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RE: Official Aerobird Swift Thread - 2/5/2007 8:18:14 AM   
aeajr



Posts: 5583
Joined: 1/14/2003
From: Long Island, NY, USA
Status: offline 		I also hand launch all my planes. I have a grass field which is not too friendly to these small light planes with their small wheels. In fact I don't even put the wheels on the plane. They are still in the box.

BTW guys, at the end of that maiden flight I crashed the plane pretty hard. Was inverted at about 30 feet and pulled when I should have pushed and did a lawn dart at full speed into hard, cold ground. Very nasty.

Twisted nose, damaged motor mount, broken wing rod guide.

I was very impressed that the boom did not break or break lose or that the tail was not damaged.

This was a direct hit at full power. Nasty.

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< Message edited by aeajr -- 2/5/2007 8:36:32 AM >

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(in reply to lawndart63)
       Post #: 51

RE: Official Aerobird Swift Thread - 2/5/2007 8:31:38 AM   
aeajr



Posts: 5583
Joined: 1/14/2003
From: Long Island, NY, USA
Status: offline 		Left the Swift on the bench for a few days to let the pain pass.

1) nose straightened itself. I did nothing to it.

The leading edge of both wings, where they wing sits in the pocket was damged. I eased that area back into shape and soaked the foam with foam safe ca and let that set. Firmed up nicely .

The divider for the wing rod was replace with a small piece of basswood that a glued with PLASTIX, a two part glue that apperas to be some kind of CA with a special kicker that you brush on. $3.50 at home depot for a tiny amount.

I had to notch the wing where this wood piece goes.

I reformed the motor mount, then I put a tiewrap around the motor to provide some support thought I am not sure how much help it would be in another crash like that. However I did manage to get the motor back to straight.... I think.

I taped the canopy back with glass reinforced tape. The retianer that the rubberband attacheds to would not stay in place so I repalced that with a tie wrap too.

Overall, came out pretty good. I hope to try and fly it again soon.

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< Message edited by aeajr -- 2/5/2007 8:33:50 AM >

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Clear Skies and Safe Flying!
Ed Anderson
Moderator
Park Pilot Program Partner

(in reply to aeajr)
       Post #: 52

RE: Official Aerobird Swift Thread - 2/6/2007 2:29:02 AM   
rawiswar


 

Posts: 1347
Joined: 1/30/2007
From: south normanton, UNITED KINGDOM
Status: offline 		i am going to buy one of these with my brother. he has no flying experiance at all,

and i have whats left of my art tech cessna 182 had a pretty big crash agian. and need new motor and speed controller body etc....

so want to go back a step, i will let you guys know how i get on.

what is the connector that the aerobird swift uses to connect the battery as i have a house charger and 2 batterys the same but these use the deans connectors and i want to get them changed so i can have a decent amount of time flying,

how long is the flight time on this plane

thank you

< Message edited by rawiswar -- 2/6/2007 2:32:02 AM >

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T maxx keep breaking when gentle bashing?
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       Post #: 53

RE: Official Aerobird Swift Thread - 2/6/2007 2:51:46 AM   
aeajr



Posts: 5583
Joined: 1/14/2003
From: Long Island, NY, USA
Status: offline 		If you are going to buy the swift, I would convert the Swift to the ultra deans. That is what I normally do.

I would not recommend this to an inexperienced pilot unless there is an aileron experienced pilot to help.

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       Post #: 54

RE: Official Aerobird Swift Thread - 2/6/2007 4:14:47 PM   
tam popo


 

Posts: 3105
Joined: 2/6/2007
From: glasgow, , UNITED KINGDOM
Status: offline 		Owners view. I'm a newbie and found it difficult to control from hand launch (catapult ok). ground takeoff slow but good on shale. Build problems - wings in 2 pieces but when dismantling the connector pops back into fuze and takes lots of time to get out (use coathanger and elastic bands to fish for it). The aerloron electric connector pops out of its pins on b/head (fishing needed again). U/carriage too easy to loose during takeoff/landing. In-car charger not brlliant. Flight characterists excellent but need flight.sim for a newbi to get best of plane - touch as old boots. Tips - when dissassembled for transit put bands on wing connectors to stop them pulling out/in. same with b/head connector after first time fix. 6 out of 10.

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RE: Official Aerobird Swift Thread - 2/6/2007 4:25:37 PM   
tam popo


 

Posts: 3105
Joined: 2/6/2007
From: glasgow, , UNITED KINGDOM
Status: offline 		Hi! Good choice in plane - distance from centre of screw to centre of other screw is 30mm. When you build if you have any probs just ask me. There are a few things you can do to stop some problems occuring - wing connectors, etc. Up, up and away!!!

