Pilot-rc PREDATOR 2.2m Sport jet / full composite
11-16-2018, 05:19 PM
#328
Maiden complete
Needed a few clicks of up elevator but otherwise flew great. Plenty of power with the K140. After a quick 5 minute flight, I dropped the gear and the flaps. Had a tough time getting it to slow down, after going around once I wound up landing long. After taxiing back, I found my right flap was locked in about the half-flap position and was burned up. It was causing the batteries to overload, and had I not landed when I did I might have lost the whole plane. Swapped out the "bargain" Hobbyking servos with a set of Pilot-rc PY-20ALs my good friend Kevin had and it's ready to go again tomorrow. I have Hitec 7955s on the elevators and ailerons and a Savox sa1283SG on the rudder, but thought I could get away with something less expensive on the flaps. Lesson learned, don't skimp on servos, even if it's only for the flaps. ...hope to get some video tomorrow.
11-16-2018, 06:25 PM
#329
Join Date: May 2014
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the flaps take a constant load and can heat up if not designed for the task.....i put the better servos on flaps and rudder in mine.. but the predator i have came with pilot servos installed turbine ready and the servos are very nice.
11-27-2018, 06:59 AM
#337
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Las Vegas, NV
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Now had half a dozen flights with the new turbine, very happy with it. 210 doesn’t seem overkill at all although I only use full power for verticals. Really well mannered plane that presents nicely in the air. Rock solid knife edge makes for a lot of fun and nice hesitation rolls.
Quality seems really good with the only minor irritation being the main gear legs seem to rotate fairly easily even on really good landings. Easily fixed by resetting but it would be nice if they had a flat on them to locate them so they stay straight. I may end up drilling them and putting a small bar through to stop them twisting.
if you are using the Pilot-RC smoke pump, it draws power from the rx which I don’t like. Simple solution, I had some cheap turnigy on/off switches so connected one in line from a separate battery and now it has its own power supply.
will post some video soon.
Quality seems really good with the only minor irritation being the main gear legs seem to rotate fairly easily even on really good landings. Easily fixed by resetting but it would be nice if they had a flat on them to locate them so they stay straight. I may end up drilling them and putting a small bar through to stop them twisting.
if you are using the Pilot-RC smoke pump, it draws power from the rx which I don’t like. Simple solution, I had some cheap turnigy on/off switches so connected one in line from a separate battery and now it has its own power supply.
will post some video soon.
11-27-2018, 07:05 AM
#338
Now had half a dozen flights with the new turbine, very happy with it. 210 doesn’t seem overkill at all although I only use full power for verticals. Really well mannered plane that presents nicely in the air. Rock solid knife edge makes for a lot of fun and nice hesitation rolls.
Quality seems really good with the only minor irritation being the main gear legs seem to rotate fairly easily even on really good landings. Easily fixed by resetting but it would be nice if they had a flat on them to locate them so they stay straight. I may end up drilling them and putting a small bar through to stop them twisting.
if you are using the Pilot-RC smoke pump, it draws power from the rx which I don’t like. Simple solution, I had some cheap turnigy on/off switches so connected one in line from a separate battery and now it has its own power supply.
will post some video soon.
Quality seems really good with the only minor irritation being the main gear legs seem to rotate fairly easily even on really good landings. Easily fixed by resetting but it would be nice if they had a flat on them to locate them so they stay straight. I may end up drilling them and putting a small bar through to stop them twisting.
if you are using the Pilot-RC smoke pump, it draws power from the rx which I don’t like. Simple solution, I had some cheap turnigy on/off switches so connected one in line from a separate battery and now it has its own power supply.
will post some video soon.
11-27-2018, 08:05 AM
#339
My Feedback: (19)
Now had half a dozen flights with the new turbine, very happy with it. 210 doesn’t seem overkill at all although I only use full power for verticals. Really well mannered plane that presents nicely in the air. Rock solid knife edge makes for a lot of fun and nice hesitation rolls.
