Guys,

Well, after resolving a lot of silly little problems with various minor points on it, I finally found the time to get round to maidening my Skygate Hawk today!

All my other models have at least a 1.5 to 1 if not 2 to 1 power to weight ratio so this at about 0.8 was a bit different for me! It felt very solid but also 'heavy'. I found the CofG is quite far forward as a lot of down elevator was needed when inverted and I think this was what caused this feeling - I will move it back 10mm before the next flights. To maintain speed I needed approx 75-80% power at all times with 100% for steep stuff. Definately a model to think ahead with as you need to manage your speed and carry momentum when/where needed. If you're happy to go over various weight limits then I think a P200/Olympus would be fantastic in flight but would take away the low speed handling.

The best flight was actually the first flight but my wife who followed it rather brilliantly on the camera only realised 5mins in to the flight that she hadn't pressed record The first landing was made with half flaps and really highlighted how you can float this model in. It probably looked to most a little like I was running out of elevator but slowly squeezing back on the stick just raised the nose a little more, slowed the model even more and resulted in a lovely greaser with the nose held high. First flight luck I think!!

The second flight was good but had a few silly issues. The gear did not sequence properly after I dropped from 140psi on the first flight to 120psi on the second. I'll stick to 140psi and also add another couple of seconds delay between gear up and doors closing. The second landing was a bit crap and was caused by me flying this model like a heavier loaded model. I was cutting it very fine coming over the threshold and blipped the throttle to ensure I made it but this caused a little ballooning and then I didn't 'catch' it and came down a little heavy! Thank god for trailing links and a well thought out structure as there was no damage. Looking back, all I needed to do was stretch the approach with more up elevator as she would have taken it (unlike most other models!). I just have to get to used the amazing, to the point of it being odd, low speed handling

After both flights the PowerBox Royal reported no RX swaps, 520mAh used per flight and a max amp draw of 8A. Model has 8 x 8711 servos, Booster 160 and weighs 43lb 13ozs.

All in all I am chuffed! Was a long time coming but just looked and flew great!

Also, a big thanks to Henry Cooper who followed through on all his promises to help out before, during and after the flights - cheers Hen - much appreciated.

Anyway, video can be found here....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXtoYq2jQ

Regards,
Mark

Link didnt open the video
Scott

The URL contained a malformed video ID.

The URL contained a malformed video ID.
The URL contained a malformed video ID.

Try this....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXtoYq2jQ

Why is RCU taking out the

there is a "" between the rX and the to at the end of this linK!!

This is ridiculous!

It even takes the dashes out of my replies!

OK, after the =rX and before the toYq2jQ you need to type 2 dashes !

If anyone can get RCU to post the correct link, please do!

Rgds,
Mark

http://www.youtube.com/results?searc...n&search_type=



This is the best I could do quickly. It puts your video first on the page.

Mark,

CONGRATS!! It's been a long time coming but I know you will now get alot of enjoyment out of flying the Hawk. I am thoroughly convinced that this is the best flying R/C jet I've ever owned. Gonna start saving my pennies to order another one if the dollar ever recovers

David S

Mark,
Best of luck with your Hawk, she looks fantastic, watching your Hawk fly and David Searls fly, I may consider buying one myself. Take Care. Joe C!!

Most cool. Congrats.
We're all "chuffed" over here for ya too
Paul

CONGRATS MARK,

What a beautiful job you have done on your Hawk. May she have many, many flight hours. I see the static arrestors finally arrived and made their way onto the airframe. They look great!...Glad to see you get the maiden out of the way after all the waiting.

Dan

Thanks, really good flying airplane and she ain't no munter!

Joe

BTW Mark,
Once your wife found the "record" button, she shot better video than 95% of the RC shooters I've seen. But...that first part is pretty important!

Great job "SCROTIZZLE" that rig is SAWEEEEET!!!!


DF

Mark,

Pleased for you, looked superb and glad all went well.

Catch up soon.

Marc.

Well done Mark,I look forward to seeing that at Bickley jets this weekend.

m

[8D][sm=thumbup.gif]

Great to see the Hawk airborne, hope you have many, many more with it.

May I ask the source of your double pulse strobe lights ? (even though you have used them incorrectly, nav lights are steady, not pulsing; if the aircraft shows flashing anticoll. lights or strobes ! Mind you, m it is a model of an Indonesian aircraft !)
Looks great tho. . I'd have one in a flash IF I could get it in my car, even my Airworld Hawks are a tight fit !

Regards, David.

David,

I'm sure Mark won't mind me answering your request - the light systems are from
[link]http://www.flugmodellbau.de[/link]

Hajo is the boss and Michael is his colleague, both are very helpful, their telephone number if you require it is: +49 6022 681036

David,

They are correct - you're clearly not aware of wiring schematics of Indonesian maintained Hawks!!

Seriously tho, if you tried programming that damned lighting unit then you'd be happy with them as they are! I'm aware that they're not quite right but just wanted them up and running to some degree for the first flight!

If memory serves me right you have a 5 series estate? If so, it will go in there! With a bit of jiggery pokery I got it in my Audi A4 so, go on, treat yourself! (admittedly the nose light was up on the windscreen)

rgds,
Mark

Thank you guys, much appreciated. By coincidence I received a new set of strobes today from Dreamworks for my second Hawk and they are flugmodel types BUT I see there is a new catalogue enclosed so will peruse it tonight. Perhaps I can set it for double flashes but then the Reds may only use strobes with one flash, rarely see them with the strobes on and never in formation.

Yes Mark, I MIGHT treat myself but with two AW Hawks having taken SO much time I'm a bit reluctamnt to start fron scratch again particularly as I have done a LOT to my No. 1 Hawk for the next JWM.

Very surprised indeed that it will fit into an Audi estate and my new 5 series touring seems smaller than the last one !

Hope to see the Hawk, and the hydraulic Macchi on my UK trip this summer. !

Regards,

David

PS Perhaps the Indonesian Air Force doent do things normally ! Their airline , Garuda , is banned from all EU countries and gets a VERY bad press in Australia after the JogJakarta screwup.

David,

Not that the manual for the Flugmodel lighting system is intuitive, but there are multiple flashing sequences available which are user programmable with their modules. I managed to get the MB beacon set up to flash twice, but did program it with Michael on the phone talking me through!

Marc.

Well done Mark [8D]
See you this weekend.

Paul

Hello

Your Hawk looks awesome with this particular scheme !!
Very good job...
Glad to see that the FAAST 2.4 GHZ works fine with the Powerbox Royal ;-)

Well done !!

Jean Fi

Hi Mark,

As they say in certain parts of the USA "Good job Bob!"

It was a real pleasure to see that Hawk of yours fly yesterday! A real credit to you.

When I did that moody photo of your Hawk on a low pass, I was only joking!!

look at the screen grabs of your video!!!