Pre-flight check.
02-25-2003 | 02:05 PM
#1
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From: Finland
Pre-flight check.
*sigh*
As some of yas have prolly seen in another forum, there's yet another newbie in kit-building + flyin hobby. The plane is ready to go now, or at least i hope so.
There was plenty of information in rcu, more in airfieldmodels.com and a hint here and there, which all together made me possible to build this plane without "real life" help. Thank you all for your articles.
However there seems to be one thing that is too obvious for writers, or i just haven't found that yet (Internet is kinda large these days). Pre-flight check.
What do i need to check before i take off 1st time?
Ofcourse its my 1st real flight...
*SIGH*
I must say I've felt way braver in...lets just say it feels like 100 years ago... Really. I have 1100 Gixxer with 170hp in it and i drag my knees in road and track in +100mph speed, so it can't be just lack of... heart.
How do i know that my plane is ready to fly? Is there any other way to find out, than toss it away and use plastic bag if it wasn't?
Plane is low wing electric glider, Fournier RF-4 built from West Wings kit. Rudder, elevator and throttle controls in it. Is there something in that plane type generally or that special model I should know?
I think i managed to balance it right (I guess it was MinnFlyers article, ty again). Now it's nose heavy app 2-3grams. How can i be sure if balancing went wrong?
And...
Can i somehow compare flyin rc plane to flight sim? I mean I think that basic facts in flying are clear to me, but...
So if i ever get her up, what should i do then? Full throttle, nose up, grab and crash and burn possible in every comma-place? I was planning kinda low angle grabbing with the main idea to get seriously alt to have room when i start making mistakes. Then some passes in 10 meters (app 30 feet ) to trim the plane for level flight (if i ever manage to turn it back to me). Is that ok?
And if i didn't ask some question, please answer it anyway. Main reason for not asking is i hadn't a clue...
As some of yas have prolly seen in another forum, there's yet another newbie in kit-building + flyin hobby. The plane is ready to go now, or at least i hope so.
There was plenty of information in rcu, more in airfieldmodels.com and a hint here and there, which all together made me possible to build this plane without "real life" help. Thank you all for your articles.
However there seems to be one thing that is too obvious for writers, or i just haven't found that yet (Internet is kinda large these days). Pre-flight check.
What do i need to check before i take off 1st time?
Ofcourse its my 1st real flight...
*SIGH*
I must say I've felt way braver in...lets just say it feels like 100 years ago... Really. I have 1100 Gixxer with 170hp in it and i drag my knees in road and track in +100mph speed, so it can't be just lack of... heart.
How do i know that my plane is ready to fly? Is there any other way to find out, than toss it away and use plastic bag if it wasn't?
Plane is low wing electric glider, Fournier RF-4 built from West Wings kit. Rudder, elevator and throttle controls in it. Is there something in that plane type generally or that special model I should know?
I think i managed to balance it right (I guess it was MinnFlyers article, ty again). Now it's nose heavy app 2-3grams. How can i be sure if balancing went wrong?
And...
Can i somehow compare flyin rc plane to flight sim? I mean I think that basic facts in flying are clear to me, but...
So if i ever get her up, what should i do then? Full throttle, nose up, grab and crash and burn possible in every comma-place? I was planning kinda low angle grabbing with the main idea to get seriously alt to have room when i start making mistakes. Then some passes in 10 meters (app 30 feet ) to trim the plane for level flight (if i ever manage to turn it back to me). Is that ok?
And if i didn't ask some question, please answer it anyway. Main reason for not asking is i hadn't a clue...
02-25-2003 | 04:30 PM
#2
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From: Appleton, WI
Pre-flight check.
Here is a web link that should help you.
http://www.jplusb.com/corky/pflight.html
I know you are not in the States but the AMA has plenty of useful information as well.
http://modelaircraft.org/templates/ama/
Good luck
http://www.jplusb.com/corky/pflight.html
I know you are not in the States but the AMA has plenty of useful information as well.
http://modelaircraft.org/templates/ama/
Good luck
02-25-2003 | 05:33 PM
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From: Finland
Pre-flight check.
NOTE to self:
1: Make sure, that the Velcro strip that you supposed to glue under the battery did really make it there, so the battery doesn't fly around the fuselage when up causing extremely short but exiting and interesting flight. (That really helps you to avoid situation where you have to...)
2: Buy more glue
Someone willing to give a hint how to fix shattered fuselage former inside plane without destroying whole plane?
