RE: CAELESTIA NEW F3A 2011
Maidened today!
The plane flies quite well and took very few clicks of trim to get it flying straight and level, but still a long way to go toward getting it contest ready, so maybe not in time for Pocono.
However, I do have some issues with getting anywhere near full power with the Pletty Advance due to ESC and/or radio programming, which I worked on today when I got home and installed fresh batteries for the tachometer and got Castle Link running on the laptop. I was getting only 5200 rpm with the motor timing set ag medium and the PWM at 8khz, and afterward 5900 rpm with the timing set at high and the PWM at 24khz. Prop is a Falcon 21x14. I should be getting minimum RPM (in my wild guesstimate) of 6200 and perhaps more, so I'll play with the end points and throttle curve a some more tomorrow.
Ground clearance with a 21-inch prop is nil, so make sure the grass is short!
Conditions at Stormville today were absolutely sublime. Thanks to Anthony Romano for getting the photo and Bert K and wonder dog Lucky for the great company.