Howdy all

my post "On cloud #9" refers to all the excitement I have been having since last Sat. flying my new plane, and how it took me 30 years to get one to fly.

Well today I was flying/teaching myself, the morning was calm with building winds as the morning went along. I had 5 complete flights, the only time I touched the ground was to land so I could recharge. I took off for the 6th time ( proud of myself for learning to control the plane in the increasing breeze) then something happened.

I have read a lot of forum posts about the do's and don't's of beginners and what the should/look out for/should not do/etc. but what happened I never thought of nor has anyone mentioned it, now back to the story.

I was flying along fine, I thought I may be getting a little too high because the plane started to bounce around a little more than I wanted it to. I killed the motor, IT STILL KEPT GOING UP, I put it in to a tight turn ( thinking it would start to drop), IT STILL KEPT GOING UP. Because the plane under power pulls to the left, I trimed the tail so it would not turn, but with power off it would gently circle to the right.

I watched this thing for an hour going around and around and around all the time IT STILL KEPT GOING UP. I watched a hawk check it out ( I even turned it tords the hawk in hopes the hawk would damage it and come down, but no such luck), I lost sight of it 1 hour and 45 min from the beginning of the flight ( I was supprised the remote strill worked at that distance I was able to keep the plane over head), this thing won't come down untill the sun goes down.

This plane was cheap $45.00 complete ( 2 ch, 2 motors, no moving parts) I liked it ( I logged over 2.75 hours of in air time)and was having a blast, the MFG. said you could get up to 25 min if you allowed it to glide, WELL I think they under estamated a little Hee Hee Hee.

Well I guess I'll be buying my next plane a little sooner than I planed and YES it will have elevator control.

Brent


My loss, your laugh

Welcome to thermal flying 101. Thermals are desirable in sailplane flying, but they can be hazardous, as you've found out.

Live and learn, but you probably exacerbated the situation by keeping the plane in a tight circle. It probably stayed smack dab in the middle of the thermal. Flying straight might've allowed the plane to come out of the thermal.

Anyway, it's GREAT to hear that you're having a blast, and that these little setbacks aren't discouraging you Don't you wonder where these planes were when you were a kid? Heck, even 7 years ago?

I suppose it must be disapointing going to the park with a plane, and going back home without one, not even a wreckage. Elevator sounds like a good idea to me, if you could fly that one ok you should be able to fly one with elevator, and it will keep you nice and safe from thermals.

Having heard of this type of thing happining, I have put an address sticker with a phone number taped to the underside so if it flies away, maybe someone who finds it will return it.
Rick

You lost your plane, and I am jealous.... weird.

Jealous????

But then again, I didn't bring it home in a bag Hee Hee Hee, now flying a Slow Stick and a AB, I like the AB, the jury is still out on the Slow Stick ( I can now fly the AB in winds up to 10 MPH the Slow Stick needs dead calm. I live in New England and those days are rare ), I have smashed the AB into the ground at full speed, picked it up, dusted it off and tossed into the wind to finish the charge. The slow stick keeps breaking the prop, when landing it always wants to tip forward and every time it does, it breaks the prop ( getting good with super glew and epoxy). The slow stick does fly well with PLENTY of lift, I got my spy cam over the weekend , waiting for a calm day ( this will take a while) to video the area.

Thanks for the response