cyborg1

I lined mine with balsa. It's post #3473, page 139. Hope it works for you as well. I painted the balsa grey to match the monokote.

Tom in Cincy

My Feedback: (16)

I have had my Bobcat for a year now. I have never seen a plane so difficult to land. Take off is no problem and it flys like a dream. Very fast and on rails. I have never had a good landing with this plane. The plane weighs 9lbs. It has retracts and brakes. On-board glow. The engine is a OS 65 VR ducted fan motor, rear rotor intake, full length tuned pipe, reversed clock wise rotation. A sport APC 11x8 prop turning 14,000 rpm. CG is 10.5.
I am going to move the cg forward .5" (nose heavy) to see if I can tame this landing down.
If anyone has the magic pill please lay it on me. I'm tired of repairing this thing...

BaldEagel

Whenever I have a difficult to land airframe without flaps nine times out of ten the cure is to put reflex ailerons on the throttle stick i.e. in a landing condition on the Tx at low throttle both ailerons go up, these act as spoilers so reducing lift and goes a long way to tamming a bounce prone landing they also add washout to the wing and so offset tip stalling, so it can also land slower, in the first instance only put about 1/4" of up on and try at hight to see how it effects the flight path and just keep on experimenting with reflex and tailplane trim till you get an approuch that you like.  My Jets have them set up to over 3/4" with full flap 90 degs and 1/4" down elevator this allows landing in a very small space and at a silly low speed for a jet.  Try it I am sure it will work for you.

Mike

exciter900rr

I believe I am just getting the hang of it, due to our club prez in the peanut gallery shouting flare! Flare! FLARE!!! MORE! MORE!MORE!!!!!!!!! Until I finally touched down as smooth as silk. ( on the far end of the runway, but SMOOTH!)
This is close to a delta (ish) configuration, and will sit WAY nose high when you are at idle a foot above the runway- I leave the throttle chopped, and disgustingly low for my taste, and come in low. ..on the numbers so to speak. I just keep it about a foot above the tarmac for as long as needed, and then when I think I am going slow enough, I slowly release the up. and as soon as the mains hit, and the nosewheel comes down , I feed in a bit of down to keep it on the ground. I suppose this is all in the timing, but I have had GREAT success with the method, and no longer am I gun shy about flying it. This is all without spoilerons or flaps..... I absolutely HATE the bounce that comes with landing this plane, and I have tried a decreased AOA, and even an unsprung nose gear. you just have to get it slowed down, and the plane submits. (at least mine finally did!)

BaldEagel

excitor

Sounds like you need spoilerons as well, reducing the lift over the wing, brings the aircraft down quicker and will stop the long float, you must give it a try, the peanut gallery will be amazed how much your landings have inproved.

Mike

exciter900rr

Neh-

Like I said, I've got the hang of it- no need to have another switch to flip, and another mix in there to fuss with. "Keep It Simple" is my motto with this bird.
I've just learned how to fly this particular plane, and have learned most of it's quirks- and now I know how to deal with it- during the first flights, I had a "landing switch" that gave me the 3/16" of spoilerons, and an additional 1/4" at the third position to stay down after touchdown. the additional BS, ... ehem, I mean the additional bells and whistles almost cost me the airframe- I landed, and bounced once real bad, then flipped the switch for "stick to the ground" mode and watched the airplane head back for the sky- quickly! had the engine hesitated at all, there would have been lots of repair to carry out. after that, I'm done. Now, I just flare, and flare some more, and viola! beautiful landings! and a bit of forward stick keeps it down-

But thanks, Baldeagel

BaldEagel

excitor

You are obviously landing to fast to balloon that high after hitting spoilerons, I can understand if you are unable to flick switches whilst flying that you don't want to be put off by needing to remember where each switch is, but please do not accuse another member on this forum of BS just because they suggest something to try and help another member who says they have a problem, we are just trying to help.

Mike

bri_877

I'm quite sure you misunderstood the comment there.....

exciter900rr

WOW!

I'll tell you one thing buddy- You NEED to seriously chill out! You have read entirely too much into my post, and YOU are the one ACCUSING ME of out of line conduct.
You are questioning my flying, and my credibility as a member of this group. Not once did I accuse anyone in particular of BS- I didn't even infer it!
Quite the contrary my friend, I as well am trying to help others by simply suggesting another landing option. Who gave you the authority to moderate this forum?
Please do yourself a favor and READ CAREFULLY before you flame someone. and if you are not able to understand the english language, I suggest you invest some money in further education.
You do realize that you're looking a bit silly in your comment don't you?

