RE: ParkZone P-51 Mustang RTF  
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    • All Forums >> Electric Aircraft Universe >> Park Flyers & Backyard Flyers >> RE: ParkZone P-51 Mustang RTF
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    RE: ParkZone P-51 Mustang RTF - 7/21/2005 7:00:11 AM   
    PMDrive1061


     

    Posts: 156
    Joined: 5/12/2005
    From: La Quinta, CA, USA
    Status: offline     		Well, I gotta tell ya...I broke down today and got me a brand new P-51D. Moving up from a souped-up J-3, which I love. This plane looks, frankly, a bit intimidating. Horizon was kind enough to replace a rekitted J-3 totalled on its fifth flight after a receiver replacement (another Horizon warranty replacement which failed much like the previous receiver) and almost total airframe replacement. Incredible customer service. My local Hobbytown USA took the Cub on trade plus the difference in cash. So, I still have my "second" Cub and this new Mustang.

    Getting to the point: Since I haven't flown it yet, anything I should know before I do? Launches, landings, whatever? The hobby shop says low speeds tend to cause it to roll to either side, so it's apparently wise to bring it in under power since it doesn't "float" like the J-3. Bird is sitting on my dining room table, stock as a rock. No li-pos, at least not yet.

    < Message edited by Lucky 6.9 -- 7/21/2005 10:59:37 PM >

    (in reply to Airchief)
           Post #: 151

    RE: ParkZone P-51 Mustang RTF - 7/21/2005 8:06:43 AM   
    Airbourne in Japan



    Posts: 5449
    Joined: 2/2/2004
    From: akita-shiAkita, JAPAN
    Status: offline     		hi Lucky 6.9, i use full power for launch, making sure that the prop has spun right up (as it's driven by a gearbox). it will tip stall if it gets too slow on launch. i also now fly it on high rates only and use full throttle usually. for landing, you should keep the speed up and landing into long grass is a good way to save the prop, which many people find prone to breaking. also, i personally have taped up the nose and also over the battery cover as that can break and i once had a battery fall out in flight (my fault for using a damaged battery cover). otherwise nice plane !!

    _____________________________

    Konnichiwa

    (in reply to PMDrive1061)
           Post #: 152

    RE: ParkZone P-51 Mustang RTF - 7/21/2005 4:33:38 PM   
    Airchief


     

    Posts: 60
    Joined: 6/21/2005
    From: Dayton, OH, USA
    Status: offline     		Click here for preflight fixes and checks and launch and recovery techniques.


    _____________________________

    Back of a Firework tech's shirt: if you see us running, try and keep up.

    (in reply to Airbourne in Japan)
           Post #: 153

    RE: ParkZone P-51 Mustang RTF - 7/21/2005 6:09:01 PM   
    The Marsh Man


     

    Posts: 93
    Joined: 6/20/2005
    From: Benicia, CA, USA
    Status: offline     		Lots of good advice at the link that Captainbsb has on the Mustang, should help you quite considerably. A couple of other items that should be included is that the wires for the ailerons can corrode. Lube them now with a graphite or other lube that should protect the wires. I also recommend after you have been flying for awhile, and if the wires do corrode, replace them with a guitar wire. The guitar wire has a higher nickel content and is more resistant to corrosion. The ultimate replacement would be stainless steel wire if you can find it.
    Most of the issues that are found with this plane are addressed in that link (Really good info), but one of the most important ones is the statement about experience. This plane needs constant flying attention and cannot be left on its own during flight, it will feel squirrelly at times due to the weak servos installed that do not always return to neutral when you let the control stick go. So if you are flying the Cub, fly it until you can do it with your eyes closed. You should be bored with it and thinking and doing things that now come easy to you. Then you may be ready for that low wing Mustang. P-51's are a real joy and fun to fly and you should have a great time with it. Just remember that this is a Parkzone product, which I am sure you have come to realize, does not always use the best parts available in order to keep it cheap for us and a money maker for them.
    Good luck with it and remember, have fun.

