| The
revolver tipped the scales at 6 1/2 pounds with the batteries in
it. That is right in the middle of the recommended specs. I used
a Wattmeter to test the power system and with the 11x5.5 APC electric
prop it pulled close to 60 amps and 1300 watts! I knew it would
fly the Revolver well at almost 200 watts per pound!
UPDATE
ON THE CG!!
The CG was not set per the instruction manual, my manual is incorrect
and it says the CG should be 4 15/16" back from the leading
edge at the root. The CORRECT CG is 4 5/16" back from the
leading edge at the root. My model balanced perfectly right on
the correct CG with the packs in place. I have been told this
was a typo and the current production kits should have the correct
CG in the manual
I
followed the control throws in the manual for the first couple
of flights, they seem small but they are enough to fly the model
well and to decide how you want to setup your plane after you
get a feel for it.
The
rates are as follows:
*Elevator low rate 5/16" up and down
*Elevator high rate 1/2" up and down
*Rudder low rate 1 3/8" right and left
*Rudder high rate 2 1/4" right and left
*Ailerons low rate 1/4" up and down
*Ailerons high rate 3/8" up and down
I
took the Revolver out for its test flight on a somewhat windy
day, but it did not effect its performance at all. Takeoff required
some rudder input and a little bit of runway to get airborne then
it just accelerated in the climb.
I
flew a few circuits and tested the CG while inverted and it only
took a touch of elevator to hold level flight, perfect for this
type of aircraft.
I
then tried some aerobatics and the Revolver does a great knife
edge with only very minor coupling, it doesn't require very much
rudder to hold it either.
Spins were very nice in either direction and it looked great in a
stall turn. Point rolls are precise and the Revolver fly's similar
to a pattern plane.
The
Rimfire motor makes a great whistling sound when you give it full
throttle and the plane really moves, I had my Radar gun with me
and it clocked the Revolver at 95mph on a low full speed pass! Of
course it doesn't have to be flown that fast but if you get it too slow it can snap but
nothing out of the ordinary for this type of plane, its not a 3d plane after all (which I am used to flying
mostly)
Landings
were difficult at first since the plane wants to keep on flying,
it took a few tries to get them right. I had the Phoenix 85HC
set to Auto lipo cutoff and I got about 7-8 minutes of flying
before I noticed the packs were low, those full throttle passes
are too addicting.
After landing the motor was barely warm, even when pushing it this
hard. The ESC was also just warm to the touch along with the
battery packs so this system works very well in the Revolver.
After
the maiden flight I found that I only added a tiny bit more throw
to the Ailerons and the Elevator, everything else was setup perfectly.
See
the Great Planes Revolver in action
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