't tellin' just yet. (Actually, it IS m' sleeve!) I'll show&tell when I get it all done....I think it's pretty slick & would bet nobody's thought of it!

(Howzzat for a teaser?)