    (in reply to Airchief)
           Post #: 154

    RE: ParkZone P-51 Mustang RTF - 7/21/2005 7:57:37 PM   
    Glacier Girl



    Posts: 7003
    Joined: 7/9/2004
    From: SomewhereIn, PA, USA
    Status: offline     		Lucky,
    It's BIG isn't it!
    Going to be just like the Cub, prepare to remove the guts and put in your own stuff and make it fly right, from the start. It's the same servos the Cub used, and as Marshman said, the control wires used were not quite the best quality. It will take a little TLC but it's going to be a great bird. Just like doing ailerons on the Cub, we'll get some retracts set up on the Stang. It's going to be a winner.


    I can see it now, use your Cub as the forward air controller, to call in airstrikes with the Mustang.

    _____________________________

    "The Missing Man Formation"
    Looking heavenward you cannot help but shed a tear...mornful...lonesome...a hole that screams out almost as loudly as the roar of the engines that pass over head.

    (in reply to The Marsh Man)
           Post #: 155

    RE: ParkZone P-51 Mustang RTF - 7/21/2005 9:10:02 PM   
    Libertarian


     

    Posts: 254
    Joined: 7/13/2005
    From: Alvord, TX, USA
    Status: offline     		Hi lucky 6.9

    I'm afraid I differ to Grounded's reply that you, "use full power for launch".

    On my first launches the plane rolled left and crashed twice before I learned not to launch on full power. I use about 3/4 power to launch. My Badius also had this problem because of a large prop. This advice is nowhere to be found in the brochure but I found this advice on the aussie site where I bought it, (modelflight.com.au). If you do launch on full power I'd be turned right and up while someone else throws for you.

    As far as "i also now fly it on high rates only and use full throttle usually" I have found because of the aero characteristics of the wing that the plane climbs seriously at full throttle (to a probable stall) no matter how much down trim I dial in so I usually fly at around 3/4 throttle also.

    PLUS

    I WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND YOU START OUT ON LOW RATE FOR AWHILE OR YOU WILL CRASH IT! I crashed mine on HIGH rate (even with 12 or so flights on it) because it's very squirelly on high rate!!! IF you DO use high rate I'd recommend you first do some dry run flying (engine off standing behind the plane) to see how to gently turn because full turn on the ailerons will get you into trouble quick!

    Good luck!

    < Message edited by Libertarian -- 7/21/2005 9:12:31 PM >

    (in reply to PMDrive1061)
           Post #: 156

    RE: ParkZone P-51 Mustang RTF - 7/21/2005 9:29:56 PM   
    Airbourne in Japan



    Posts: 5449
    Joined: 2/2/2004
    From: akita-shiAkita, JAPAN
    Status: offline     		hi, i quite agree with you Libertarian, in that full power launch can produce a problem and using high rates. that is what i use after about 4 flights and that works for me but i'm glad you pointed this out especially to someone that may not have too much flying experience as i may have misled them into doing something that doesn't work for them. what's important is to find what works best on a personal level and stick with that so you don't crash the plane and can enjoy flying. this plane is a challenge at first and like somebody said you have to fly it hands on all the time.

    _____________________________

    Konnichiwa

    (in reply to Libertarian)
           Post #: 157

    RE: ParkZone P-51 Mustang RTF - 7/21/2005 9:45:29 PM   
    Glacier Girl



    Posts: 7003
    Joined: 7/9/2004
    From: SomewhereIn, PA, USA
    Status: offline     		Libertarian,
    Just a thought...if it's climbing on accel and is squirrley, it sounds like it may be tail heavy.
    Good advise on the launch technique.

    _____________________________

    "The Missing Man Formation"
    Looking heavenward you cannot help but shed a tear...mornful...lonesome...a hole that screams out almost as loudly as the roar of the engines that pass over head.

