Parkzone Habu Thread

[Gabe]

I received a request for a Habu thread and there seem to be lost of interest in this EDF and a few of us that have one.

Post all your questions and info here!

www.modelflying.co.uk/sites/3/images/review_images/habu580.jpg[/img]

[Gabe]

From a separate thread:

Apr 21, 2010 13:40:54 GMT -6 dditch66 said:

hmm, Gabe, I see you have a Habu, Do you have a thread on it?
My buddy has a Habu but he can't take off from our grassy field so someone made a dolly for it to ride on then the dolly drops off. It works only half the time, wanna get your input on what you fly off of.

I take off on a soccer field with low grass. I also have flaperons set up for short takeoffs, if I need them. Without them, the Habu takes about 25 yards to get off the ground. With them, its significantly less.

That puppy can supposedly be hand launched too! I've never tried it, but I've seen lots of videos on it and she gets scootin' right away.

I would see about setting up flaperons for your friend and trying to take off from a harder surface nearby (like a street or basketball court) and then stroll over to the flying area once airborne. That must be some pretty tall grass if the Habu can't take off in it.

Also, for landings, I would set up spoilerons on the flap switch, with maybe 9 to 12 clicks (percent?) on the down elevator. That's what I have in my DX6i. Always land INTO the wind. Take the Habu WAAAAAY out on your last pass till you feel uncomfortable with the distance. Start turning and completely kill the throttle as you bring her around facing you. Turn on the spoilerons right away. Now dive as low as you can at that distance (just above any trees or obstacles) and glide in. Try to have her close to 10 or 15' off the deck on the final approach for a good 25 yards before you land. You should be able to pretty much catch it out of mid air if you wanted to. I can walk faster than my landing speeds sometimes.

[Gabe]

I know the next question will be which batteries to use with the Habu.

I used the stock 3200mah E-Flite battery for a while and then one of the cells wouldn't balance.

I am currently using two 3700mah 30C Power Edge batteries and two 3600mah 30C Turnigy batteries. The Power Edge batteries are pricey, but I can charge them at 10amps if I want to and they will NEVER puff. Fit with zero modifications.

The Turnigy's are a great budget battery. They are a fraction of the price and require absolutely zero modifications to fit inside the Habu's canopy. Here's the link:

www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=9506

As far as flight times go, I have yet to bench test either one. I have the timer set for 3:30 seconds and typically will make my final pass at 3:00 just to be safe. To be honest, that's all the time I need. I fly at full throttle 100% of the time. I'm a speed junky. I've heard stories of 6-8 minute flights with throttle management, but I never manage throttle. Also, there is no such thing as a "soft-cut" with an EDF. You hear a sputter for two seconds and then the ESC cuts all power to the motor. You are effectively screwed if you aren't on your final approach - so better safe than sorry.

[Gabe]

SPOILERONS AND FLAPERONS:

Spoilerons:
I find these are great for landings instead of using flaperons - specifically because I don't get as much of the baloon effect when I turn them on. Also, the plane drops faster and the nose comes up easier. Spoilerons are also used when performing high-alpha maneuvers, which translates perfectly for landings.

Here's the setup on the DX6i for the flap switch:



Flaperons:
These are great for short takeoffs. I currently have these set up on my gear switch to be activated and mixed according to the throttle. Above half throttle and the flaperons are active, below half and the spoilerons are on. This works well if you balk a landing with the spoilerons on. By simple going to WOT, the flaps are back on and up you go. To mix flaperons and spoilerons with the throttle, you need to use a mix. I use a second mix to give a little down elevator too (to counter the balloon effect):





You'll notice that I don't have the spoilerons or flaperons deflected to 100%. I find I don't quite need it. However, to each their own.

[akent]

Most excellent and informative post, Gabe!!

Are you still flying a stock EDF in that?
Kent

[Gabe]

Yup! The 70mm stock EDF scoots!

This is the only plane in my fleet that has never given me any problems. I feel like it doesn't need any mods for my taste. Why fix something that ain't broken? Not my typical stance, but this is a good edf.