RE: Delro E-Motion kit
 

Well, finally finished it! Overcast 50deg day with no wind is as good as it gets for test flights.
Got in 6 short, easy flights to break in the batteries.
Plane is all I hoped and expected! Super slow, smooth, and graceful with nice tracking.
I had started with the CG 185mm back from the LE (at root). This felt a little nose heavy, so I moved it back to 195mm, which was all the adjustment range I have at this time - will try further back later.
Snaps were funky - seemed to start rotating "mushily", then winds up and is hard to stop precisely. Will have to work more with the CG, control throws, and stick movements to get it figured out.
Rudder throw was also puzzling. The throw suggested in the manual seemed too little to do consistent stall turns or the 1/2 rolling loop in the 1st P11 figure. A larger throw seemed to kick the plane sideways too much in a snap entry.
Spin entry was OK - got a reasonable break, but it wants to drop a wing early (not sure I've got the lateral balance right yet).
Up and down lines were very straight for an untrimmed plane! May need just a touch of side thrust and a touch of wing incidence change. (I started at + 3/4 deg).
Knife edge pushed a tad, and had some opposite roll, but I need to figure the CG and incidence first before passing judgement or adding mixes.

All in all, a good day.
I want to thank Chris Moon for his patient, late night replies to my emails: great customer service!

RE: Delro E-Motion kit
 

Are you going to paint the canopy? It looks funny in the natural carbon..
Would look better if the purple was continued from the nose.

Cheers
Jason.

RE: Delro E-Motion kit
 

You need dual rates on a switch for higher rudder throw for the stall turn. Or have it as stick activated at the end of your rudder stick.

For snaps, more aileron throw for sure, probably less rudder, and maybe more ele. You also need a snap rate setting for this also. Or a snap switch. Snap with a little speed also. Not too fast, but some speed.

Keep your cg around the recommended, maybe a hair behind it or in front (depending on how you like it, I ended up a little behind) but very close to it. .5 to .6 degree positive on the wing.

Spin entry, keep up a little throttle until your ready to spin. Work the throttle and ele together to get your desired controllable stall. I didn't have any problem with the stall by doing this.

Hope this helps!

Enjoy!

Chris

RE: Delro E-Motion kit
 

Naw! Saving weight! The white is straight from the factory. Only did the purple to cover the seams.

RE: Delro E-Motion kit
 

Thanks for the advice Chris.
I can barely work 4 controls together - no brain cells left to run switches!

RE: Delro E-Motion kit
 

If you need help in setting up the switches, we can help you. Don't let it overwelm you. It's not a big deal really. What radio are you running, we can guide you through it easily. There's a lot of help out here for those who want it.

You will not be able to get a stall turn rudder, and a snap rudder on the same setting. They are totally different. It's actually easy for the stall turn to set up a full rudder stick activated full rudder. Then all you have to do is hit full ruddeer and the stick activated switch makes it so you don't have to hit a switch to go to dual rate for the stall. Not how I do it, but I know many do it this way. Then all you would have to do is setup a snap condition, and flip to it for your snaps.

Let us help you. That's why some of us come to the forums.

Chris

RE: Delro E-Motion kit
 

My problem with switches is not in setting up the radio, it's with doing the flipping while trying to fly a sequence. I'm a thumb flier and wrap the rest of my fingers around the Tx. To hunt around for a switch breaks my concentration and disturbs my thumbs.
But..... what you're telling me is I better learn. I guess, like everything in this hobby, practice is the key.

Thanks,
Dan

RE: Delro E-Motion kit
 

I was going to wait until Chris sent a picture with the completed plane, but I couldn't resist a sneak preview :D Rumor has it the final product is a day away. Who's the luckiest Intermediate pilot in D1 . . . looks like Chris and Larry make one heck of a mean building team!

RE: Delro E-Motion kit
 

Wow!!!!!!

RE: Delro E-Motion kit
 

Very nice!
JLK

RE: Delro E-Motion kit
 

Plane was picked up today from the Monokote Master. Radio installation going in now. Took a short break for pics for the owner. (2Sunny)

RE: Delro E-Motion kit
 

More....

