Well I am a noobie at this but I just purchased a Art-Tech Cessna 182 and I am awaiting its arrival. I don't know how much there is to building it but I thought I would post up some information I have found while researching it.
I decided on the Cessna 182 -4 channel after seing its realistic graphics and design, also I got hooked on it also after seeing this guys plane:
.
I also read some threads that got me to where I thought it would make a good 1st choice once it is set up properly.
Resources:
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_21..._1/key_/tm.htm
http://www.rcgroups.com/links/index.php?id=4797
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=398732
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_30...tm.htm#3013698
Spare Parts:
http://www.parkflyers.com/html/body_...parts_182.html
http://rc-expert.com/product-access.php?pid=78
http://stores.ebay.com/RC-WORLD-INTE...QQftidZ2QQtZkm
Tips
1. Packaging Tape on Fusalage and Wings.
2. Upgrade Battery, LIpo adds 10-15 Minutes flight time.
3. Getting longer flight times -Use peak Charger to charge battery.
4. Cut throttle off when in trouble.
5. Avoid bad flying conditions- Do not fly in windy conditions. anything above 5mph.
Videos
http://www.art-tech.cn/english/Artic...p?ArticleID=86
http://www.parkflyers.com/html/body_cessna_movie_3.html
http://www.knvonline.com/files/cessna182s.wmv
Controls
4 Channel Radio Controls:
Throttle (Up and down left stick)
Rudder (Side to side on left stick)
Elevator (Up and down on right stick)
Ailerons (Side to side right stick)
Throttle: Used to maintain flight and vary flight speed with need.
Rudder: Rudder is used to turn the plane on the ground and in the air.
Elevator: Uses to make Plane climb and descend. Also used for loops.
(make a note that pulling down on elevator makes plane climb, and up elevator makes plane descend)
Ailerons: Used to make sharp turns and to perform rolls (corkscews)
1) Before 1st flight, cycle battery at least 2 times to ensure you’re getting full power out of it. (cycle means charge and run down the battery twice before using to fly)
2)On take off you want to take off from a smooth surface on the ground. Apply full throttle and gently pull down on the elevator.
Climb to a safe altitude before you make turns.
3)Don’t try to over control the airplane. The biggest mistake a novice will make is trying to over control. Just give gentle inputs from the transmitter. Remember that when making turns you need to compensate by adding up elevator (down on stick) to keep plane in level flight. Remember that too much stick in any direction may cause the plane to stall.
4)Remember on the elevator stick, up is actually down and down is up.
5)Make sure antenna is full extended on the transmitter and that batteries in transmitter are in new condition.
6) If you think your going to crash, shut the motor off right away. This will minimize any damage sustained to aircraft.
Note : 80% of crashes are from one thing: turning too sharp too low to the ground. You may not realize how fast a plane could drop in a tight turn and underestimate the importance of using the elevator to keep it level while making turns. The other 10% is from not keeping the flying speed up (too much elevator and/or not enough throttle) so it stalls and then falls out of the sky. The last 10% comes from pilot disorientation (losing your bearings when plane is in the air)
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I am looking forward to getting mine!
Flight Simulator Software: Credit:rybak
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Ok, so I just got a Parkflyers Cessna 182 4-Channel plane and I got the transmitter to talk to FMS (Flight Model Simulator) perfectly on my Windows XP SP2 computer. Here's what you need to do:
1. Download and install the free FMS software. I got it to work with both the fms
Alpha 8.5 and fms /beta/ fms disk01.exe">Beta 7, but I imagine the Beta 7 version is more stable.
2. Download the free FMS
Cessna 182 model. Extract the entire contents of the .zip file into the "Models" folder under your FMS Directory, i.e. "C:/Program Files/ FMS /Models/".
3. Download the free fms
SmartPropo to allow FMS to listen to your transmitter via the audio card. Extract only the winmm.dll file in the /ppm folder and put it in the FMS root folder, i.e. "C:/Program Files/ FMS /".
4. Buy this
cable at your local Radio Shack to connect your 4-Channel Parkflyers transmitter to your computer via the "Line In" audio jack. It is a regular mono 1/8" audio jack on both sides.
5. Connect the transmitter to your computer, turn it on, and open your computer's Volume Control utility. Go to Recording Mode and select "Line In", and gradually increase the volume...I keep mine on max. You should be able to hear a buzz sound coming from your transmitter. Then go to Playback Mode and mute the Line In so that it doesn't drive you crazy.
6. Start the FMS software! Go to Controls > Analog Control, select "Joystick Interface", click "Resources". For "Joystick 1" you should see the active SmartPropo setup. Click "OK" and then go to "Mapping/Calibration" for the "Joystick Interface". The click "Calibrate" and start moving the control sticks around. If you get a sloppy signal, i.e. the bars are jumping up and down sporadically, you may need to increase the volume on your "Line In" jack via Windows Volume Control. Like I said, I keep mine on Max and it works perfectly. Put the right Channel Number for each control and start using the program! You may need to go back and check the "Inv" box if a particular control is responding backwards.
Some more info:
* You can only connect the 4-Channel Parkflyers transmitter to your computer. The 3-Channel version does not have the right jack.
* I've heard that SmartPropo might stop your FMS from even starting. This is due to your computer's sound card and not much can be done. Just delete the winnm.dll file you installed and it should work again.
* You can also connect the transmitter to your computer's "Microphone In" jack. However, you may need to play with your Volume Control settings so that a decent signal gets in.
* There are tons of other models all over the Internet that people have created, from airliners to X-wings. You can FMS +model+downloads&btnG=Google+Search">search Google or use this cool Auto Downloader to save time.
Some tips to strengthen the plane before you fly:
* Wrap the entire fuselage and wings in clear packing tape
* Put a strip of strapping tape or clear duct tape along the front edge of the wings
* Put in a small stick (carbon or wood) under the rear vertical stabilizer
Hope this helps! Good luck!
< Message edited by rybak -- 9/9/2005 7:21:53 PM >
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