I have been flying an Aerobird, and then an Aerobird Challenger since March 03 and hvae bot 250 flights between the two of them and I love them.

If you want more agressive manauvers, put the plane into pro mode. I will turn on a dime

As to beginners putting planes in trees, remember you are not supposed to be doing your first flights in wind in the first place.

I also have 6 other electrics, 6 thermal duration sailplanes and two slope gliders.

I recently added lights to it for night flight. That was weird. It was like
flying a ghost. You can't see the plane, only the lights.


I have pounded the poor Aerobird plane into the ground, destroyed three wings,
and two tails. I had to build a new motor mount because I destroyed that too.
All this, and the plane flies great, but it has taken a real beating. That is
what makes it such a great three channel beginner plane. Along the way I have
had to solve many problems because I was so reckless with it while I was
learning to fly it. So, I pass on what I have learned.

First - RTFM - If you lost your manual, you can download it here:
http://www.hobbyzonesports.com/Produ...BZ3500#manuals

Respect Wind

This plane can definitely fly in 10-12 mph winds. However wait till you have
mastered it. Most of my crashes came from flying in too much wind before I was
ready. Make your early flights in under 5 mph winds.

Always launch into the wind and land into the wind. And, fly with the wind
blowing toward you so the wind will not carry your plane away, it will tend to
bring it to you.

Motor Mount

This is the first thing you should do. Before you take a hard nose hit,
reinforce the motor mount. I will not elaborate here, visit this thread to
find the information. It contains advice from other pilots and what I finally
did to reinforce the mount. You should do this before you need it.
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...&perpage=15&pa
genumber=1

http://www.shutterfly.com/osi.jsp?i=...21b325c2c38435
here are also some shots of the control board out of the plane which can be
helpful.


Plane Does Not Fly Straight - what could cause this?

Assuming you have not displaced the motor, and you are having
problems with the plane not flying straight, check the following:

a) is the wing crooked or too damaged - try a new wing.

b) Check the trim adjustments. They may have been moved from center. Set
them to center and make all adjustments assuming you will fly with the trim
set in the center.

c) Check the tail. The foam is attached to the center plastic brace by small
pieces that punch through the foam. These can loosen up and the tail fin can
move slightly away from the plastic brace in the air which can cause the plane
to turn.

Tape or glue the tail fins to the center plastic brace. Also, look for creases
in the foam. If there is a weak spot, the tail will flex causing the plane to
turn. mine was creased at the
meeting point where the plastic support meets the tail. Looked fine on the
ground, but it was flexing in the air causing a hard right turn leading to
crashes. Replace the tail.

d) Make sure the moveable surfaces are even with the fixed surfaces on the
tail when the stick is centered and the trim levers are centered. You MUST
check this with the transmitter on and the battery attached. If they are not
even, adjust them with the screws on the control horns. The procedure is in
the manual. RTFM

Note, there is a tiny Phillips head screw on the back of the control horn on
the tail. Tighten it or the spool could unwind while the plane is in the
air, causing a crash. (Guess how I know this!)

e) Check to see that the boom is solidly attached at the body. If this comes
loose, it can move around while the plane is flying causing all kinds of
problems. It can also
twist so that the tail is no longer aligned.

If you look at where the boom is attached inside there is a pinched area. I
drilled a small hole through the top of that area and through the boom. Then
I put a 4" nylon tie through to help secure the boom. I also put packing tape
around the boom and the back of the body where the boom exits. Between the
two, the boom is well secured.

The Porpoise

When you apply power the plane starts to climb then noses up, then the nose
drops and it does it all over again. This is called a stall. The problem is
that the tail needs to be trimmed, the front is too low or the back is too
high. This causes an up elevator effect. Adjust the orange screws on the
tail. The procedure is in your instruction book. RTFM

Center of Gravity

If you are using a 7 cell battery, you will get a faster plane and better
climb, however you will also shift the center of gravity forward slightly.
If you are an aggressive, full throttle flyer, you probably won't
notice. If you are more of a half throttle cruiser, like me, you will find
the plane needs up trim all the time. Here is how you fix it.

