Flight Report:
One of our newest flyers just got a Radian. He brought it to the filed, but is was very windy, too windy for him to fly it. However he asked me if I wanted to try. Well heck yea!
We noted that the elevator needed to be adjusted, but the easy adjusts at the tail control horn made this easy. Radio trim in center and elevator set neutral. Easy.
Plane looks nice, goes together easily. He had attached the tail with included tape. The elevator was not quite square to the fuselage. He is going to see if he can reset it.
We had about a 10 mph wind with a lot of gusts pushing up into the 15 mph range.
Check the surfaces, confirm motor control. Power off throw showed it was a bit tail heavy. We shifted the battery forward about 1/4 inch. Hand throw, power off, showed a much better glide, so I hit the power and up she went. Nice strong climb at about 45 degrees into a strong wind. I took it to about 500 feet, then power off.
I needed to add a touch of down trim to keep the speed up to penetrate into the wind. While the gusts and turbulance were tossing it around I was able to handle it. Then I noticed it was on low rates. Flipped to high and control was much better.
After a minute or so I got it going straight and level and took the hands off the sticks for about 30 seconds. She ran straight and true.
Landing was exciting, due to ground turbulance.
Overall first impression, this is a winner. For those looking for a first plane, an RTF trainer or a first electric glider, this will be added to the list of recommended planes.
If you are going to fly in 2.4 GHz, buy the RTF package even if you already have a 2.4 Spektrum radio. The cost difference betweenthe RTF and the receiver ready versions is $90. When you consider the cost of adding the spektrum receiver and battery, that covers the $90. If you throw the radio and the charger away, you are still ahead.
If you are going to fly it on 72 MHz and have an appropriate lithium charger, then get the receiver ready version.
This is going to be a very popular package.
I may buy one and ship it to my Dad, so I have a glider to fly when I visit him.
Try it, you'll like it!
