I have been flying gas planes for a month or so now. I have a 50cc edge which weighs 22 pounds! It was so hard to land at first that I almost bought a new airframe, just because I was uncomfortable with the faster landings.

I spent Friday afternoon putting 9 flights on it, (dozens of touch-and-go's), and finally became comfortable with the fast landings....which take every bit of our 470' runway to slow down for a turn and taxi.

Now I am hooked on gas....and glow....and my foamies...I need another job.

I think a second job as a test pilot for an RC airplane manufacturer would be good

I think you should go for Turbine Jets , I think its the final frontier of R/C.

Good Luck

Mody

I suffer from flyaholism, but I am a buidaphobic. Perhaps I could find a flyaphobic buildaholic to hang out with.

Just wait you guys. When you fly a gasser, you will sell your BBQ to get one. They are no harder to fly than a warbird. I bet some warbirds are even harder to fly than an aerobatic 50cc gasser. I am told that my 100cc will be even easier to fly than a trainer, because it's only 25lbs.

Turbines are not in my future. I can't afford them, I don't like that much speed and there are VERY few places which allow them in CA due to the risk of fire in a crash. (We have a consistent problem with dry brush here...almost the whole state).

I CAN'T WAIT TO FLY TOMORROW! (A foamie is like the first cigarette in the morning...I used to smoke, so I remember).

One of our club members was out at the field yesterday with his 40% Carden Edge and it just floated and floated. He says it easier to fly and land than a basic trainer. He actually over ran the edge of an 800+ turf runway just from the excessive float.

Hogflyer

agexpert ,
There is a couple of things you can do to shorten your landing roll.
First would be to move the CG farther aft.
This will allow for a slower landing approach.
Second, you can use an idle down setting on the engine.
Mine is set that it will kill the engine when cold but when hot on landing it keeps running.
Both of these changes combined makes for a really slow approach.

Geist,

I noticed that the DA 50 will idle all the way to the bottom of my throttle trim when it's warm, but not prior to takeoff. I LOVE THAT. I think part of what I consider 'getting used to' faster landings includes learning how to slow it a bit. I will see where the CG is and try backing it up a bit.

A shallow approach is the easiest to slow for me while dropping it in hot is a bit hairy. The snap tendency is exaggerated on a steep approach...at least it seems that way. The last problem I am working on is pulling too early to drop the tail after touch-down. Sometimes I have to land twice, giving just enough throttle to avoid a snap.

Thanks for the tips!!

Try to make a 3 point approach instead of landing on the mains. It helps to get teh tail on the ground then you can give full up elevator and bury the tail wheel in the ground. I did this before I improved my landings. You can also learn to keep your wings level and use the rudder to adjust heading and approach.

I'm with Geist on this. Try shifting weight back or adding tail weight if you can't shift anything. Coming in hot is very often a case of being nose heavy.

There's plenty of stuff to shift...like 3 batteries and regs. I am not going to 3D this plane, it's just too heavy. I wish it were lighter, because it was such a bargain, it's like I got the airframe and servos for free...which means I can buy a replacement airframe and still be ahead. (Practicing 3D is hard on airframes...and wallets too).

It could stand a shift back, as I need a bit much down elevator when inverted to keep it level. (I tried to force the last sentence to make sense , but quickly gave-up...as you can see).

I am quickly becoming addicted to gas. No glow starters, no oily mess, 3 dollar fuel, better flying planes, excellent sounding engines and LOTS of power.

I will continue to fly it as much as I can and get busy on my 100cc Extra 330 too.

I CAN STOP ANYTIME I WANT!!