RE: E-Flite AT-6 Texan 25 ARF

RE: E-Flite AT-6 Texan 25 ARF
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RE: E-Flite AT-6 Texan 25 ARF - 4/10/2008 1:12:09 AM

brianjohnsonAZ

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From: Mesa, AZ, USA
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quote:

ORIGINAL: normgoyer

Hi, for what's worth department. Your problem sounds very familiar. In the past few months we have had a dozen similar problems with folks flying electrics and gasers when using BECs and when using some models of the Spectrum system. It still sounds like one of two things to me. I would first suspect the BEC/Battery/sevos to ascertain if limits were breached. It sounds like the receiver shut down as it has happened to me and to others in our large club. Second, we have had at least three occasions when the model, both very large and very small were being controlled by the new 2.4 Spectrum, don't know the versions as I use Futaba 2.4. They have had receiver recycling while flying. If they were high enougn they regained control if they were too low the plane spirals into the ground. For some reason, I am not an electronic nerd, the receiver misses a beat and recycles and during the few seconds it takes for the system to regain control the model is out of control. I am sure that other members of the forum have far more experience than I do and they can offer some insight into your problem. Hope you solve your problem. Norm

Norm: How would you recommend I go about checking to see if the limits of my gear were breached?

(in reply to normgoyer)

Post #: 76

RE: E-Flite AT-6 Texan 25 ARF - 4/10/2008 1:27:48 AM

normgoyer

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From: Apple Valley, CA, USA
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The problem usually occurs when the number of servos used are at maximum. Then, if one of your servos gets hung up momentarily the amps it draws increases drastically causing the total current draw to exceed what your BEC is capable of. This exact same thing happened to me a year ago with a T-34. I was flying and then I lost all control. I found a bad servo that was hanging up. That was the day that I started using separate cells for my receiver and servos. Look at the redundancy you get. If your LiPoly fails or your ESC fails or if your motor shorts out, so what, you have a glider, and gliders fly just great as long as they can land real soon. I know that this goes against the current thinking of many, but for me it is a super peace of mind. You can also get a real light 4.8 or 6 volt mini cell pack which will only add a small amount of weight. Norm

the 2.4 receiver recycling is also a real life situation.

(in reply to brianjohnsonAZ)

Post #: 77

RE: E-Flite AT-6 Texan 25 ARF - 4/15/2008 12:28:28 AM

Greg Covey

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From: Rochester, NY, USA
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My finished AT-6 was Ready-To-Fly at 70.5oz (4.4lbs) with the 10oz ThunderPower battery. I measured 390 watts at about 36amps for a power level of 88.6w/lb. It should fly very scale at 1/2 to 3/4 throttle while providing aerobatics at full throttle.

Spring has arrived in upstate NY so it won''t be long before I get a chance to give this model a test fly!

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< Message edited by Greg Covey -- 4/15/2008 12:29:07 AM >

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Post #: 78

RE: E-Flite AT-6 Texan 25 ARF - 4/15/2008 12:59:33 AM

normgoyer

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Hi Greg, you did it again, another dynamite looking miniature aircraft You are certainly a craftsman. I can''t even open the box without screwing something up. Norm

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Post #: 79

RE: E-Flite AT-6 Texan 25 ARF - 4/15/2008 3:16:37 PM

Greg Covey

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LOL, Norm!

I''m not sure about being called a craftsman...maybe a master assembler.

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Post #: 80

RE: E-Flite AT-6 Texan 25 ARF - 4/16/2008 5:16:38 AM

Captain.MPN

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Joined: 3/24/2008
From: Naples, FL, USA
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Hello all stations... I''m so hooked, that I''ll admit, I have put the cart in front of the horse... Let''s just say my honed piloting skills are yet to be desired. I have maybe a dozen flights under my wings, which have been on many different planes.
Well, the point of this is to share that I just added the Texan to my fleet... In fact I''m building it right now... For the record, I went with the 32 size motors... I''ve just heard so many stories of similar planes being under powered, and would rather know it''s there, should i ever need it.. Well I hope she works out well for me, because it truly is a work of art... I''ll let it be known of our fate on the maiden...

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Post #: 81

RE: E-Flite AT-6 Texan 25 ARF - 4/16/2008 7:12:19 AM

brianjohnsonAZ

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From: Mesa, AZ, USA
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Cap''n,

I''m a decent pilot and fly 3D with my Extra and Bipe, and scale with my Taylorcraft for more than a year now. I bought the Texan with all the trimmings and thought I was ready to make the switch to warbirds too. Boy was I wrong!! If I were you, I would not try to fly this plane with only a dozen flights under your belt.

Make sure to ask questions and check the forums on how to fly this type of plane before you give it a go. It''s a sickening feeling to watch it rollover and smash into the ground only to figure out that you could have prevented it with a little knowledge of how to fly this particular type of plane. Unfortunately, I learned too late that this plane is not for the inexperienced pilot. Initially I chalked up my two crashes to electronics problems but soon swallowed the bitter pill of in-experience.

Best of luck to you.

