Radio Control Anybody???

[JD and Beastlet]

I use the same radios, but with the old numbered frequency setup.  It's been a good radio.
[url]http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXRXF3**&P=M[url]
That kill switch on this radio is almost impossible to find w/o looking for it.  Sometimes it's needed in flight, so I'll throw the trim all the way down to kill the engine.  The trim is much easier to find.

Yep, that's the same radio I've got.  Still FM (ch44) vs 2.4 GHz, but it should do fine just the same.

[JD and Beastlet]

Plenty of changes for me... I've upgraded the radio and receiver to a 2.4 GHz Futaba T7 - now the 72 MHz radio is my own dedicated buddy box.  I've also added a charge receptacle...


Charger plugged in by JD and Beastlet, on Flickr

... and a remote glow ignitor port.


Remote glow ignitor by JD and Beastlet, on Flickr

I did my first takeoffs and landings a couple of weeks ago and on the next session (last night) I soloed for the first time. 

I'll be writing my Wings exam next Tuesday night, and will be practicing solo until I'm ready to attempt the practical flight test.

[Sweet Chariot]

Good luck. Remember that a lot of altitude never hurt an R/C plane. It's always the ground that jumps up that does the damage.

I was (still am) so proud of earning my wings. They hang from my car mirror. I recently bought a leather bomber-type jacket... as I'm now a "pilot". Check-out U.S. Wings (www.uswings.com) for good deals with the strong Cdn dollar right now.

[EZDUZIT]

Good luck earning your wings.  Never had a program like that. When you could fly solo, you did.  The instructor just walked away and said "you're on your own!"   New additions look nice and clean.  Good job. 

[geoaware]

A lesson i learned from my RC flying instructor was to avoid long approaches.   As he says "the profile of the plane is so hard to %$#@% see on approach"   So I learned to fly downwind, then turn at the end of the strip...the turn causing you to lose speed and height, then straighten up onto the strip and land.

It is not the way I see most people land....but it means you can see the plan in the best profile for almost all the landing....and worth a look.

Gary

[JD and Beastlet]

Last night was an excellent one at flight school.  After one buddy box flight the cord was cut and my next three were solos.  My wife and daughter came to pick me up as I was flying my last one, and I greased the landing to the applause of instructors and club members. :D

I also wrote the wings exam last night and heard this morning that I passed with flying colours. :)

We're leaving for PEI for a couple of weeks.  When I come back I'll be getting my practice in for the flight test.

As for approaches, mine are fairly long, though I usually throttle back on the downwind leg as I'm about to turn to base.  But my trainer is big and easy to see.

[Sweet Chariot]

Sweet stuff!

I'm on vacation right now with our Chalet TT, a Zodiac boat, and 2 R/C airplanes. One water plane and a small biplane. (I need the boat if I'm flying over water with the water plane... as some water rescues have been needed in the past...)

If you're looking for a safe place to store the plane in the TT, I found than under the dinette is working well for me. My TT is very small, and I tried the back of the TV, but that caused too much road rash (which can then lead to full-on crashes later on if something important is loosened). I have to remove the wings for the dinette, but seems worth it so far.

[cannoneer]

 Hi all I am new here. When I go camping I like to take my R/C tanks I have 1/16th scale and 1/24th scale mostly.

1/16 scale   
                                               same here
                                   
   

 just a few I have many more

They can battle each other with the I/R battle system they have built in and others  shoot air-soft.

 Just had all the I/R ones at Manchester S.P in WA state, last weekend. every one has fun playing with them. and I get the fun of fixing and maintenance on them.

[JD and Beastlet]

Cool beans!

Another excellent night at flight school.  I am pleased to announce that I have passed my check flight and earned my wings, along with the privilege to fly unaccompanied any time.  The flying part consisted of:

• Takeoff
• RH circuit
• 3 x Figure 8s
• Touch and go
• Power landing, full stop
• Takeoff
• Simulated deadstick landing

It was a real rush and my Dad was there to watch.  I was very pleased with the outcome and you couldn't get the grin off my face!

[KaukaunaKampers]

Congratulations, JD!!!   

[beacher]

Cool beans!

Another excellent night at flight school.  I am pleased to announce that I have passed my check flight and earned my wings, along with the privilege to fly unaccompanied any time.  The flying part consisted of:

• Takeoff
• RH circuit
• 3 x Figure 8s
• Touch and go
• Power landing, full stop
• Takeoff
• Simulated deadstick landing

It was a real rush and my Dad was there to watch.  I was very pleased with the outcome and you couldn't get the grin off my face!

Kinda funny!  I grew up flying RC planes at a local RC airstrip at Whittier Narrows in Southern California in the mid to late 1980s.  The way you learned was to spend a whole lot of time and money building a balsa wood model from scratch.  You would take it to the field and absolutely not use a frequency that anyone else was on, or they would damage your health.  Attempt to fly your new creation, (and quickly trim) without crashing.

If you crashed, you repeated the process.  No help whatsoever.  No flight schools.  No pre-assembled models.  No mercy!

[JD and Beastlet]

Yeah, it's a new age!  And I'm told that because of the rise of electric power our hobby is now on the forefront of battery technology.

At sometime in the future I will build a kit plane.  For now I want to learn to fly with my pre-built.

[JD and Beastlet]

After a season of flying my trainer and loving it, something new has found its way home...


The Pulse 125 is home!

This is a low-winged sport plane that will be powered by a 20cc gas engine.  I'll be putting it together over the winter.

[EZDUZIT]

Congrats on your achievements, JD.

On a sad note:
You may have heard by now that terrorist plotted to bomb the Pentagon with a RC plane.  We in the US have almost no chance of avoiding regulation now.
"The Academy of Model Aeronautics is shocked and outraged by the actions of a 26-year-old Massachusetts man arrested this week on federal charges for his intent to use an RC model airplane reconfigured as a UAV, similar to a military drone, for an explosive-laden attack on the U.S. Capitol and Pentagon. The suspect is not an AMA member nor has he been confirmed as being a model aviation enthusiast."
http://www.modelaircraft.org/news/RCPlot.aspx

If this guy thought he could just buy a jet and fly it W/O extensive experience, he was wrong.  It takes years of flying to get to be that good.

[owtdorz]

Picked up the Axial Wraith Rock Racer a few weeks back.
I was able to take it up to Willow Springs over the weekend.
Rain or shine it's a ball. The dogs love it too.