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Post by The Dude on Oct 6, 2011 19:37:00 GMT -6
Took the Raptor up for a stroll at sunset, she likes the view!
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19000rpm
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Post by 19000rpm on Oct 10, 2011 16:59:48 GMT -6
The Return of the Habu. A flying in the face of the odds story:
Last year I lost my PKZ Habu EDF while flying at the local Rec Area. It crashed in the woods. I spent hours looking for it on more than one occasion.
Yesterday, I got a call from a new found flying friend saying some guy saw him flying at the Rec Area and asked him if he'd lost a jet last year. My friend said no, but he knew someone who had.
I called the guy and he said he had found it on a picnic table at the Rec Area and thought he might take it home, just down the road, and look out for fliers at the Rec Area. And, over a year later, he found my new friend. My new friend called me with the news.
When I picked up the Habu it was in bad shape. Like you'd expect from a 100mph nose dive into the woods. The battery, ESC and Rx were still in place though. Good engineering Parkzone.
When I got it home I plugged in the battery and got tone from the motor. Whomever originally found it, and put it on the picnic table, must have found it soon after it crashed and unplugged the battery. Making me wonder how many times that day, or the next, I might have walked past the picnic table, it's up on a rise, and not seen the plane.
Since the only thing not working electonically is the AR500 it get's my vote as culprit for the unexpected spiral in.
I had written the plane off. Thanks to 3 nice people I now have it back. The foam is scrap for sure, but the donor components will be finding a new happy home soon.
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Post by Gabe on Oct 10, 2011 17:51:23 GMT -6
Wow! No way!
There are still good peeps in this world after all!
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Post by Gabe on Oct 21, 2011 16:50:33 GMT -6
Well, tossed the lightweight Stryker today only to have nothing but throttle respond. So weird, I checked everything right before I tossed it. Man down. All electronics survived. Just gotta get a new fuse. Maybe I'll make it with pink stripes in honor of my daughter who is due tomorrow  |
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akent
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I love the 500!
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Post by akent on Oct 21, 2011 17:44:54 GMT -6
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Post by Gabe on Oct 21, 2011 20:13:09 GMT -6
Astrophysics major?! Whoah! Someone's gotta be a proud papa bear.
Maybe she'll design a cool RC space module for the first unmanned trip to Jupiter!
ok...now we're off topic.
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McKrackin
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Flippin' the bird!
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Post by McKrackin on Oct 21, 2011 21:14:43 GMT -6
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Post by Gabe on Oct 21, 2011 22:48:24 GMT -6
Lmao!
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akent
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I love the 500!
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Post by akent on Oct 22, 2011 11:37:55 GMT -6
Priceless!!!!
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19000rpm
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Post by 19000rpm on Oct 22, 2011 13:25:22 GMT -6
I've had many days like that.
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Post by Gabe on Oct 22, 2011 13:27:01 GMT -6
Got the parts and will be rebuilding the lightweight Stryker today. I'll start a build log in a new thread lTer today or tomorrow.
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19000rpm
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Post by 19000rpm on Oct 22, 2011 17:25:46 GMT -6
Looking forward to that Gabe.
Today turned out to be the perfect fall flying day. 0 to 4mph winds and lots of things to get in the air. Busy, busy.
Since it's been awhile since the conditions were as nice, it was a rush to get get everything up...The planes, I mean, since Ray has the Black Hawk for major mods and the G2 needs some attention before it goes up again. The DDVP SR I'm saving for indoor duty this winter along with a few others.
First up was the BH Mig 29/35. I'd maidened it yesterday, in gusting winds, and I was looking forward to see how she'd do in calmer conditions. Great! With some trim she was like an arrow. Quick and precise. Time to dial it up for some real TV flying. If conditions permit that will happen tomorrow.
Next up was the new UMX Extra 300 3D. I couldn't be more pleased. Even on low rates it flew like a dream. This will be a perfect indoor plane this winter.
The rest of the time was spent with the standby HLI F-86 and BH F-16. Both a real joy to fly.
When the Mig went up, those twin 55mm EDf's screamiing, it attracted a small crowd out of nowhere. A family doing some roller blading and a couple of guys from the mid school next door who had been flying a PKZ T-28 and a BF-109. The kids were absolutely enthralled. All questions and enthusiasim. Their parents almost as much. More RC recruits. This is what keeps the hobby growing.
I rushed home to pick up a few more planes and my wife with her trucks. We raced the trucks some and then I flew some more. We lost track of time. Just living in the moment.
Home again for a nice cigar and a cocktail. If this isn't the best way to spend a day, then what is? Hoping your day was as much fun.
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Post by Gabe on Oct 22, 2011 22:34:07 GMT -6
Haha! What an awesome day!
It's crazy how the planes draw a crowd. I was test flying the rebuilt Stryker today and my neighbor pitched a lawn chair with a beer to watch! By the second battery, there were multiple families watching along with random neighbor kids on bikes.
Once I had her trimmed out and the radio mixing tweaked just right I did some grass skimmers (on the asphalt) down a residential street lined with trees and spectators. I even buzzed it through the 4 way stop!
Got the T-28 out and had a quick flight as the light was disappearing. It's always sketchy landing anything with wheels in a residential area since you never know who's gonna come driving around the corner. I just keep the planes in the right lane and go with the flow of traffic.
My neighbor is in his 80's and builds ultra large balsa's with glow plugs. He came over at the end to check out the fleet.
Sounds like we all had good flying days!
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19000rpm
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Post by 19000rpm on Oct 23, 2011 6:39:15 GMT -6
Great to hear you got the Stryker in the air again and got to treat the neighborhood to some flying.
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Post by Gabe on Oct 23, 2011 19:22:14 GMT -6
Well, I've discovered that I can fly and safely land my planes with wheels on my street. Flew the T-28 a few times and can easily control the landings to the point where I can literally land with the flow of traffic (not that I do when cars are around).
The Habu isn't as easy to slow down and it doesn't respond as well to small rudder inputs. I'm seriously considering flaps, but I'm worried I'll ruin the integrity of the wing.
Either way I flew both batteries for the Habu, 3 on the T-28, 3 on the Stryker, and 1 on the mini Stryker.
I've got the mini Stryker down to grass skimming along the flow of traffic.
Great day - wish I had more light.
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