Hello,

Maiden flight of my Lightning on Saturday.
Everything ok and a smooth flight !! Delighful !! :-)

You can see I had to pull up the elevator a lot to take off, so the plane has jumped in the air...Not very good for me.
I didn't use any flaps for take off for this maiden flight...Maybe 15° of flaps deflection will be the answer to this behaviour.







jean Fi

Hi guys,

We maidened our Lightning yesterday and it was great. It flew really nicely with only pitch trim required (up - not too much, but enough!) - no other adjustments, which was impressive as regards the build quality of the kit.

We decided to keep the gear down throughout the first flight in case it caused a jam. A bad decision in retrospect as one of the main gear doors blew off, despite us keeping the speed down throughout (level circuits at 1/3 power). Apart from that it was great, very easy to land and it flew very sweetly.

Anyone in the UK got a spare main gear door by any chance? Ours is the red white and blue colour scheme but we'd take any available and repaint it!

cheers
Piers

I have a set of carbon gear doors in the Jolly Rogers orange!

You have a PM!
cheers
Piers

Hey guys,

1. My friend got a classic lightning (used) and he wants to use his existing JR 8611A servos through out, with a PB Champion and twin 2800mAh PB packs with a P-160SX - what do you think of this setup ?
2. Which LG is this in the picture ? retracts, struts and wheels ?
3. Can anyone recommend a nice pilot figure for the lightning ?

Please advise.

Hey Lior,

1. This is great setup but needs alot of weight in front to balance. A good idea would be to install Tam's pipe and save around 200gr from the back and then the weight required to achieve the CG in front is reduced.
2. I think these are Dreamwork's struts and Intairco wheels and retracts. However for really heavy duty struts I think the new BEHOTEC struts are on a league of their own
3. Try contacting Frank Tiano (www.franktiano.com) for pilots

Tassos

Thanks for your reply.

1. Is it better to use 3 lipos 5000mAh in the nose, in case i dont change the pipe ?
2. Are Intairco retracts usually red in color ?
3. thanks.

To avoid so much nose weight, I moved my UAT forward to where it sits next to the nose wheel. I still have a little lead in the nose but not too much and the set up seems to be working fine so far.

Just varified that the wheels are Intairco for sure (jsut as on their website), and the struts are Dreamworks (just like on their website).

Anyone has any idea about the red retract bases ?

Yes Lior,

The retracts of Intairco are red and these should be Intairco. Try sending an email to Peter ([email protected]) from Intairco. He usually answers very fast.

Tassos

Hey guys,

Has anyone thought about cutting off the wing tanks and installing rounded wing tips like in the Ultra Lightning ?

What would be the best way to do this ?

You would probably lose a bunch of lift as the tips act like an end plate, messing with composite aeroplanes should only be considered if you really know what you are doing!

We were discussing this last night and most like the tip tank original look

Dave W

Dave,

How does the wing span and surace of the wing compare between the L and the Lightning then ?

Hey guys,

Do you think the Hitec 645MG are powerful enough to be used as flap servos on the Lightning ?
They work perfect on the Flash flaps !

SPECS: Speed: 0.24 sec/60° at 4.8V
0.20 sec/60° at 6.0V
Torque: 106.93 oz-in at 4.8V (7.7 kg-cm)
133.31 oz-in at 6.0V (9.6 kg-cm)
Length: 1.59" (40.6mm)
Width: 0.77" (19.8mm)
Height: 1.48" (37.8mm)
Weight: 2.11oz (60g)

The 645's are an analog servo and don't have the holding power of a digital, I would go with the 5645 at the least for its better resiliance to blow back.

Just my opinion.
Mike

Mike,

I like to use analog flap servos since the current draw is much less of their digital counter parts.

i just found the time to finish our new UL
Cutom paint job Red Bull
engine:P-200SX
Servo,s : JR MP80T Brushless 29 kilo,s each
powerbox royal 2,4
Landing gear :
Behotec C-50 with Digitech Titan oleo,s
wheels Skymaster with 125mm on mains , 100mm on front , Triple diskbrakes on mains.
Stock pipe and ducting
Jetcat smoke pump with double injectors made of SS
Smoketank 2,1 liters
Airpower pro sequenser
digitech Jetcat info screen

Sandor He really looks amazing.I loved the tray!!!
Have fun...

sandor did you used the optional 3rd fuel tank to extend flying time? or you Used it as a Smoketank?

just as smoke tank
the stock tanks will do for a 8 minute flight

Thanks !

8 minutes of delirious [sm=tongue_smile.gif][sm=tongue_smile.gif]

Wow Sandor,
that looks nice!
Really like the display

IF i sell it in september i will offer it to you first

I like how the main strut is drilled for multiple pick-off points for the outer gear door....somebody was thinking there!