ORIGINAL: ravill
Lee,
When you saw that airplane snap to the ground, it sounds like you think a parachute would have saved it. Is this true? Did it slow down enough that a parachute would likely slow it's descend to earth vs tearing the model to shreds because of the high speed?
Thanks for sharing!! I also am a futaba guy!
Raf
Hi Ravill,
Actually at that point in time I had not given a thought to a parachute system. I am willing to accept the total destruction of a model aircraft, long before I want to even think about the nightmare of actually hitting someone on the ground.
As to how a parachute system would actually work... I could only envision the engine first being shutdown.. then deployment of the chute. Bungee cord or stretchable chute attach lines might soften the canopy opening enough to not tear loose the lines or break the airplane. The actual details & design would have to be worked out. The parachute idea is a reality in the Full Scale world.... so I see no reason it wouldn't work for us.
I am actually both a JR & Futaba fellow.... I fly JR in many aircraft, but since day one of the 10X (I bought one of the first out) I discovered the flaw in programming. You see, if you set the 10X to talk to a Z-mode receiver i.e. the older 512bit type, the fail-safe screen has a user selectable time delay feature.... but when you set the 10X to communicate with the new S-mode receivers.... the time delay feature disappears!
Nothing but a software screw up from day one.... but JR has been unwilling to offer an update all these years. Even a user paid call back option would be OK.... but nothing!
Lee H. DeMary
AMA 36099