But seriously- Flipping (not flicking) switches while flying isn't quite out of my scope of abilities, and after more than 23 years of flying, and modeling, I prefer simplicity. You prefer flying your plane one way, whilst I prefer flying mine much differently. And that's just fine with me. However, it's no reason to pull your feathers out Baldeagel...... you'll go bald..

By the way, The screen name is Exciter. And thanks for the blind critique of my piloting skills-

Boomerang1

Now I know why they call him Exciter. - John.

Boomerang1

oops, double post.

exciter900rr

Maybe I should change the name to Excited....lol
sorry all for jumping up and down, but I just get excitable when I'm on the receiving end.
Anyhow, Going to take the bobcat out tomorrow and see if I can lean it just a bit more without getting her too hot. Flying like a dream now!!!

CrashPro

My Feedback: (1)

Here is [link=http://www.cvrcclubvideos.us/SDVids/BobcatJune28.wmv]Video[/link] of Ken's Bobcat



Hi-Def [link=http://www.cvrcclubvideos.us/HDVids/BobcatJune28H.wmv]Video[/link] (Large file)

Tom in Cincy

My Feedback: (16)

Mine is still waiting for repair after a simular landing. That is really looking like a cg problem. Stab stalls before the wing/tail falls.

CrashPro

My Feedback: (1)

Landing is a problem I've never had with this plane.....No flaps or spoilerons used either. I set up my video camera on the tripod this morning and did some touch and goes....here is the [link=http://www.cvrcclubvideos.us/SDVids/BobcatTG.wmv]VIDEO[/link]

bri_877

Is everyone pretty much using the book throws? How much flap?

HeliTB

CrashPro...You look more like a LandingPro to me. Excellent video showing the attitude of the plane for landing. It seems to be landing real slow to. Thanks.

CrashPro

My Feedback: (1)

Mine is set by the book...no flaps

CrashPro

My Feedback: (1)

Thanks HeliTB

At the time of the video, there was only about a 1-2mph breeze right down the runway.....when it is more like 7-8mph I can land it even slower.
This airplane has a lot slower stall speed than most would think it has.

exciter900rr

I wish that the winds like that speed on the weekends.....[&o][&o][&o][&o]

exciter900rr

Well, for some reason, Now is the first time I was able to see the video, ( I run Mac, and sometimes WMV files don't like it, or vice versa) and although I was there, (LOL) I don't remember much other than I didn't wad it- I am Happy with the landing.... I really don't feel it's a CG thing at all- I think this particular landing was all nerves- All in all, I call it a keeper!
The plane flew again 30 min. later, ( I had to get the other one in the air to calm the nerves...) and there was no repair to get back up at all- the only damage was a prop that appeared to pick up a small pebble and had a chip in it, that I replaced, and a scratch on the nose which erks me, but it isn't broke, so I'm happy. The cause of it over revving was leaning out. The muffler lost a bolt, spread, and tank pressure failed- therefore it ran out of gas and I was in trouble. the nosegear sticks on occasion, and typically a blip of the throttle will release it. In this case, No blip of the throttle= No nose gear. The plane really is all good, and other than just plain "getting used to it", I think it's a blast.
I really don't feel that spoilerons are necessary per se, but I'm sure if you are in tight quarters it would be advantageous. I won't say anything more, so I don't get jumped by the mods. So, Just to set the record straight, "you can do what you will with the plane, but I bear no influence whatsoever with the outcome, and I in no way, shape, or form intend to offend, belittle, scrutinize, judge ones ability to understand my post, or ruffle anyones feathers." I just want to share my experiences, and help others enjoy this hobby. After all, Thats why I joined the hobby almost 25 years ago.... to have fun. I would have continued college if I wanted to debate constantly. I think R/C is far more Pro-active!

KM

Dig it

Anybody have a starboard (right side) wing. I bent mine up a little more than I should have. lol

I'm in Canada but shipping wouldn't be much, it doesn't weight anything.

Dale

bri_877

Good answer...

CrashPro

My Feedback: (1)

I had a spare right wing hanging around the house for a couple years......until I did this a couple months ago....

azrcaddict

Hey guys...I pickd up a Bobcat used with no paperwork. Anybody know where the c/g is?? It has an OS .61 on it now. tried take off yesterday, a little trouble weith steering. Also seemed to take a LOT of speed to lift. Never left ground because of steering trouble.