Synthetic

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I bought a Diamond Dust a couple of years ago and have never flown it. I am about to though and I am wondering the correct way to hand launch this thing...both with help and without any help. Thanks.....

Mike Connor

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I had my helper hold both wing tips with the nose pointed about 40-45* up and just let go. I have 2 short video clips of a dust launch on my site. When the wind is low I have seen some hold the plane between the elevons with the left hand and the radio in the right.

McFlyboy

somone in another thread mentioned holding 1 tip, resting the other on the ground and then using power and a slight launching action to lift the tip. havent seen it myself but something to look for.

RC-Captain

get wheels if you can

Synthetic

My Feedback: (18)

Thanks guys.. I will also check the videos out Mike.

Rudeboy

This works... put it down on the ground with one tip (the right one, because it torques to the left), add power, and chuck it slightly upwards.

On my Dust I reinforced the aft center sheeting between the two lite ply main ribs (between the fins) with a couple of false ribs... and I shortened the elevons so they didn't reach inboard of the vertical fins. This allowed me to hold the plane at the trailing edge of the wing without the elevons interfering, and without crushing the sheeting.
Full throttle, and a slight push straight up was all that was needed on my .32 powered Dust for a good lauch... until I got stuck with my landing gear switch in my pullover.... but that's another story... (crunch)

combatpigg

My Feedback: (3)

I hand launch mine with the left hand gripping the trailing edge between the elevons too, but if a strong enough head wind came up, the prop could get blown back in my face. A helper or a" stooge" type plane holder is the best way to go.

cobratraxxas69

My Feedback: (31)

Or you could build a dolly for it and have launches like this!!


http://www.resume-connection.com/Dus...ngTakeOff2.mpg


The torque of the engine causes this....but it usually isn't this interesting!!

Here are some more normal launches:

http://www.resume-connection.com/TakeOff1.mpg

and

http://www.resume-connection.com/TakeOff3.mpg



Here's a collection of my best runs that day...


http://www.resume-connection.com/DiamondDustMontage.mpg

-Mike

Synthetic

My Feedback: (18)

Thanks, I will check them out!

Joe Ortiz

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I don't want to highjack this thread, but since we are to subject of hand launching, how do you hand launch a .25 powered Shrike 10?
Joe

Synthetic

My Feedback: (18)

No problem Joe! You never know....I might have one of those someday too!!

Kaos1

Though I never tried it, I often thought about it, has anyone tried to launch pointing nearly straight up with left aileron? With this method the dust might attain such a speed and rotation that it would be "stable" in a second. Then just straighten out the wings and establish level flight.

I was never brave enough...

cobratraxxas69

My Feedback: (31)

The first 2 videos show the take-off dolly I use for my Shrike:

http://www.resume-connection.com/ShrikeTakeOff1.mpg (6MB)

http://www.resume-connection.com/ShrikeTakeOff2.mpg (7MB)

http://www.resume-connection.com/ShrikeFlyBy2Good.mpg (4MB)

http://www.resume-connection.com/ShrikeFlyByBest.mpg (7MB)

http://www.resume-connection.com/ShrikeFlyByBest2.mpg (2MB)

http://www.resume-connection.com/ShrikeMontage.mpg (40 MB)

Evil Homer

Shrike is easy to hand launch.
Make sure you have TX to support the TX ; start engine and hold the Shrike under the wing in your left hand, TX held around your neck (getting up with Shrike running and TX aerial waving all over the place can be fun), with your right hand give it full throttle while you still hang on to the Shrike, gentle toss with nose angled up at 45 will get it going no probs, right hand is already on the controls (mode 2 that is) so you can counter any nasties.
One thing watch the prop size, i ran a 9x6 on a 32 on my Shrike 10, troque roll on take was nasty, lot better on 8x7.

otherwise build wheels....

Hotrodkid

buld a triangular cart with the wheels at the points and give the leading edges of the cart some 2" fingers so that they hit the wings leading edge

another option would be to have 2 strings on the top surface that form a handle like a duffel bag has ..... start it on the stand, give it gas and use the handle to toss it

Rudeboy

I was thinking about building a "launch pad" of some sort for my next Dust... probably out of PVC drain pipe lined with hot water conduit isolation. The plane would be positioned nearly or completely vertical for launch.

Just put the pad where it isn't in the way for landing, start the engine, put the Dust on the pad, add power and off she goes...

KBG2104

cobratraxxas69, the videos look cool!!!

cobratraxxas69

My Feedback: (31)

Here's a sketch of the dolly I used for the Shrike and Diamond Dust videos up above.

(For the Diamond Dust, I put a plywood insert on the dolly. I use 3 pieces of plywood nailed together that fit in the groove to raise the dolly base for the Dust--I use a nail at the CG (on the plywood) and a staple nail at the rear of the plywood to keep the plane on the dolly until takeoff).

This sketch is for the Shrike configuration:
(It must be fully expanded in a large window to see all the fine detail)

-Mike

cobratraxxas69

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Hey Rudeboy,

How about these for launch pads?

-Mike