The foam that sits between the battery and the electronics puts the 6
cell exactly where it needs to be to balance the plane, but the 7 cell is
heavier. Remove the side pins and pull the foam out. Now, cut it from top to
bottom about 3/8", just in front of where the pins hold it
in-place. Now put the remaining piece back in the plane. Fly the 6 cell with
the foam to the rear and the 7 with the foam
to the front. This will shift the 7 cell back about 3/8" and put the CG right
where it should be.

Longer flights

Back off on the power. Both the 6 and 7 cell battery will last five to
six minutes at full power. However, if you back off to half power, your
flights can last 12-15 minutes depending on the wind. You can even
catch thermals with the Aerobird and riding them for long long flights with
the motor off.

If you charged your batteries a few days ago, top them up just before
flying. They lose charge just sitting around.

Neck Strap for the Transmitter

If you look at the high priced Futaba, Hitec and other radios, they have a
place where you can clip a cord so that the radio can hang from a neck strap,
leaving your
hands free to make adjustments on the plane. This is very convenient.

Take a large paper clip and bend up the center piece in the middle to make a
place where you can clip a neck strap to it. Now take some sand paper and
sand a spot in the center of the radio. Epoxy the paperclip to the radio. Use
plenty so you can really embed the clip in the epoxy.

Reinforce the Wing

Got to staples and get some glass reinforced tape. The type that has a cross
pattern is best. Put a piece on either side of trailing edge where the prop
wants to bite the wing if a landing is a little rough. Also centered in the
front 6" on either side of
the body to help resist damage from the rubber bands. The newer wings may
come reinforced but you may wish to do this anyway.

Make sure you have a spare prop, they're cheap. Since the prop is less likely
to cut the reinforced wing, if it hits the wing, it might pop the prop off, or
break it. However normally this does not happen.

If you get a crease or a fold in the wing from a rough landing, this will be a
weak area. The foam is compressed and the wing will tend to fold up under
stress. Tape can not stop this. Take a strip of plastic or wood, about 1/16"
and cut a piece about 1" wide and 30" or longer and reinforce the whole wing.
Attach the support to the wing with
double sided carpet tape, not the foam type, the really thin stuff. Make sure
you center it on the wing so that it does not through the wing out of balance.

To finish off the reinforcement, cover it with clear packing tape. Stretch it
for and aft to create a smooth flow
path for the air passing over the wing. Many planes of similar design, like
the T-Hawk or the Firebird XL have
these strips, or rods on the wings when they are new. It won't fly as well as
a new wing, but it will fly.


Learn to Glide in for a Landing

If you run the battery too long, the speed control will cut the power to the
motor while preserving power for the control surfaces. This is good! If you
learn to land with the power off, if you get caught in the air with no motor,
you will have
no problem landing. Gliding in, even from 500 feet, is my standard way of
landing.

Parts

These planes have a great distribution system. Parts are very readily found
in most hobby stores. However if you can't get what you need, look here:
http://www.hobbyzonesports.com/Support/


HobbyZoneSports Frequently Asked Questions - Couldn't hurt to look!
http://www.hobbyzonesports.com/Support/FAQ.aspx

Plane Locator

When I was learning, or today if I fly strong winds, I use one of these on the
plane and one stays in my pocket.
If I put the plane down in very tall grass, or in the woods ( don't ask ) it
can be hard to find. If I am looking for the plane, I click the one in my
hand and the one on the plane answers. If you fly near woods, swamps, tall
grass, etc., get one of these. I mount it under the rubber bands that holds
on the wing. Doesn't seem to hurt the lift much at all.
www.keyringer.com

Summary

Here are a few tips to help you live happily with your Aerobird and
help it survive your poor piloting skills. With a little luck, the plane will
make it through the tough part of your training as you pound it into the
ground trying to learn to fly. Don't give up! Avoid the wind, take your time
and you will get it!

Oh, and RTFM ..... read the friendly manual!!!! :-)
------------------
Best regards
AEAJR
www.lisf.org
www.rcezine.com