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RE: Official Aerobird Swift Thread - 2/7/2007 11:36:01 AM   
tam popo


 

Posts: 3105
Joined: 2/6/2007
From: glasgow, , UNITED KINGDOM
Status: offline 		Swift good to fly but trim is critical - make sure battery is as far back as it will go - the velcro strap is prone to early breakage, so changed mine to bungee loop. Also elevator needs maximum travel for ground take offs, easy to adjust. When doing the inevitable unscrewing of undertray for repairs try to replace original screws with cup hanger style ones - no need for scewdriver then.

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Trusty Tonto turned to Lone Ranger and said "Look at stars in sky above!" - Lone Ranger said that it reminded him how small man was and how great God was in the universe. "No you idiot, it means someone stole the tent!!!!

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RE: Official Aerobird Swift Thread - 2/7/2007 3:09:14 PM   
rawiswar


 

Posts: 1347
Joined: 1/30/2007
From: south normanton, UNITED KINGDOM
Status: offline 		ok thanks for the info, i have dean connectors on my batterys form the cessna 182 and i belive the swift is the same batterys so i will change the swift to that.

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T maxx keep breaking when gentle bashing?
(DRIVE IT LIKE YOU STOLE IT)

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       Post #: 58

RE: Official Aerobird Swift Thread - 2/7/2007 5:25:22 PM   
ronrico418


 

Posts: 60
Joined: 1/18/2007
From: Ocala, FL, USA
Status: offline 		Couple videos up of me flying my Swift

<div><embed src="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_view_player?p=1f71809e0dfe3b358a47af" quality="high" scale="noscale" width="350" height="328" wmode="transparent" name="FLVPlayer" salign="LT" flashvars="&p=1f71809e0dfe3b358a47af&skin_id=0&host=http://www.onetruemedia.com" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><br><a href="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_player_link?p=1f71809e0dfe3b358a47af&skin_id=0&coord=" target="_blank" ><img src="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_player_link_image/1f71809e0dfe3b358a47af/0.gif" style="border:0px;" width="350" height="35" ismap ></a><br><div style="margin:0px;font:12px/13px verdana,arial,sans-serif;height:30px;width:350px;text-align:center;"> <a href="http://www.onetruemedia.com/create?&utm_source=emplay&utm_medium=txt3" target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none;">Make video montages at <span style="text-decoration:underline;">onetruemedia.com</span></a></div></div>

or

http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p=1f71809e0dfe3b358a47af&skin_id=0&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url



(in reply to rawiswar)
       Post #: 59

RE: Official Aerobird Swift Thread - 2/7/2007 9:40:28 PM   
rawiswar


 

Posts: 1347
Joined: 1/30/2007
From: south normanton, UNITED KINGDOM
Status: offline 		nice flying, almost a nice landing, still land better than i can

whats the swift like to fly in the wind, i should be getting mine friday, (we got snow coming here though in the uk)

still fly it tho.

_____________________________

T maxx keep breaking when gentle bashing?
(DRIVE IT LIKE YOU STOLE IT)

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       Post #: 60

RE: Official Aerobird Swift Thread - 2/7/2007 9:53:26 PM   
tam popo


 

Posts: 3105
Joined: 2/6/2007
From: glasgow, , UNITED KINGDOM
Status: offline 		Hiya fellow Brit. What make was your cessna 182 and how did you rate it. I'm looking at a replacement for my ME262 edf - i thought the idea of planes is that they fly!! What other equipment have you bought recently to get started. I just bought a trickle charger for the house and waiting for a real flight sim to arrive (£19). The trickle charger for the house not good - the house won't fly!!!!

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       Post #: 61

RE: Official Aerobird Swift Thread - 2/7/2007 11:16:22 PM   
tam popo


 

Posts: 3105
Joined: 2/6/2007
From: glasgow, , UNITED KINGDOM
Status: offline 		Swift problem. Do you launch with elevator up or wait until it has left your hand efore applying. How are you changing trim and weight balance. My problem is that 1 out of 4 launches result in a nose dive. Also, do you get as much elevator down as elevator up - not much down on mine so use powerdown. There ar 2 connectors on inside of b/head but these are side by side - is yours the same or is there a space between the two.


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reason Hitler lost war - CC Lee built his ME262's!!!

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Born to fly and loose my postings on RCU......

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       Post #: 62

RE: Official Aerobird Swift Thread - 2/7/2007 11:47:21 PM   
spidersden


 

Posts: 2
Joined: 2/5/2007
From: Bluff City, TN, USA
Status: offline 		Hello all,

I recently purchased a Swift after some minimal flight time on a SkyFly. Unfortunately, my good luck with the SkyFly has not followed me to the Swift. After an abrupt landing w/ the swift, the y-harness for the aieleron servo's has come unhooked from the control board. After some examination of the board, I've not had much luck figuring out where I should plug the harness back into it. Can anyone provide some quick instruction, or maybe a picture or 2, so I can get back in the air? I haven't had a chance to dig out the old multi-meter, and thought it'd be faster to just ask .

Thanks in advance,
~Scott

"You cannot arm slaves and expect them to remain slaves, nor can you disarm a free people and expect them