RE: Delro E-Motion kit
 

Where's Lotto?
Chris that's a good example of how a paint scheme can make or break the looks of a plane. That brings out the best of that plane. Beautiful!!! Nice graphics too. Watch out for the halographic flash backs. M²

RE: Delro E-Motion kit
 

After flying my E-motion for a season I completely agree with the input that Patternflyer1 provided. If you have the right setting the plane does a very nice snap and stops when you release. It does need some speed. Entries into spins-be prepared to wait if there is any wind it will continue to fly. I found you need alot of elevator to stall the airplane. I'm flying with a CG of approximately 190 back. I ended up using conditions instead of rates which really worked out very well. I'm using a 12x which allows me to set all the conditions I need. One switch and your ready for snaps, spins or normal flight.

Larry

RE: Delro E-Motion kit
 

G'day Larry,

What sort or throws are you using on your elevators for spins?

Cheers
Jason.

RE: Delro E-Motion kit
 

I'm using 18 to 20 mm. ( It may need more depending on CG) You need to slow the plane down as soon as possible, gently come up to entry point adding elevator as you go. Once at entry point add remaining. The plane will drop in.

Larry

RE: Delro E-Motion kit
 

Houston we have lift off!!!


Way awesome day! Drove down to DC so Chris and I could maiden my new Delro, and all I can say is "WOW". First couple of flights Chris did some basic trim work and then turned over the controls to me. She flew like a champ. The best part were the rolls which were as axial as could be (so long as I didn't add my normal pilot induced yaw :eek:) But . . . the most amazing part of all . . .


10 lbs 1.5 ozs!!!! RTF!!!! (4580g)

Yep, you read that right 10 lbs 1.5 ozs. Of course the battery was a TP Pro Lite V2 4350 10s pack which weighs in at a meager 1040g (2 lbs 4 ozs), but even with my heaviest Rhino packs the plane was a mere 10 lbs 12 ozs. Chris will have to chime in on what servos he installed because I forgot to ask, but the basics of the setup are:

CF spinner
Rasa 20x13 prop
Plettenberg EVO 25-12
Schulze 55 esc


Which brings me to the issue of the motor . . .

Without a doubt the the 25-12 is a great fit for this plane. It had plenty of power for the Intermediate Sequence and pulled 15 to 20% less mAh out of the battery. What we didn't have time to do was try the 30-10 on the same prop for a more honest comparison, but so far I am impressed with power usage of such a light plane. We have some data for the first several flights, but Chris hasn't emailed them to me yet. As soon as I have them I'll put the data up. Basically on my 30-10 powered Integral I normally pull 3500 +- 200 mAh during a 9 minute flight this time I pulled a mere 2700 mAhs out, and normally where I peak in the 70's on amps, I peaked in the 50's on this plane and setup. Like I said though I don't know how much is motor change and how much is prop change. What I do know is that for a plane where weight is an issue the 25-12 can "Get 'er done" and save weight at the same time.


And here's a few shots from the day ;)

JP

RE: Delro E-Motion kit
 

This is for the "I don't believe you" flags going up over the weight claimed by Joe.

RE: Delro E-Motion kit
 

Okay, so how do we know you didn't take the picture with the plane on a scale, move up close, take a wing off, and take another picture? ;)

Seriously though... how was the the power Chris? Enough for up to Advanced? Masters and FAI?

Plane looks really good, I agree with Mike when he said the paint job makes the plane... wow!

Tom M

RE: Delro E-Motion kit
 

Tom,

I would not expect that setup with the 20-13 prop to be a Masters / FAI setup in windy conditions. I did the 1/2 clover in Masters to see and it was more than plenty and it could have been as tall as I wanted to make it, but today was 0-5 mph. Not to say it won't work in the higher classes in the wind, but I would have to fly smaller than I like to make it work really well. Intermediate and Advanced it will work for sure in all conditions. Just like the smaller 5325/24 Axi, the power is there but not as big a reserve ready to go if conditions require it. At no point today did I think I needed more power but I was at 100% throttle more than I would have been with the 30-10 Evo.

RE: Delro E-Motion kit
 

Joe forgot to post these pics:

RE: Delro E-Motion kit
 

I didn't figure it would have Masters/FAI type power, but at 10 lbs I was curious as to just how much you did have.

Tom M

RE: Delro E-Motion kit
 

Joe,
What a beautiful plane.
Congratulations!
[sm=thumbup.gif]
JLK

RE: Delro E-Motion kit
 

Thanks dude! I have to agree. Like I said: "Who's the luckiest kid around to have a buddy like Chris!:D"





Also as promised here are some graphs for the geeky types. First is my running two rounds of the Intermediate Sequence on a TP PL V2 5300. The second two are Chris running through the harder elements of the Masters stuff.

RE: Delro E-Motion kit
 

Cough-RPM-Cough