firebird freedom
11-25-2006 | 12:34 PM
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From: Kingston, ON, CANADA
firebird freedom
I have a firebird freedom. I havn't flown it yet, but i have read lots of bad reviews on it. Anyone have any tips on flying this thing?
11-25-2006 | 01:06 PM
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From: Lawrenceburg,
IN
RE: firebird freedom
Not sure on the bad reviews, but the best advice (IMO) is to find an experienced instructor if you really want to be successful. First time with anything is difficult at best.
Hope this helps -
Bob
Hope this helps -
Bob
11-27-2006 | 06:08 PM
#3
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RE: firebird freedom
There have been a number of reports of the plane launching badly and tending to roll to the left on take-off.
I read a report by an experienced flyer who found this to be true. However he tried launching at 1/2 throttle and the plane climbed out nicely with no tendency to roll.
TEST FLIGHT PROCEDURES FOR PARKFLYERS
by Ed Anderson
aeajr on the forums
PURPOSE - Here are some quick tips and a "check sheet" for preparing your
parkflyer for flight. If you have an instructor or coach, follow their
recommendations. This list is primarily for someone learning on their own
who
would like some tips, guides and check lists to help them with their early
test flights. Skip a step and you open yourself to problems.
BALANCE THE PLANE - Read the manual to see if you need to balance the plane.
Some RTF planes come prebalanced. The T-Hawk, the HobbyZone and ParkZone
planes, for
example. Be sure to balance the plane to the suggested CG point. If you
don't
know how to balance a plane, this is the time to ask. Don't try to fly it
until you do.
An improperly balanced plane is not likely to fly well and is very likely to
crash! Even some Ready to Fly planes have to be balanced, so check the
manual
for the manufacturers suggestions. In general it is better to be a "little"
nose heavy rather than tail heavy. A nose heavy plane is more stable so you
have a better chance of a smooth first flight session.
WIND - Read the recommendations in the manual. Some planes must only be
flown
in dead calm or indoors.
For new pilots, dead calm to 3 MPH is perfect. Otherwise you will not be
flying the plane, you will be fighting the wind.
AT THE FIELD
1) Make sure no one is on your channel BEFORE you turn on your radio. If
there
is another flyer anywhere in sight, go and talk to them BEFORE you turn on
your radio. If you are on 27 MHz you must also be aware of anyone with an
RC
car or an RC boat.
If someone is flying on your channel and you turn on your radio, they will
crash! Check first! At our field if you cause someone to crash, you have to
buy them a new plane. That can cost thousands. Check first!
2) Do a range check before the first launch of the day - If you don't know
how
to do a range check, read the manual or ASK! Otherwise you could lose your
plane.
3) Make sure that battery is fully charged just before the launch. Not 3
days
ago. Not last week. Last night or today!
4) Make sure all your surfaces are properly aligned and move properly before
you launch. Check the instructions.
Make sure right rudder goes right and up elevator goes up, etc. If you are
not sure, read the instructions. Also make sure your wing is straight!
5) CHECK THE TRIMS! Check the trim slides on the side and below the
stick(s).
They should be in the center. Be sure you have not bumped one out of
position.
A bumped trim can cause the plane to crash. (guess how I know). I do this a
lot throughout the day, so check just before EVERY launch.
6) Always launch and land into the wind - ALWAYS!
7) For hand launches - good firm LEVEL throw - NOT UP! Never throw the plane
upward as it will most likely stall, go nose down and crash. After a few
launches you will know how THIS plane flies.
TEST FLIGHTS
The following is a suggested test flight process for flyers learning on
their
own, primarily in an open field area. If you are at a highly disciplined
runway based site, they may not allow you to follow this procedure. In this
case, you probably have an instructor, follow their guidance. If you are
alone
in a field, follow this process.
ALWAYS LAUNCH INTO THE WIND - ALWAYS!
LAUNCH - FLY STRAIGHT - LAND - Don't go for a real flight, this is a test to
see if it goes straight and level. I like to fly straight out and then land
for the fist few tries. I send it out 100-300 feet. This way I get a feel of
how the plane will launch and how it will land.
For ROG launch - Follow the launch procedure in the manual but don't go for
height, go straight out. If you have a hard runway and plane to
rise-off-the-ground - ROG, follow the manual's recommendations.
Hand Launch - Typically you will go to full power, then throw the plane
straight out in a strong but smooth motion. NOT UP- let it get out about
100
feet just keeping it straight. Best if one person throws it and one handle
the controls for the first few. Then both hands are on the radio and you
can see if the wings were kept straight.
Let it climb on its own, or give it a TINY amount of up. Don't pull back
hard on the elevator or it is likely to stall and crash. At about 25 feet
altitude, or about 1/2 tree height, cut the power to 1/4 such that it will
start to come down on its own. Don't force it down with the elevator.
