thetoad

My Feedback: (2)

Hi,
My dad found a aerobird challenger in the field, nobody can tell me who it might belong to , how can I tell what channel it is on.

mblue2050

My Feedback: (6)

I would suspect whomever left or crashed there was sick of it and its problems but who knows.
Your picture of the electronics board can only be seen if the pod is broken.
The pod and the tail boom must be tight and straight or its lost and of course everything else must be right.

At one time it had the chanel number sticker on its side.
Apart from that I know little about its frequency except its AM channel 1-6, 26.995-27.225. You or your dads .72mhz FM or PCM transmitter will not work.
If you have any means of tranmitting those AM frequencies you could find out.
Might write hobbyzone. I suspect that pot. with the paint mark sets the frequency but really do not know. You will have to buy a 3 channel transmitter from hobbyzone for it, so ask them while doing so.
I suggest trashing it yourself but that is only my opinion. I bought one for my daughter a while back. We tossed it. We did clean up the field after the odd crash.
Good luck
Michael

Pilot Chad

My Feedback: (4)

Talk to biker ray pa, because he just lost his. He might want that one, or give you a transmitter from his old one to see if it works.

zachj1212

Take the wing off, and it sould say were the wing rests on the pod. My aerobird just shorted out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!![:@][:@][:@][:@][:@]

thetoad

My Feedback: (2)

Thanks your are right the sticker was under the wing, The plane is in excellent condition, I took the pod apart to see if the channel number was visable in there. It was not. The sticker say's channel 5. Does anybody have one for sale?

thetoad

mblue2050

My Feedback: (6)

Try looking in the classifieds if you haven't already.
I hear folks using carbon rods inserted the length of the wing for support. I never did, our wing folded twice among the other things.

I hope you can get the TX and enjoy years of quite flight....really!

zachj1212

theotoad...........you can order them from hobby zone for $25.

http://www.hobbyzonesports.com/Produ...ProdID=HBZ3555

if i were you, i would order it new from them........it is cheap. I have been thinking.......did you find it right in the middle of the field? i don't know whysomeone would do that. It might be broken or something. Mine is shorted out, and that might be the problem, and why the guy just left it there.

I suggest that you cut the existiong white clips off, and replace them with deans. I was getting stops in the radio while i was flying. I have MANY extra chargers, and a wall charger, so if you are interested, just tell me!

hope this helps, and once you get your aerobird flying, it will be great to fly on calm days.
If you buy the radio, and then find that the reciever is broken, you can oreder a new fuse for $50.

http://www.hobbyzonesports.com/Produ...ProdID=HBZ3545

also, here is a link to the batterys-i suggest you buy them new, because they are very strange, and DO REPLACE THE CLIPS WITH DEANS! if you don't, you have a good chance of loosing a conection, and the plance flying off. Another good idea is when you get the battery, take off the blue(or green) plastic covering, and cover the sougher conection-(from wire to battery) with liquide electrical tape....you can buy that at OSH. THE AEROBIRD CANOT RUN ON LIPOS![X(]

battery link--- http://www.hobbyzonesports.com/Produ...ProdID=HBZ1012


again, hope this helps, and tell me how it goes!

zachj1212

oh yah..............here is a page with lots of things you might need........ http://www.hobbyzonesports.com/Produ...g&SubCategory=

and the home page for aerobird......... http://www.hobbyzonesports.com/Produ...ProdID=HBZ3500

aeajr

My Feedback: (2)

I have been flying my original Aerobird since March 2003. I added an Aerobird
Challenger a few months ago. Between them I have over 300 flights. I love
them both!

Today my fleet consists of 2 Aerobirds, 3 other electrics, 7 thermal
duration sailplanes, two discus launched gliders and three slope gliders.

I recently added lights to the original Aerobird for night flight. That was
weird. It was like flying a ghost. You can't see the plane, only the lights.
They now have a night module for the challenger. I have that too.

I pounded the original Aerobird 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 still flies, 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.

Fortunately the newer Challenger has had a somewhat easier life, but it still
gets banged around a bit because I will take risks with it that I would not
expose my other planes to, because I know it can take it, and if I destroy the
fuse, for $45 I get a new body, and all the electronics. So I can afford to
take chances with my challenger.

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 12-15 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...5&pagenumber=1
This thread was posted by someone did an excellent job using photos to show
how to do the motor mount modification. I encourage you to make this
modification.
http://www.rc-forums.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1173

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


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 You might have to slip
a piece of thin cardboard under the front if the front is too low, to shim it
up slightly.

Longer flights

Back off on the power. Both the 6 and 7 cell battery will last six to
seven minutes at full power. However, if you back off to half power, your
flights can last 12-15 minutes depending on how you fly. You can even
catch thermals with the Aerobird and riding them for long long flights with
the motor off. I also slope soar mine. On the slope you can stay up for over
an hour 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 Office Depot, or one of the other storea and get some glass reinforced
tape. The type that has a cross
pattern is best.
http://www.officedepot.com/ddMain.do...5001_FM_171926
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. I have a procedure for fixing wings. Post if you need it and I will
post it for you.

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, in 15 mph
winds is my standard way of landing. In calmer air, the plane pretty much
lands itself from 10 feet in the air.

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!

New Electric Flyer FAQs
http://www.ezonemag.com/pages/faq/a105.shtml

Oh, and RTFM ..... read the friendly manual!!!! :-)