New lightweight Stryker

[akent]

Yep, landing in the wind can be interesting!
Yesterday it was really windy, and I was able to land at zero ground speed with my normal Foamies (Yak-54 and Sniper) and actually going backwards with my SU-29!
The wind caught the Yak on one landing and caused a flat, well, actually it broke the wheel off at the hub... Everything else was Ok.

I actually kind of like flying in wind. It's the gusts that get ya!
Kent

[19000rpm]

I agree, flying in the wind can be fun and very instructive as to what happens to airspeed, etc. as you fly in different directions.

Gusts can be landing killers. That's the only thing I don't like. But, when you do manage a good landing, inspite of the gusts, it's a very satisfying feeling.

I was flying the Clipped Wing SC the other day off the snow on floats. The wind was blowing about 15mph, which isn't that high, but with the floats on it, with the extra surface area, made the handling quite different than during low wind conditions. It's hard to acurately describe. The plane would seem to hang in the air, at times, at impossible angles. Turning required some additional rudder. Ailerons and elevator alone just wasn't enough. But it was alot of fun.

I had a lot of fun doing crosswind landings. Crabbing looks so cool when the plane is flying right towards you and the nose is 30 degrees off to the side.

[Gabe]

Flying in the wind is definitely fun - as it tests my skills, especially 25+ mph winds.

I'm just shocked still at this crash landing as I had made it through the trees in the same conditions a hundred times before. Live and learn.

[19000rpm]

25mph is about my comfortable limit. When it's blowing that hard here the gusts will just about knock me off my feet.

The more you fly the more you'll find that you are going to get tought a new lesson from time to time.

[Gabe]

Put the new elevon on today and took her for a spin - actually it was like 6 spins. Easily still my favorite plane. I flew my Habu and T-28 earlier - which are fun too - but I just absolutely love my Stryker.

[akent]

I hear ya Gabe!

And every time I hear you talk about it, I get my Stryker box down off the shelf and do a little more work to it!
Man, I need to get that finished up...
Kent

[Gabe]

This original lightweight one only has 3S 2200 Lipo's and the E-Flite Six Series Motor. Its so incredibly responsive and turns on a time. I love doing a high speed pass, skimming the grass a few feet off the deck, and then pulling up right before I smash into my little crowd of spectators.

The kids love it when I go vertical and roll it like a dart straight up about 500', kill the throttle and then stall it out. I aim straight down and then give it full throttle about 30' off the deck to pull up.

I almost don't fly anything else right now.

[19000rpm]

That sounds like a lot of fun Nothing like doing a Hammerhead and pulling out a foot off the ground to thrill the kiddies...Well, maybe, a flat spin.

[Gabe]

I figured you guys would appreciate this:

First pic - looks just like an open grassy area behind my apartment, right?



Now have a closer look:



That's about 4' off the deck at WOT.

(Smiles)

[McKrackin]

What a beautiful yard:)

[Gabe]

Thanks Ern, it belongs to my apartment complex

[Gabe]

Well I made an executive decision and retired this airframe today. By far it was my favorite. I flew it one last time and it was so squirrely in the air that I just landed it after two minutes. The move from East to West Coast trashed the elevons and deformed the wings slightly. It's such a shame because I can see this bird and see my orientation crystal clear from much farther away than the stock Stryker paint scheme.

I moved the E-Flite Six Series motor, 6x4 MAS prop, and ICE 50 ESC to my Dad's stock airframe. Wow! I forgot what an incredible difference in speed and vertical thrust there is! I'm going to buy a new airframe and copy the paint scheme again. I love the art projects!

[19000rpm]

I know what you mean about retiring airframes you really love. But, it's fun to start over with a new one. I've done that 3 times with modified Super Cubs and 3 times with PKZ P-51's. I'm currently building up my 3rd HLI F-86.

Good luck with the new stryker.

[Gabe]

Thanks 19k. I'll post some pics when I make some progress.

[19000rpm]

I look forward to seeing those Gabe. Maybe it will inspire me to finish the one I've got sitting here in pieces.