Author Topic: Radio Controlled Aircraft (Read 1812 times)

Hangtime · « **Reply #45 on:** March 27, 2006, 04:04:12 PM »

LOL!

Here's the real deal.. if yah fly R/C yer gonna crash. It's inseperable from the reality of flying an aircraft from the ground and inseperable from the learning curve.

I tell folks flat out.. If yah can't handle the risk; take up stamp collecting or trains.

If Fly you must, Crash you will. If it makes yah feel any better, the SE5a's been mid-aired once and ground looped crosswind twice. Nice thing about BUILDING the model is that RE-BUILDING is no big freakin deal.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #46 on:** March 27, 2006, 04:40:09 PM »

Yep yep. Crashing is going to happen. Do not think it will not. It will.

I remember when I crashed my precious F-15 the first time. An errant wind blast caught the left wing. Cartwheeled it on approach the first crash. All I could think of was all the material I was going to need to fix it again.
Fixed it. Second crash was during an avoidance manuever of a rather perturbed Great Dane who had gotten loose at the field.

If you let it get to you, you cannot enjoy the hobby.

xrtoronto · « **Reply #47 on:** March 27, 2006, 04:47:12 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Skuzzy
Yep yep. Crashing is going to happen. Do not think it will not. It will.

I remember when I crashed my precious F-15 the first time. An errant wind blast caught the left wing. Cartwheeled it on approach the first crash. All I could think of was all the material I was going to need to fix it again.
Fixed it. Second crash was during an avoidance manuever of a rather perturbed Great Dane who had gotten loose at the field.

If you let it get to you, you cannot enjoy the hobby.

Skuzzy, do you have a pic of your f15? I would love to see it (I've only seen the kit and never seen one assembled)

Sorry, don't want to hijack this thread but, how did it handle too?

Skuzzy · « **Reply #48 on:** March 27, 2006, 04:56:13 PM »

Wasn't a kit. I built it from scratch. I was a real nit about scaling it to the ducted fan engines. I must have taken a thousand photos of every F-15 I could find to get all the information I needed.

It handled really well once I got all the kinks worked out. I weighted it so the thrust to weight ratios match the F15 pretty closely (with the P&W 58,000 lb thrust engines). A few years ago I put it away, but got the itch again and have it torn apart prepping it for an update to turbine engines. Still saving for those.

The Cg is going to be very different so I have to wait until I get the engines before recalculating it.

Once I get her air-worthy again, I plan on posting pics.

Hangtime · « **Reply #49 on:** March 27, 2006, 04:59:49 PM »

Yah got big brass ones Skuz... Turbines are the shiznit.

xrtoronto · « **Reply #50 on:** March 27, 2006, 05:00:51 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Skuzzy
Wasn't a kit. I built it from scratch. I was a real nit about scaling it to the ducted fan engines. I must have taken a thousand photos of every F-15 I could find to get all the information I needed.

It handled really well once I got all the kinks worked out. I weighted it so the thrust to weight ratios match the F15 pretty closely (with the P&W 58,000 lb thrust engines). A few years ago I put it away, but got the itch again and have it torn apart prepping it for an update to turbine engines. Still saving for those.

The Cg is going to be very different so I have to wait until I get the engines before recalculating it.

Once I get her air-worthy again, I plan on posting pics.

Glad to hear you are going to get her back in the air!

Look forward to seeing the photos!:aok

Skuzzy · « **Reply #51 on:** March 27, 2006, 05:02:49 PM »

I dunno if they are big, Hang. Kind of scares me a bit. They are very expensive, but have come a long way in the last couple of years, in terms of maintenance, care, and ease of use.

I saw a turbine based SR-71 one day and that sold me on them. It just aint right to hear those gas engines in a jet.

guttboy · « **Reply #52 on:** March 27, 2006, 05:15:53 PM »

Skuzzy....way cool!

When I was on alert in Iceland with our crew two of the guys (radio and flight engineer) built a Gee Bee and were getting all psyched to fly it.

TONS of fun and it was cool after 90 days of alert seeing the thing being built. The real fun started when we began flying it in the insane winds up there at Keflavik.......

Plane survived, we had fun, and it was a great time spender while on alert!

I dont think we could have approached the F15 though.....they were intermediate RC flyers....it was fun playing crew chief though!!!!

Hangtime · « **Reply #53 on:** March 27, 2006, 05:43:39 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Skuzzy
I dunno if they are big, Hang. Kind of scares me a bit. They are very expensive, but have come a long way in the last couple of years, in terms of maintenance, care, and ease of use.

I saw a turbine based SR-71 one day and that sold me on them. It just aint right to hear those gas engines in a jet.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh... but that's the point. With turbine power it sounds right, smells right, fly's scale-like, a riviting and exteremly gratifying experience just to WATCH one fly..

... And it requires a very well developed attention to detail and skill in building and engineering problem solving as well as ruthless skill on the sticks to get it right the first time AND keep it flying. Flying DF is tuff enuff.. turbines are like flying with yer hair on fire!

Turbines demand an extrordinary level of determination, money and dedication. Just considering it requires testicles of solid brass. Big scale Turbine Jets remain the pinacle of R/C achievement.. an uncommon endeavour in an already uncommon and unusual sport/hobby.

...except fer maybe the turbine heli guys. Those dudes are certifiable.

You go; Skuzzinator! Keep the cajones polished...

Skuzzy · « **Reply #54 on:** March 27, 2006, 06:03:40 PM »

LOL Hang!

It is a challenge, I grant ya that, but heck, getting it to fly in the first place was an incredible experience. Nothing like taking blocks of aluminum, wood, and plastic and making it into something that actually flew.

It will be another 6 months to a year before it is ready again. Nothing like this happens quickly.

z0rch · « **Reply #55 on:** March 27, 2006, 06:06:46 PM »

Ever think of putting a wireless cam in an RC plane? Not only would it be fun, it might improve the pilots perspective.

xrtoronto · « **Reply #56 on:** March 27, 2006, 06:09:38 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by z0rch
Ever think of putting a wireless cam in an RC plane? Not only would it be fun, it might improve the pilots perspective.

particlarly if you have a neighbour down the street who sun tans by the pool in her bikini:cool:

Hangtime · « **Reply #57 on:** March 27, 2006, 06:22:16 PM »

Cameras are pretty common these days..

Here's my 1/4 scale Piper L-21a.. it's got Video Downlink and live Telemetry to laptop that provides altitude, airspeed, GPSFix (moving map), engine cylinder temp and RPM, Fuel level, Voltage & Amperage, Stall warning. It'll operate LOS (line of sight) for sure.. haven't gone beyon 'dot' range yet.

Also has smoke, sailplane tow release, banner tow and 'bomb' (candy) drop.

Nothin really unusual these days.

Pei · « **Reply #58 on:** March 27, 2006, 06:30:22 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Thrawn
Geez, from flying F-15s to RC aircraft. Isn't that like going from sleeping with Monica Belucci to...well, SOB.

Compared with Monica Belluci and real F-15s, SOB and R/C a/c are cheap and easy.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #59 on:** March 27, 2006, 06:38:23 PM »

I really do not know if I have enough space for a cam in it or not. It's one of the things on my 'maybe' list.

I have to find enough space to mount the engine controls electronics first.