1: Make sure, that the Velcro strip that you supposed to glue under the battery did really make it there, so the battery doesn't fly around the fuselage when up causing extremely short but exiting and interesting flight. (That really helps you to avoid situation where you have to...)
2: Buy more glue
Someone willing to give a hint how to fix shattered fuselage former inside plane without destroying whole plane?
02-26-2003 | 03:47 PM
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From: VA
First flight
Get an instructor w/ a buddy box! Just learning myself < The chances of a 1st flight alone being successful are right in there
with learning to slide the front of your bike on your 2nd ride.
50 yrs on bike(1200 Bandit now) 2years in RC planes
Good Luck
Bill Teller@ Yahoo.com
with learning to slide the front of your bike on your 2nd ride.
50 yrs on bike(1200 Bandit now) 2years in RC planes
Good Luck
Bill Teller@ Yahoo.com
02-27-2003 | 04:00 PM
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From: Finland
Pre-flight check.
Well.
I understand all those messages, where people say that there should be a trainer with me at the time of my first flight. However it's not always as simple as that.
I live at countryside, long way from all clubs (benefit though is my own "airfield", I do have a field to do it
). I also just happened to get interested of rc-models as a kid and found this again by myself just a couple months ago. That means i don't know any trainers, not even one person who does this for hobby.
Lol. One of my friends has a brother in law who has rc heli, last flown 12 years ago, that's all..
If we add some basic things about Finnish people's nature and attitude to new comers in every club or hobby.... Well. That surely doesn't help to find out these guys. Warm wellcome means that you already have 1 - 2 friends in there and therefore they just stare you to death instead of cutting you in pieces with battleaxes.
..err..
I may have added just a little, but you get my point, don't you?
That's why I'm here, asking stupid questions and just hoping to get answers.
I warmly wellcome a Finnish trainer, if I manage to get one, but...
Now I managed to fix the plane. Next test is prolly saturday. If there's someone, who has a tip or 2 for West Wings Fournier RF-4 (or Jamara's ARF which is actually the same plane), I'd appreciate that a lot.
Actually tip to fly any 60" wingspan electric motorglider would do it.
I understand all those messages, where people say that there should be a trainer with me at the time of my first flight. However it's not always as simple as that.
I live at countryside, long way from all clubs (benefit though is my own "airfield", I do have a field to do it
). I also just happened to get interested of rc-models as a kid and found this again by myself just a couple months ago. That means i don't know any trainers, not even one person who does this for hobby.Lol. One of my friends has a brother in law who has rc heli, last flown 12 years ago, that's all..
If we add some basic things about Finnish people's nature and attitude to new comers in every club or hobby.... Well. That surely doesn't help to find out these guys. Warm wellcome means that you already have 1 - 2 friends in there and therefore they just stare you to death instead of cutting you in pieces with battleaxes.
..err..
I may have added just a little, but you get my point, don't you?
That's why I'm here, asking stupid questions and just hoping to get answers.
I warmly wellcome a Finnish trainer, if I manage to get one, but...
Now I managed to fix the plane. Next test is prolly saturday. If there's someone, who has a tip or 2 for West Wings Fournier RF-4 (or Jamara's ARF which is actually the same plane), I'd appreciate that a lot.
Actually tip to fly any 60" wingspan electric motorglider would do it.
02-27-2003 | 04:51 PM
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From: Sterling , CO
Pre-flight check.
Sound like you are ready to go!!!!!
Check controls!
Check radio!
Make sure batteries are charged.
Test run motor and adjust. THen take off prop. so it won't get broke!!!!!!! Center all controls and trim, know comes the hard part . Face the wind and gently toss it like it is a glider . Don't throw it to hard and make sure there are no obstruction. Make changes fore glide path . After getting it to glide Put prop back on go for it . With out a instructor you will have a better chance flying the bird . Test flight of 10 to15 feet will do little or no damage . The tests are with out Power .
Slow easy movement on controls when you try flying it .
Start it up and go for it. GOOD LUCK and happy flying
Check controls!
Check radio!
Make sure batteries are charged.
Test run motor and adjust. THen take off prop. so it won't get broke!!!!!!! Center all controls and trim, know comes the hard part . Face the wind and gently toss it like it is a glider . Don't throw it to hard and make sure there are no obstruction. Make changes fore glide path . After getting it to glide Put prop back on go for it . With out a instructor you will have a better chance flying the bird . Test flight of 10 to15 feet will do little or no damage . The tests are with out Power .
Slow easy movement on controls when you try flying it .
Start it up and go for it. GOOD LUCK and happy flying
