Starting over again
12-07-2014, 05:38 PM
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Starting over again
I decided this fall to resurrect my rather unsuccessful Sky Scooter.
My history is that I flew Control line and RC in the 60's and early 70s I kept most of my engines. A Cox 15, Enya 35, Enya 19, OS max 19 and a McCoy 29. I still have one profile CL plane never flown.
Jumping ahead to about 2002 or 3 I got the sky scooter with the 300mah nicad, As I had heard that the plane flew pretty well.
My experience has not been too good. Then I tried flying it on a few occasions then put it away. It didn't have enough engine to gain altitude.
A week ago I got it out and bought a couple of NiMH batteries The stock Nicad was 8.4 volts so I got a 8.4 v and 9.6 v 700mah batteries. They were rated at 10 amps max discharge. I had thought about going with LiPo batteries but would be stuck with a nominal voltage of 7.4 or 11.1v. I didn't think 7.4 would be enough and 11.1 might just burn out the electronics or motor in short order with a starting voltage of 13 volts.
I charged the new batteries to 10.1 and 11.3volts at about .15C. Took out my 8.4 and got straight out disappointing results. I had a choice of gliding downward or keeping it level and stalling. After a couple of trials I switched to the 9.6v 2/3AA packs. The plane did a bit better. Our property has a 9 acre pasture that is gently sloping. Making for theoretically easier starting. My longest flight was maybe 10 seconds before settling to the ground.
I brought it in and decided to bring the ailerons down 5 or 10º to get more lift. Today I took it back out but didn't charge up the 8 cell pack as it was still over 10 volts.
We tried maybe 10 or twelve launches on the slopes. The engine while turning fast was not really really putting out the air that my experience thought that it should be good enough to fly. I got some fairly long glides but no real climbing About the same as I remember back in the day.
I am recharging my 9.6 to a full 11.6 volts and will try it tomorrow if it isn't raining, snowing or windy.
I did take the gearbox apart there was still some grease in it. The Motor runs smooth. Doesn't get hot.
Any ideas on my old plane?
Oh Hi to others here.
My history is that I flew Control line and RC in the 60's and early 70s I kept most of my engines. A Cox 15, Enya 35, Enya 19, OS max 19 and a McCoy 29. I still have one profile CL plane never flown.
Jumping ahead to about 2002 or 3 I got the sky scooter with the 300mah nicad, As I had heard that the plane flew pretty well.
My experience has not been too good. Then I tried flying it on a few occasions then put it away. It didn't have enough engine to gain altitude.
A week ago I got it out and bought a couple of NiMH batteries The stock Nicad was 8.4 volts so I got a 8.4 v and 9.6 v 700mah batteries. They were rated at 10 amps max discharge. I had thought about going with LiPo batteries but would be stuck with a nominal voltage of 7.4 or 11.1v. I didn't think 7.4 would be enough and 11.1 might just burn out the electronics or motor in short order with a starting voltage of 13 volts.
I charged the new batteries to 10.1 and 11.3volts at about .15C. Took out my 8.4 and got straight out disappointing results. I had a choice of gliding downward or keeping it level and stalling. After a couple of trials I switched to the 9.6v 2/3AA packs. The plane did a bit better. Our property has a 9 acre pasture that is gently sloping. Making for theoretically easier starting. My longest flight was maybe 10 seconds before settling to the ground.
I brought it in and decided to bring the ailerons down 5 or 10º to get more lift. Today I took it back out but didn't charge up the 8 cell pack as it was still over 10 volts.
We tried maybe 10 or twelve launches on the slopes. The engine while turning fast was not really really putting out the air that my experience thought that it should be good enough to fly. I got some fairly long glides but no real climbing About the same as I remember back in the day.
I am recharging my 9.6 to a full 11.6 volts and will try it tomorrow if it isn't raining, snowing or windy.
I did take the gearbox apart there was still some grease in it. The Motor runs smooth. Doesn't get hot.
Any ideas on my old plane?
Oh Hi to others here.