Quality seems really good with the only minor irritation being the main gear legs seem to rotate fairly easily even on really good landings. Easily fixed by resetting but it would be nice if they had a flat on them to locate them so they stay straight. I may end up drilling them and putting a small bar through to stop them twisting.
if you are using the Pilot-RC smoke pump, it draws power from the rx which I don’t like. Simple solution, I had some cheap turnigy on/off switches so connected one in line from a separate battery and now it has its own power supply.
will post some video soon.
Quality seems really good with the only minor irritation being the main gear legs seem to rotate fairly easily even on really good landings. Easily fixed by resetting but it would be nice if they had a flat on them to locate them so they stay straight. I may end up drilling them and putting a small bar through to stop them twisting.
if you are using the Pilot-RC smoke pump, it draws power from the rx which I don’t like. Simple solution, I had some cheap turnigy on/off switches so connected one in line from a separate battery and now it has its own power supply.
will post some video soon.
11-27-2018, 08:14 AM
#340
I am tinkering with mine. Got the pipe mounted and thrust vectoring hooked up. My only complaint so far is that there doesn't seem any way to get a drill in the engine compartment to drill the engine mounts. I am considering just going with wood screws rather than the normal blind nut method.
11-27-2018, 08:21 AM
#341
I am tinkering with mine. Got the pipe mounted and thrust vectoring hooked up. My only complaint so far is that there doesn't seem any way to get a drill in the engine compartment to drill the engine mounts. I am considering just going with wood screws rather than the normal blind nut method.
Thanks,
Tone
11-27-2018, 11:15 AM
#342
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Las Vegas, NV
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I am tinkering with mine. Got the pipe mounted and thrust vectoring hooked up. My only complaint so far is that there doesn't seem any way to get a drill in the engine compartment to drill the engine mounts. I am considering just going with wood screws rather than the normal blind nut method.
I used screws to secure the turbine and I don’t expect them to be an issue but will keep an eye on them.
Standard fuel tank tank supplied is 4,600 ml
Standard fuel tank tank supplied is 4,600 ml
11-27-2018, 11:21 AM
#343
My Feedback: (19)
I don't have any pictures. It is a little tight getting everything hooked up but not terrible. Keep in mind I got the turbine ready version so the servos were installed and pushrods made. You just have to connect the TV to the pushrods and put the arm on one of the servos. The pitch servo is under the vertical and came installed and hooked up.
12-17-2018, 01:15 PM
#347
My Feedback: (19)
FYI, anyone running the Vector Thrust, not unexpected, put everything as far forward as you can. I through everything in there for a test CG, not mounted, and when I picked it up the tail slammed the floor. I was going to run a single battery for the smoke and landing gear but may just go with 2 if I need the weight. Are most settling on the Cg they get with the CG device included or are you moving it back? I am shooting for slighlty nose heavy as it will be easier to put smaller batteries or move them back later.
12-17-2018, 08:22 PM
#348
FYI, anyone running the Vector Thrust, not unexpected, put everything as far forward as you can. I through everything in there for a test CG, not mounted, and when I picked it up the tail slammed the floor. I was going to run a single battery for the smoke and landing gear but may just go with 2 if I need the weight. Are most settling on the Cg they get with the CG device included or are you moving it back? I am shooting for slighlty nose heavy as it will be easier to put smaller batteries or move them back later.
Thanks,
Tone
12-18-2018, 03:36 AM
#349
My Feedback: (1)
FYI, anyone running the Vector Thrust, not unexpected, put everything as far forward as you can. I through everything in there for a test CG, not mounted, and when I picked it up the tail slammed the floor. I was going to run a single battery for the smoke and landing gear but may just go with 2 if I need the weight. Are most settling on the Cg they get with the CG device included or are you moving it back? I am shooting for slighlty nose heavy as it will be easier to put smaller batteries or move them back later.
12-18-2018, 06:23 AM
#350
My Feedback: (19)
Kingtech 210. Yes. The tank is ahead of the CG so probably safe to have a little fuel in the tank being that you would hope to never land completely dry. I didn't weigh the TV items but would guess with the servo and linkages 6-8oz way back in the tail. As I mentioned, not unexpected. I just wanted to throw this out there for anyone else running the TV so they don't look at the install pictures and just copy those and then get a surprise. I am not going to have to add any ballast so not a big deal.