    (in reply to Airbourne in Japan)
           Post #: 158

    RE: ParkZone P-51 Mustang RTF - 7/21/2005 10:56:22 PM   
    PMDrive1061


     

    Posts: 156
    Joined: 5/12/2005
    From: La Quinta, CA, USA
    Status: offline     		Thanks, all. Great advice. Those preflight tips are going to be a great help. I'd thought I'd heard something about that plane wanting to torque roll on takeoff at full throttle. If it'll blast a 40 mph hole in the sky at 3/4 throttle, it'll take off fine there as well IMO. The prop and cowl are coming off this evening for a quick check-up. Moisture isn't much of a problem here in the desert but I'll hit those control wires with some powdered graphite anyway. As far as the actual flight is concerned, I'm going to go by the book (and all of you) and keep that plane pointed straight ahead until I get some distance between it and the ground. The rather hot weather we've been having might affect lift as well. I had the Cub out a couple of weeks ago as the weather started warming up and the other pilot there at the field noticed that none of our planes were climbing particularly well.

    (in reply to Glacier Girl)
           Post #: 159

    RE: ParkZone P-51 Mustang RTF - 7/22/2005 12:02:16 AM   
    Libertarian


     

    Posts: 254
    Joined: 7/13/2005
    From: Alvord, TX, USA
    Status: offline     		Thanks for the kudos guys; makes me feel like one of the gang. I feel like I've made a lot of progress in flying during the last year. I will also take Marsh Man's advice (on the graphite on the control rods).

    Glacier Girl, how can I tell if it's tail heavy and what do I do about it? Once (on high rate) I was coming out of a very high speed dive and pulled up quicky and the plane snapped totally sideways and mostly continued downwards. Fortunately I was able to turn right and slightly up and continue without hitting the ground. But this makes me think you may be right about having too much weight rearward. The plane was completely horizontal (no sideways bank) when I pulled up also so that's a pretty extreme reaction to bank 90 degrees right instantly just because I pulled up, though it was a really hard pull on fast rate.

    (in reply to Glacier Girl)
           Post #: 160

    RE: ParkZone P-51 Mustang RTF - 7/22/2005 12:25:21 AM   
    The Marsh Man


     

    Posts: 93
    Joined: 6/20/2005
    From: Benicia, CA, USA
    Status: offline     		As far as that snap that occured with your plane, not only should you check the CG and balance properly, but also what may have happened was that the ailerons were not centered (As I stated in the previous post) and when you pulled up, may have been in a left turn pitch with the ailerons. Check to make sure that the wires did not loosen and that the ailerons are indeed properly adjusted. Typicaly when you have that severe of a turn on the manuever that you described, it is usualy the aileron adjustment or that one of the servos has crapped out. (Gee imagine that happening to a PZ product LOL).
    So check it all out. This plane is prone to failure and has more Gremlins then the movie had. If at all possible I think you should take Glacier Girls advice and hop up this baby!

    Just thought I'd toss in my two cents

    (in reply to Libertarian)
           Post #: 161

    RE: ParkZone P-51 Mustang RTF - 7/22/2005 1:54:33 AM   
    Glacier Girl



    Posts: 7003
    Joined: 7/9/2004
    From: SomewhereIn, PA, USA
    Status: offline     		Per Miklos, Cg is 70 mm from the leading edge on the wing. Measure back 70 mm, on each side of the wing, close to the fuselage. Put your battery in the bird. With a finger on each mark of 70 mm, the bird should sit level, balanced on your fingers. I think it's self explanitory, if one end drops its heavy on that end. I would suggest it being slightly nose heavy, for better performance.

    EDIT: Here's a better way to explain proper CG. Go into my gallery and pick the photo of Flamethrower, yea I know it's a Stryker, but it's sitting on my home made CG stand.
    See the block of wood with the rods, they are in the balance spots on the bird, also notice it's sitting level.

    < Message edited by Glacier Girl -- 7/22/2005 1:58:30 AM >

    _____________________________

    "The Missing Man Formation"
    Looking heavenward you cannot help but shed a tear...mornful...lonesome...a hole that screams out almost as loudly as the roar of the engines that pass over head.

    (in reply to Libertarian)
           Post #: 162