Well, I've finally put one gallon through my raptor 50. I've been getting 25 minutes of hovering per tank (that's emptying my 2 once header). I have been hovering it around 3 feet but on the last two tanks I've been hovering it at about 10-12 feet. The air is smoother up there and it seems like I have a lot more time to fix problems. Am I being too brave? Should I just keep it in gropund effect or am I right in keeping it in smooth air?

Every so often (once every 15-20 seconds) my engine misses a stroke and the tail swings, am I too rich? It's nothing that'll mnake the enigne quit, it's just that it's annoying. Should I start leaning it out more or should I just keep it rich. I know how to break in engines just not when they are on a heli.

If you're comfortable go for it. Yes you're a tad rich. You can go ahead and lean it out, if you have a temp gun go to 200-220°F if not place some spit on your finger and touch the head if it sizzles your lean, bubbles just right, sits there to rich. Sounds like you're having fun, that the whole reason for the hobby.....

Tail kick: If the tail kicks on a Raptor there are two or three possible causes: 1) rich 2) Belt loose 3) Pin in tail coming loose. The new raptors have a set screw to hold the pin in at the tail pulley. You might want to check this. I ended up losing a raptor when the pin came out. I was too lazy to take it apart and check it. There are a few other causes.

Belt's tight, set screw and pin's good, engine's rich... Fingers are cold, too! Flew in a lot of wind just few mins ago. Gusty, too! Winds from the south at 20. I kept that chopper in the air and corrected all the gusts!! ...till the end when my finger were too cold to correct it and...BOOM!



I'm using some fuel with less oil content so I kept it rich, when I get home I'll buy some better heli fuel and use this other fuel for my planes. Hehe, by the way just kidding about the boom, I landed it safely and took it in till my figers warm back up. Glad I had the hola-hoop on! I landed it a little rough but nothing neer a boom strike or a tip over with the T/G on.


Helis are a lot easier to fly in the wind! I fly my planes in this type of wind and allways have to be a step ahead of them! I have to be a step ahead of the heli, too. But instead of a wing tip dropping the heli only drops or climbs... Not much attitude change unless I'm close to the ground.


I'm starting to enjoy wind flying! Keeps you on your toes and makes things more interesting.... anything 25+ and I stay inside, though! I tried a 35 MPH wind once and almost lost my plane, That was the closest I've ever come to a total loss crash.


LONG LIVE VOLT WATCH!!