Try to land it still going straight. All you want to do is keep it straight
and level as it starts to climb then as it lands. Cut the power just before
it touches down. Some planes fly at such slow speeds you may have to
completely cut the power to get it to land.
Did it climb out straight? If not, did you throw it level or were the wings
tipped? If the wings are tilted on the throw, the plane will turn toward
the low wing.
Does it glide in nicely for the landing? Do you need power on as you land
or
can it glide in? If you do this several times you will know.
Launching and landing are the two most important things you have to do, so
make sure you know how the plane behaves before you attempt anything more.
You will do some walking but that is better than gathering up pieces or
watching your plane fly off into the distance.
On these test flights, try to use the controls as little as possible. If it
is
balanced correctly, and your surfaces are trimmed it should fly straight and
true. If you have to work the sticks a little to keep it straight, that's
OK,
but if you are working hard to keep it going straight and level, you may
have
some trim adjustments to do, or your plane is not well balanced or you are
trying to over control it, which is common among inexperienced flyers.
Make those adjustments now. If it flies with the nose sticking up, you are
too tail heavy or you are giving it too much up elevator. If the wind is
blowing it around a lot, put it away for a calmer day.
The first time I bring a plane to the field I might do 1-5 test flights as
straight out launches and landings. After each I adjust and do it again.
Only when I am happy that the plane goes straight and flat will I take to
the
skies. I may add or remove some balance weight if the plane needs balance
improvement.
I like to adjust my planes at the surfaces so that my normal flight trim
settings on my radio are normally neutral trims. This way I don't have to
worry about setting trims before I fly. It takes time, but it saves problems
later.
Many kits tell you to set your control throws for lower amounts for early
flights. Follow this recommendation. Too much surface movement on an
unfamiliar plane can cause you to over control it. You can always "crank it
up" later.
Once I have done all these things, which might take 10 minutes or it may
take an hour or two, then and only then would I go for altitude and go
around the field.
After these few test flights I also get a feel for how much stick movement
will give me how much plane movement.
I get to know the plane is right before I send it up. Finding I have a
problem
when I am 200 feet up and climbing and can't control a turn is not a good
thing because now I have to get it down and land it.
I hope this is helpful. Clear Skies and Safe Flying!
Here are some other tips you might find helpful:
Six Keys to Success
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...08#post3551513
New Electric Flyer FAQs
http://www.ezonemag.com/pages/faq/a105.shtml
I read a report by an experienced flyer who found this to be true. However he tried launching at 1/2 throttle and the plane climbed out nicely with no tendency to roll.
TEST FLIGHT PROCEDURES FOR PARKFLYERS
by Ed Anderson
aeajr on the forums
PURPOSE - Here are some quick tips and a "check sheet" for preparing your
parkflyer for flight. If you have an instructor or coach, follow their
recommendations. This list is primarily for someone learning on their own
who
would like some tips, guides and check lists to help them with their early
test flights. Skip a step and you open yourself to problems.
BALANCE THE PLANE - Read the manual to see if you need to balance the plane.
Some RTF planes come prebalanced. The T-Hawk, the HobbyZone and ParkZone
planes, for
example. Be sure to balance the plane to the suggested CG point. If you
don't
know how to balance a plane, this is the time to ask. Don't try to fly it
until you do.
An improperly balanced plane is not likely to fly well and is very likely to
crash! Even some Ready to Fly planes have to be balanced, so check the
manual
for the manufacturers suggestions. In general it is better to be a "little"
nose heavy rather than tail heavy. A nose heavy plane is more stable so you
have a better chance of a smooth first flight session.
WIND - Read the recommendations in the manual. Some planes must only be
flown
in dead calm or indoors.
For new pilots, dead calm to 3 MPH is perfect. Otherwise you will not be
flying the plane, you will be fighting the wind.
AT THE FIELD
1) Make sure no one is on your channel BEFORE you turn on your radio. If
there
is another flyer anywhere in sight, go and talk to them BEFORE you turn on
your radio. If you are on 27 MHz you must also be aware of anyone with an
RC
car or an RC boat.
If someone is flying on your channel and you turn on your radio, they will
crash! Check first! At our field if you cause someone to crash, you have to
buy them a new plane. That can cost thousands. Check first!
2) Do a range check before the first launch of the day - If you don't know
how
to do a range check, read the manual or ASK! Otherwise you could lose your
plane.
3) Make sure that battery is fully charged just before the launch. Not 3
days
ago. Not last week. Last night or today!
4) Make sure all your surfaces are properly aligned and move properly before
you launch. Check the instructions.
Make sure right rudder goes right and up elevator goes up, etc. If you are
not sure, read the instructions. Also make sure your wing is straight!