(in reply to Captain.MPN)

Post #: 82

RE: E-Flite AT-6 Texan 25 ARF - 4/16/2008 1:26:57 PM

Greg Covey

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From: Rochester, NY, USA
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Brian,

Thanks for that sincere feedback. Most of us have a similar lesson where we have initially failed at flying a different type of plane. For me, it was an Extra 300 aerobatic plane. I learned the hard way about high speed stalls when I was performing snap rolls. The result wasn't a pretty picture and I will never forget it.

A power level of 88.6w/lb is fine for the AT-6 as long as you fly the plane instead of jerking it around the sky. I was actually happy with the final flying weight because I thought it would be heavier. An upgrade to the Power 32 on a 3 or 4-cell LiPo pack should work fine as well. If you use a good quality LiPo pack, you can burst the power levels on occasion without shortening the cycle life of the battery.

Captain.MPN,

I love your enthusiasm and want you to be successful! If possible, I would recommend that you have an experienced friend or club member fly your AT-6 first. Perhaps then, you can set up a buddy box for your first flight. The AT-6 will be pre-trimmed for you and your co-pilot may be able to get you out of a jam.

Good luck!

< Message edited by Greg Covey -- 4/16/2008 1:28:43 PM >

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Post #: 83

RE: E-Flite AT-6 Texan 25 ARF - 4/16/2008 4:12:14 PM

normgoyer

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Hi Guys, our club has serveral writers for Model Airplane News and Fly RC among our members and yes, they often have another pilot test fly the plane. The builder/owner/assembler is usually too close to the project and his reactions might be tempered by this affiliation. Bottom Line: it is not a bad idea, no matter how experienced your are, to have another pilot with appropiate skills test fly the plane. I too have learned this the hard way. Norm

(in reply to Greg Covey)

Post #: 84

RE: E-Flite AT-6 Texan 25 ARF - 4/16/2008 10:47:02 PM

Captain.MPN

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From: Naples, FL, USA
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Wow..! Let me get this out of the way first by saying how happy I am to see your replys... Knowing that there are people out there with genuine otherness, & support, concerning a "newbee's" sucsess... This is great..!
Greg, I would like to thank you. For it seems you did the math on the power - weight ratio, & it's acceptable..? I believe I have made up my mind, & concur with you & Brian. The maiden on my AT-6 should be left to the hands of a skilled veteran. Unfortunatly, the friend who turned me on to this, who is skilled, has declined my request... So, now i can only hope, that i come across someone like you guys, who is local, & willing to help.
The first plane I bought, which was about 6 weeks ago, was a FlyZone EDF Diablo. It seems to be a very forgiving airframe, and "so far" we are getting along nicely, meaning it's still in one piece... Very shortly after buying that plane, I discovered RCuniverse... I have absorbed a plethura of information, which inturn, has led to me being hard core hooked on RC flying. Wondering why it didn't happen sooner. I just know I'm a lifer to this hobby, But my biggest desire is to be an awesome pilot, sticking every landing every time and effortlessly. I have the will & the passion, & now plenty of planes to start this up hill journey, to were you guys are, "looking back down at me," at the hold back line, before the runway...
Well, with that said, I've got to go back to work. I must pay for these planes somehow. However I do have a few more questions, regarding maiden flights, on my E-flight P-38, 777 super liner, Great Planes L-39, & others & which of them would be my safest bet...
Again, thank you guys so much, this has made me feel as if the light @ the end of the tunnle is not a train...
Talk soon... Mitchell Naurath

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Post #: 85

RE: E-Flite AT-6 Texan 25 ARF - 4/16/2008 11:08:27 PM

Greg Covey

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Mitchell,

I am only familiar with one of those planes so I cannot answer your question. You can read my review of the E-flite P-38 here.

Regards.

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Post #: 86

RE: E-Flite AT-6 Texan 25 ARF - 4/20/2008 10:37:00 PM

Captain.MPN

Posts: 6
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From: Naples, FL, USA
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Hello again Greg, I'm wondering if I can add NACA Droops to the leading edge of my AT-6's wings, like the Hanger 9 PTS p-51, or the E-flight T-34 mentor... I'm the one who's worried my expierence lacking, and I'm not quite comfortable in flying the Texan, especially after everyone has warned me not to...

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Post #: 87

RE: E-Flite AT-6 Texan 25 ARF - 4/22/2008 4:35:53 PM

Greg Covey

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From: Rochester, NY, USA
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I don't have any experience with those devices. Perhaps the designer, John Redman, will check in soon and reply to your question.

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Post #: 88

RE: E-Flite AT-6 Texan 25 ARF - 5/1/2008 10:57:10 PM

Simracer29

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Joined: 7/26/2006
From: Jacksonville, FL, USA
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Here is my Texan ready for her maiden, Power 32 w/ 4s 3300, Graupner 11x7 3 blade. Have not benched tested the 3 blade yet, don't know if I will get away with using it.

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< Message edited by Simracer29 -- 5/1/2008 11:01:15 PM >

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Post #: 89

RE: E-Flite AT-6 Texan 25 ARF - 5/1/2008 11:16:10 PM