...here's a video of the Knife - i've only had my digital camcorder about 5 weeks and used a web site development program for the first time last Sunday...so the site's pretty basic...

...and the video quality is not great - i'm using Arcsoft ShowBiz to compress the video and you seem to lose quite a bit of resolution in the process - we need to improve on our filming techniques, too - especially on when to use the zoom - also, some of it was taken quite a while after sundown using the Nightshot feature which is cool...but seems to degrade the quality...here's the link...

http://rcfunflyers.com

Nice vid, reminds me of when I was learning to hover. I've never heard or seen a profile hover with a 4 stroker sounds cool.

GBond, I think the video quality is actually great compared to most of the video Ive seen on the web. Are you filming this with a digital camcorder? Im wondering since I dont have a digital camcorder if I could use the movie mode on my new digital cam?Is anybody out there using this feature of a digi cam?

...it's a Sony Mini Digital camcorder - Mdl TRV27 - it comes with the Zeiss zoom lens which seems to work pretty good...

Well it puts out great video. Im gonna have to try some video with my digicam just to see how it looks.

I see what you guys are doing. I have been trying to TR my Knife all along, really hard to keep it vertical. I'm thinking, "Man, am I ever going to be able to do this?". I'll just try to hover for now and leave TR for later.

Thanks All.

Tom...

...tknobby - it think you're on the right track - i felt like i wasted a lot of hours starting out doing downwind hovers - i kept it almost perfectly vertical & the Knife would almost immediately go into a 1/2 torque roll, belly facing me - tough for a beginner and i never felt comfortable below 8-15 ft...i was able to occasionally pull off a complete torque roll at this altitude - but even a slight breeze blows your plane away making it hard to see in a hurry!...

...last month, i got some much-needed advice from the experts on RC Universe (WGeffon for one) - he suggested - 1. a four stroke makes hovering easier 2. starting out, keep your plane at a little less than vertical so it doesn't torque roll 3. hover into the wind

...seemed to work for me - i was able to bring it on down for some pretty low harriers/hovers - a couple of tail touches - it's a lot more fun & easier to see when you can bring it down lower - i've had it out 3-4 times now since i've been doing the lower level harriers/hovers...still no torque rolls on the deck - that's a whole 'nother level of difficulty, IMO...

Well said, GBond

GBond,

Last couple of times I went flying I spent the whole time trying to TR. In a 15 mph wind! Plus, I haven't been able to bring myself to fly em low. We're talking 40+ feet up. I really don't like smacking them into terra firma. Needless to say, this type of flying is very difficult.

I am building a new fun fly airplane that will be powered by a Saito 72, should weigh in at 4 1/4 lbs.

But first I need to take the next step and get it down. I have a Knife like yours on the vid with an MVVS 49. More than enough power to hover. I just need to practice flying low and hovering and stop worrying about the TR.

I much enjoy RC Universe, have read a lot of posts that have helped. It's the first site I go to when I turn on my computer.

Tom...

GBond,

Where do you have your CG set on your Knife? I've moved mine back to the point that when the airplane is inverted she climbs at a good rate! Really she climbs both inverted and upright. Worse when inverted.

Thanks,

Tom...

...i've moved the CG around quite a bit but finally settled? on about 5" back i guess...