Go Back  RCU Forums > Electric Aircraft Universe > Electric Training
Reload this Page >

Eflite T-34 first flight

Notices
Electric Training If you are new to electric learn more about them here or ask questions.

Eflite T-34 first flight

Old 08-31-2011, 08:08 AM
  #1  
acdii
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Capron, IL
Posts: 9,996
Received 97 Likes on 88 Posts
Default Eflite T-34 first flight

Well, finally got it out to my friends house, and his brother was there too. This guy is a hot dogger, he can fly a plane through a hulahoop. In fact one flight last night the plane ran out of fuel, and he was able to keep it aloft long enough to get it within 20 feet of the runway before plopping it into the soybeans.

Well it was pretty windy last night, which made flying the Apprentice a real kicker, it is so light tht the wind was making it do things it shouldnt, but was fun to see it go from 10MPH to 50MPH just by turning around and giving it full throttle. Because of the wind, I didnt want to maiden it since Iwasnt sure if the CG was correct, and let my friend take it up. Well turns out it is tail heavy, Ipulled the manual out when Igot home and found the leading edge referred to the point at the root and not the actual leading edge of the wing, makes a big difference. Iwill need to get some weight added to it. Anyhow, we flew it around a bit, he got it trimmed for roll, pitch will need to be re-trimmed once I get it properly balanced. Iflew it for a few minutes myself just to get the feel of it, but Iwas getting disoriented due to the low clouds and kept losing track when it was directly towards me, has a pretty thin profile.

Now that Ihave flown a tail heavy plane, Iknow what to expect, pitch ups are frequent, just a touch of up and it goes UP. Now that it has flown, and once I get the balance corrected, I should have no problems flying this one. The landing was very nice, it took it's own sweet time touching down, but touched down smoothly. The take off roll was pretty long, so Iwill need to figure out the distance I need to see if this one can be flown at my house, since I may not have enough open ground for it. We didn't use the flaps other than dropping them in flight to see the reaction, which was pretty much what I expected, it popped up.

Afterwards he got his plane back up, the landing was so soft in the soybeans that the only thing that had to be done was pull a leaf off the landing gear. His takeoff was so long that we thought for sure he was going into the soybeans, but at the last minute it popped up and he flew it "treetop" level over the field. You could see the prop wash on the leaves. Then he got it up and flew it around a bit, then did some screaming low level passes across the runway, inches above the ground, and one time we thought for sure it would hit, but he pulled it up with 1/2" to spare. Several times we thought for sure the plane would go into the beans, but everytime it would pop up and leave the leaves shaking. This guy is good! Did Imention it was windy? And Raining! Rain on foam wings makes a distinctive sound as it flies past you. One of my Apprentice flights was when it started to rain.
Old 09-07-2011, 04:53 AM
  #2  
acdii
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Capron, IL
Posts: 9,996
Received 97 Likes on 88 Posts
Default RE: Eflite T-34 first flight

Well, second flight was last night after adding an ounce to the nose. This plane flies great! It is a blast to fly, still need to work on my landings though, but considering how gusty the winds were, 15-20 MPH, I didn't do too bad. A bit nose heavy on the landing, but still any landing without damage is a good landing.

So finally solo'd my nice plane, and so happy I have it. She flies very nice even on a windy day. Did some aerobatics with it, some upside down, slides, figure 8's, cross country flight<lost sight of it in the sun, recovered it on the other side of the road behind us.

I did this cool maneuver that has to have a name, I pitched up at half throttle into a stall and then slid the tail around so I am facing the opposite direction going down and accelerated, much like drifting a Civic.  If smoke was coming out it would have flown through its trail. It wasn't a pure vertical so I wouldn't call it a hammer head, it was more along a 45* angle.  Loops with this plane sound like a T-34C turboprop, you can hear the whine of the motor and the chop of the prop, impressed my slimer running friend.

Highly recommend this for a second plane!  It will be a screamer with a bigger motor and no droops, but perfect for a novice as it comes out of the box.
Old 09-13-2011, 12:33 PM
  #3  
aeajr
My Feedback: (2)
 
aeajr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 8,573
Likes: 0
Received 11 Likes on 11 Posts
Default RE: Eflite T-34 first flight



Windy conditions are never good for first or trim flights.  Hard to tell if you are tuning the plane or fighting the wind.


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.