Firebird Freedom and aerobatics  
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Firebird Freedom and aerobatics - 5/20/2008 3:36:54 PM   
kenpierce


 

Posts: 5
Joined: 12/31/2007
From: Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UNITED KINGDOM
Status: offline 		Hi There,

This is my first post on this forum, though I have read a number of useful posts in the past, so thanks everyone.

I have a Firebird Freedom and it's my first plane. I've read plenty of complaints about it, especially the tendency to stall. I had one tip-stalling incident, after which I added a £2 coin to the nose (1/2 oz or 14g) and the handling is much better, even in the blustery conditions here in the north of England. As for it being too fast for beginners, well, I like the speed.

Anyway, I've had about 10 flights now and I'm flying with ACT off and the control surfaces on the sensitive setting. I can take off from the ground (if wind conditions are right for where I fly) and I'm getting better at landing and I can generally get her to do what I want (including the odd loop or two).

I'd like to spend this summer improving my skills before I move onto a 4-channel trainer. So my question is, what aerobatic maneuvers should my Freedom be able to perform (i.e. v-tail w/ ruddervators) and what's the best order to learn them in? Are there any good guides to 'intermediate' flying of a a 3-channel, v-tail electric like the Freedom?

Thanks in advance,
Ken Pierce.
       Post #: 1

RE: Firebird Freedom and aerobatics - 5/21/2008 4:12:45 PM   
Leo L


 

Posts: 710
Joined: 10/12/2005
From: Flushing, NY, USA
Status: offline 		Other than perfecting the loops, you might be able to fight it to do some inverted flying and you might be able to get it to do a sloppy roll. The roll is accomplished by starting a loop and when the plane is poiting straight up, giving it full rudder. The plane will basically stall and drop one wing tip, which causes it to "roll". It begins to fall, picks up speed and comes out of the "roll". Wioth some planes you need to hit full rudder just before its vertical, while others right after its vertical. Also, some roll better to the right, while others roll better to the left. Experiment with the various conbinations, but make sure that you are at least 200ft up, so that you will have plenty of room to recover if things go wrong.

I don't recall anyone doing a ProTail modification to the FF, but the modification works great on the Aerobird Challenger, Aerobird3 and Aerobird Extreme, so I see no reason for it not to work on the FF. If you look at your tail, you will find that the tips are connected to the stationary part of the tail. The ProTail connects the tips to the moving surface, thereby more than doubling the size of the control surface. Look at the gap between the stationary part and the moving part (the gap is perpendicular to the hinge) Draw a line extending the gap to the front of the wing. Place packing tape (with fiberglass reinforcement) parallel to the hinge, half under the wing and half extending beyond the wing. Fill the gap with epoxy, being careful not to get the epoxy on the hinge, then wrap the strip of tape on top to create a "sandwich" of tape and epoxy. When the epoxy has hardened, add a strip of tape perpendicular to the first, to give plenty of strength to the epoxied gap. Gently cut along the line that you originally marked. Make sure that there is enough of a gap so that there is no rubbing. The tip is now part of the control surface. Repeat on the other side. This modification gives a lot of performance boost, so run the control rods to the outer most hole.

(in reply to kenpierce)
       Post #: 2

RE: Firebird Freedom and aerobatics - 5/21/2008 7:33:32 PM   
kenpierce


 

Posts: 5
Joined: 12/31/2007
From: Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UNITED KINGDOM
Status: offline 		Thanks, Leo, that sounds like a good plan. I google for (and found) a set of instructions for the Aerobird Extreme and it looks like I can follow them pretty much to the letter.

I'll have a go once I've mastered the loop, which should only be a few more flights. I'll document my experiences and post on the forum when I do.

Cheers,
Ken.

(in reply to Leo L)
       Post #: 3

RE: Firebird Freedom and aerobatics - 5/22/2008 2:02:22 PM   
Leo L


 

Posts: 710
Joined: 10/12/2005
From: Flushing, NY, USA
Status: offline 		Here is a photo of the ProTail that I made for my Aerobird Challenger a couple of years ago.

Attachments
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(in reply to kenpierce)
       Post #: 4

RE: Firebird Freedom and aerobatics - 6/18/2008 11:32:53 PM   
kenpierce


 

Posts: 5
Joined: 12/31/2007
From: Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UNITED KINGDOM
Status: offline 		Hi Leo (and anyone else who is interested),

I've crafted a pro-tail for my Firebird Freedom from a spare tail I had lying around. I haven't tested it properly yet, because a battery disconnect in mid-flight caused a crash (now using deans). On my next flight I was testing maneuverability when I pulled up from a dive a few seconds in and the wing spar shattered, leading to an emergency "landing" The spar was obviously damanged in the previously crash, but it's clearly an authoritative tail nevertheless.

She's definitely a lot more responsive and should be good fun until I buy my next plane. I'll post again when I know how well she rolls etc.

Thanks again,
Ken.

Attachments
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize 		Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize 		Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize

(in reply to Leo L)
       Post #: 5

RE: Firebird Freedom and aerobatics - 6/19/2008 6:55:46 PM   
Leo L


 

Posts: 710
Joined: 10/12/2005
From: Flushing, NY, USA
Status: offline 		Nice job! Keep us updated on your experience.

(in reply to kenpierce)
       Post #: 6

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