Stryker F-27C Hop Ups

[Gabe]

I know a lot of you saw the Stryker vids I posted under "videos", but I didn't want to overrun that thread with all the other stuff I'm doing with it. Here's the basic hop ups I've ordered:

1. E-Flite 20mm heat sink for the stock motor: $12
2. APC 6x5.5 prop

I already installed the Electrifly 45A ESC I had laying around from my deadT-28 and I have 4 of the Zippy 2200mah 4s 30C batteries I was using in my F-35.

Against my better judgement, today I popped in the 4S before the heat sink and prop got here, used some throttle management and the motor just was geting warm. WOT for a slow 5 count only. I know the motor is the only thing not capable of handling WOT for long periods of time.

Results: Maybe 5 or so mph on the top end, unlimited vertical, and way more thrust to fight the wind. The sound that little motor makes on a 4S is insane too!

Can't wait to get my prop and heat sink. Stryker forums are saying probably 10-15 mph increase. That should land me right about 90mph straight and level.

Sick.

[19000rpm]

Wow, you're going to need that heat sink or the motor mount is going to MELT!

[Gabe]

Well, got the 6x5.5 APC E prop today. Still waiting for the heatsink to get here. I will probably throw it on there anyway and use some throttle management.

Full report to come tomorrow morning.

[Gabe]

Weird. The Stryker seemed slower with the 6x5.5 prop. Maybe it was the wind or something.

Either way, I caught her nose on the fence as I was landing, did the vertical spin, hit a palm tree framn and bent and elevon. The rest of the plane survived amazingly. I was trying to bring her in super slow against the wind and I miscalculated and she was too low. By the time I gave her a little power - it was too late.

Seriously though, I could probably still fly it, but I don't wanna chance it. Ordered two sets of elevons from Horizon just now (just so I have a back up).

[19000rpm]

Mar 5, 2010 8:15:29 GMT -6 Gabe said:

Weird. The Stryker seemed slower with the 6x5.5 prop. Maybe it was the wind or something.

Either way, I caught her nose on the fence as I was landing, did the vertical spin, hit a palm tree framn and bent and elevon. The rest of the plane survived amazingly. I was trying to bring her in super slow against the wind and I miscalculated and she was too low. By the time I gave her a little power - it was too late.

Seriously though, I could probably still fly it, but I don't wanna chance it. Ordered two sets of elevons from Horizon just now (just so I have a back up).

The 6x5.5 should have been faster. It was probably the wind, battery or you've started to use up the motor.

Sometimes its really hard to judge the wind and how it's going to make the plane react. I can't tell you how many times I've stalled on landings when I've been caught off guard in windy or gusty conditions. This happens most often when I've had a few days of low, or no, wind and haven't precisely adjusted my landing technique for the prevailing conditions.

Here's some thoughts: When preparing for a landing; going downwind I try to slow the plane up (it's going faster than normal because of the tail wind and I want it to be slower for the landing) and then add power as needed when I turn into the wind maintaining enough speed to keep it above a stall. I'll usually make a few practice base leg and final approaches at a higher altitude, especially, if I'm landing over a fence.

If I'm looking at the plane from a low angle, or preferrably, from the side, during the turning maneuver and approach it's a lot easier to judge those throttle adjustments than if I'm facing the plane at a high angle or head on.

[Gabe]

Yeah, it was just pure stupidity on my part. I knew I should have given it some throttle about 20 yards back, but I thought I could be cool and catch it in my hand (apparently I'm still not cool enough).

A little packaging tape and she managed to fly just fine for now. The motor is definitely strong still. It must have been the wind.