Hi
I have been flying helis for a few years, now my flying buddies and I are being charmed by the allure of fixed wing
So I joined RCU today on the recommendation of some of the guys on runryder.com

I have flown a few trainers, a short but sweet time with a Limbo Dancer and a couple of seasons with a SPAD.

Well I have just bought a secondhand Flair edge 540 http://www.ss16.dial.pipex.com/Furth...n/edge_540.htm

I hope I haven't bitten off more than I can chew and would really appreciate any advice offered.
We are fairly handy with the helis and haven't had much trouble flying any of the above, but I get the feeling that this new baby may be a bit of a handful.

So any advice re Engine choice? (I have seen a secondhand 1.08 2 stroke)
and 1st flight advice, bearing in mind my limited previous experience. Will be very useful and much appreciated.

Many thanks Thanks

I'm glad you like the stars and strips.

Second only to the Union Jack

Just hope I can keep it looking so pretty.

I assume you're using a heading hold gyro with your helis. That's the one thing that makes the transition to fixed wing a bit tough, we're used to flying the tail araound. Its not that big of a deal, but you really don't need to do that as nuch with an airplane. Bank with the ailerons, control radius of the turn with the elevator and use the rudder to keep the tail in the right place. Usually you won't need to coordinate the turns as much as you do with a heli. But for aerobatics, the rudder is supremely important. Anyway, with a plane like your edge, try to keep the speed up a bit 'til you get used to it. watch the angle of attack, keep the wing flying. It might be a good idea to have someone else trim it out for you just to isolate the variables. I have a friend who is an awesome 3D heli pilot. he got a 90 sized extra and stuffed it the first day because he wasn't used to orientation with a high performance fixed wing. So take it slow. Allow yourself to get used to how it looks and feels. best of luck. It sure looks nice!
Dave

If it was me in this situation, I'd get a cheap trainer or sport plane and fly the wings off of it....then take the Edge up with an instuctor and buddy box. Just my opinion.

As I've told many people who wanted to learn on a plane such as this or learn on their own. Very few things in this world are "impossible" but that is. Get yourself a good trainer, save the Edge for later. I tried to learn on a Kaos 40 (on the advice of my instructor), it lasted maybe 45 secs. even he couldn't save it.

FWIW,

Last year I started Flying Planks after 3 years of flying Heli's. I started with a Trainer and soloed in on the first flight. The key thing is Trainers are dosile and forgiving. They will teach you the basics of Planks. After the trainer that you will out grow quickly get a Taildragger low wing plane like a Sig 4 Star. Learn how to land it real good. Use the edge as your 3rd plane and make sure you use EXPO on those flight controls. I didn't use Expo on my Heli but I find it very usful on my planes.

Here's how I have progressed. 1 year later I am enjoying my 540T Edge and tearing up the sky. My Heli skills have even gotten better. The only other thing I can say was a big help was having a Flight Sim to learn landing and take off with a Plank.

I went Trainer, to Low wing to crashing a Low wing to another low wing to a warbird, crashed war bird did more low wing and then moved to Edge. It worked for me

Why not try one of the new FunFly planes first. Most are inexpensive and will fly and land slow ( on low rates) and after a while you can increase the throws and really wring it out. Just a thought.[8D]
Bruce

Flew the Edge for the first time this evening.
3 Flights and 3 dead stick landings, good practice and I didn't need to be brave about the landings as I had no choice.
Engine still running in, need to sort the idle.

She flies great, really pleased. Looks fantastic too, puts the helis to shame in that dept.

good on you,i learnt to fly with a low wing aerobatic model,it teaches you things that a trainer can't,and quicker too!

Balls!!!

Engine cut again at low throttle, I couldn't turn to the field in time and just had to try and land it blind behind a hedge[X(]

Well I was lucky as you can see, it hit a wire in a vineyard which took the force of the crash. Only damage is to the wing locator and mounting.
So will be back in the air this weekend.

I have had two contradictory pieces of advice re the low idle problem.

My model shop recommends trying a hotter plug as it may be running too cool.

The distributor recommended more oil content in the fuel.

Anyway I shall be trying a hotter plug Enya No 3 this weekend

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/peter.l...rst-flight.jpg
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/peter.l.../edgecrash.jpg

There are a lot of things that can cause an engine to die at low throttle, but I doubt that low oil content is one of them. You never mentioned what engine you are running, but from the pics it is obviously a fairly tightly cowled two-stroke, which doesn't exactly point to cold running either. But a hotter plug is usually a good idea in the larger two-strokes, so that is a good place to start.

Check for foreign matter in the carb. You are using a fuel filter aren't you? If that is OK, adjust the idle mixture. If that doesn't do it, check for air leaks in the carb or fuel system.

Jim

Thanks JRF

It's a new ASP 108.