5) CHECK THE TRIMS! Check the trim slides on the side and below the
stick(s).
They should be in the center. Be sure you have not bumped one out of
position.
A bumped trim can cause the plane to crash. (guess how I know). I do this a
lot throughout the day, so check just before EVERY launch.
6) Always launch and land into the wind - ALWAYS!
7) For hand launches - good firm LEVEL throw - NOT UP! Never throw the plane
upward as it will most likely stall, go nose down and crash. After a few
launches you will know how THIS plane flies.
TEST FLIGHTS
The following is a suggested test flight process for flyers learning on
their
own, primarily in an open field area. If you are at a highly disciplined
runway based site, they may not allow you to follow this procedure. In this
case, you probably have an instructor, follow their guidance. If you are
alone
in a field, follow this process.
ALWAYS LAUNCH INTO THE WIND - ALWAYS!
LAUNCH - FLY STRAIGHT - LAND - Don't go for a real flight, this is a test to
see if it goes straight and level. I like to fly straight out and then land
for the fist few tries. I send it out 100-300 feet. This way I get a feel of
how the plane will launch and how it will land.
For ROG launch - Follow the launch procedure in the manual but don't go for
height, go straight out. If you have a hard runway and plane to
rise-off-the-ground - ROG, follow the manual's recommendations.
Hand Launch - Typically you will go to full power, then throw the plane
straight out in a strong but smooth motion. NOT UP- let it get out about
100
feet just keeping it straight. Best if one person throws it and one handle
the controls for the first few. Then both hands are on the radio and you
can see if the wings were kept straight.
Let it climb on its own, or give it a TINY amount of up. Don't pull back
hard on the elevator or it is likely to stall and crash. At about 25 feet
altitude, or about 1/2 tree height, cut the power to 1/4 such that it will
start to come down on its own. Don't force it down with the elevator.
Try to land it still going straight. All you want to do is keep it straight
and level as it starts to climb then as it lands. Cut the power just before
it touches down. Some planes fly at such slow speeds you may have to
completely cut the power to get it to land.
Did it climb out straight? If not, did you throw it level or were the wings
tipped? If the wings are tilted on the throw, the plane will turn toward
the low wing.
Does it glide in nicely for the landing? Do you need power on as you land
or
can it glide in? If you do this several times you will know.
Launching and landing are the two most important things you have to do, so
make sure you know how the plane behaves before you attempt anything more.
You will do some walking but that is better than gathering up pieces or
watching your plane fly off into the distance.
On these test flights, try to use the controls as little as possible. If it
is
balanced correctly, and your surfaces are trimmed it should fly straight and
true. If you have to work the sticks a little to keep it straight, that's
OK,
but if you are working hard to keep it going straight and level, you may
have
some trim adjustments to do, or your plane is not well balanced or you are
trying to over control it, which is common among inexperienced flyers.
Make those adjustments now. If it flies with the nose sticking up, you are
too tail heavy or you are giving it too much up elevator. If the wind is
blowing it around a lot, put it away for a calmer day.
The first time I bring a plane to the field I might do 1-5 test flights as
straight out launches and landings. After each I adjust and do it again.
Only when I am happy that the plane goes straight and flat will I take to
the
skies. I may add or remove some balance weight if the plane needs balance
improvement.
I like to adjust my planes at the surfaces so that my normal flight trim
settings on my radio are normally neutral trims. This way I don't have to
worry about setting trims before I fly. It takes time, but it saves problems
later.
Many kits tell you to set your control throws for lower amounts for early
flights. Follow this recommendation. Too much surface movement on an
unfamiliar plane can cause you to over control it. You can always "crank it
up" later.
Once I have done all these things, which might take 10 minutes or it may
take an hour or two, then and only then would I go for altitude and go
around the field.
After these few test flights I also get a feel for how much stick movement
will give me how much plane movement.
I get to know the plane is right before I send it up. Finding I have a
problem
when I am 200 feet up and climbing and can't control a turn is not a good
thing because now I have to get it down and land it.
I hope this is helpful. Clear Skies and Safe Flying!
Here are some other tips you might find helpful:
Six Keys to Success
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...08#post3551513
New Electric Flyer FAQs
http://www.ezonemag.com/pages/faq/a105.shtml
11-28-2006 | 03:42 AM
#4
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 106
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From: Concord,
NC
RE: firebird freedom
The freedom is pretty docile. The ACT switch also sets your throw rates from low to high. Make sure that you launch it level, and it will still want to pull to the left on take-off. Because we fly off grass, I didn't bother putting landing gear on.
I would recommend would be to get an experience pilot to fly the maiden.
I would recommend would be to get an experience pilot to fly the maiden.
