New Switchback

[SnoJetter]

Finished this thing a few weeks ago, just had the first successful flights two days ago. Am using a DXA motor and 300mah NiMh right now. Takes some getting used to after flying the Tiger Moth for 2 months. I think I'll get the hang of it after a while. This one ain't the prettiest bird in the world, but I wanted it done fast and I don't expect any of my planes to stay looking good for very long...so why bother :D

Kyle Sands <>< Huntley, MN

[SnoJetter]

Don't have a good resolution camera now, so this is the best I can do...

Kyle

[Smash McCrash]

I like the "camo" scheme that you used. Aren't these things fun? :p I have a new one powered by an EPS100C-A with a 10×8 GWS prop with Qualcomm 830 Li-Ions for power. Slows down real nice but can still loop, roll, and, best of all, Cuban 8. It's more of a challenge do to aerobatics with it than with the brushless Switchback 3D that I have, but its such a blast trying.

Good flying!

Mike

[Smash McCrash]

Thought about posting a pic after hitting "submit"... :p

[SnoJetter]

That's one pretty bird you've got there. My first flight attempts were with a 10x4.7 but I couldn't gain any altitude. I then went to the trusty ol' 9x7 and it made all the difference! I'm still trying to figure out how to coordinate 2 channels on that left stick :D

Kyle

[flyinhigh]

Hi there Kyle
I like it ,dont worry bout how it looks ;) Especially if your not sure on how long it will look like a plane after your done flying it.You got the right idea....Could you tell us a lil on how she flies?You doing good on it?Thats a mighty big switch from a TM.
I Hope you have many exciting flights on her.
Practice on that FMS if you have it ,this will do wonders for your coordination with 4 channels,some people say Flight Sims are worthles but I guess they dont think about increasing there coordination with the controls while they fly on it,some just think all about how the model reacts as with the real one....
Good luck and safe landings
MIKE

[SnoJetter]

How does she fly? Well, now that I've got the trim pretty well set, she flies great. My first flight attempt I discovered a major right yaw, ended up crashing straight into a tree. :D My second attempt, exactly the same thing - no damage to speak of, though. Some readjustment here and there and then I was able to fly with control but couldn't gain any altitude. That's when I installed the new prop and voila - I've got a real airplane!

Now, I use a non dual rate, non exponential rate transmitter (Futaba circa 1992) and I am very used to small, small control inputs so the Moth reacts smooooothly. For the SB I'm using my new Flash 5 with dual rates and various expo-rates set and still used to minute stick input. I'd try and make a left turn and wonder why it won't bank - whoa, now I'm using generous stick movements. For my next flights, I'm going to either drop expo-rates or reduce the dual rates.

Turning with ailerons is a different experience. It isn't difficult, but it feels squirrely rather than solid like the Moth. It takes getting used to, but it's very easy to keep this plane in the air. The jitters wore off quickly and I spent most of the first flight trying to line up for a nice final approach which I never accomplished. I tried using some rudder along with the ailerons, but it will take several flights to get used to using all 4 channels.

This plane is gonna be fun - assuming I can keep it in one piece!

Kyle

[468/f]

Hi Kyle,

Looking good!

I really am interested in how the A motor is doing in the SB. I was really surprised to see it on there.

I put an EPS 300 in mine. I really love the power range. I can run from slow and easy to moving.

I think the SB Sport is the best plane going up to this point. My son who flies was down today and he flew mine for the first time today. Before long he was looping it and having a ball with it. Both of us know what he is getting from Santa!

More flight reporting please.

Roger

[SnoJetter]

Hey Roger, would love to give more flight reports, unfortunately the change of seasons has brought with it lots of wind. Haven't had a good day to fly for nearly 2 weeks. Took my Moth out Saturday evening and almost lost it in the cornfield. It felt calm where I was standing, but the wind was bucking it all over the sky. I managed to bring it back, hovered for a bit, then got smart and landed before I wrecked something...SB still sitting on my desk waiting for a nice day.

Kyle

[468/f]

Hi Kyle,

Those changes of season can be really interesting. Out here, we don't have anything like that to contend with. Oh, we can get whiney and all, but by comparison, we don't have changes.

I hope you get some warming trend and things settle down for you to be able to fly.

Take Care,

Roger

[SnoJetter]

Roger, I should mention that the IPS motor works great in the Switchback. I can use the speed control from the Moth and the 300mah batteries. Flies about as long as the Moth, too. I used a 10x4.7 prop initially and it wouldn't climb so I switched to the 9x7 and it really scoots. I felt comfortable with it after about two laps around me. I don't have the right control horn for the aileron servo and I wasn't getting enough movement with dual rates, and the expo rates didn't seem to do anything either. (I'm used to flying without those options on my old radio so my stick movements are small and deliberate - I suspect that accounts for D/R and Exp. not really "working" for me.) Roll is pretty quick if I don't keep my eyes on the plane, but everything else is set up so that I can't easily overcontrol. It's definitely not as stable as I'm used to with the Moth, but it gives me plenty of time to correct mistakes.

Just came in from flying the Moth. Got home from work and there wasn't any hint of a breeze. The sun was going down fast so I didn't have time to set up the SB. Took out the Moth and flew two batteries in that. Fingers were frozen and light was about gone. One humerous episode was when I tried to land in the wake of a tractor-trailer that had just passed. Turbulence was bucking the plane when suddenly the wheels were slammed into the ground from about 6 foot altitude, the plane bounced almost straight up about the same distance, I gave her full throttle to try and save it, but she stalled, wheels rammed back into the pavement but this time I was able to keep it in the air on the rebound. I really should change the prop - it's had chips and fatigue marks near the hub for the last month and I've been flying with it for the last 2 months. I'm surprised that little episode didn't break it!

Kyle

[468/f]

Hi Kyle,

I'm sure by now that your fingers are warm! ;)

I had heard that some folks were flying the IPS A, but did not know that you were doing it. That is a nice flying report.

I am flying the 300. It will fly on almost any prop you put on it, but the 9 X 7 is the best. The motor screams with the rpm.

Larry got to fly mine yesterday and is sold on it. Yes, in a few minutes he was looping it and doing better that I fly. He was "comfortable" with it right away. That is what his Santa will be building for him for Christmas. He is an auditor and is on the road a lot. So I build for him. I like to build, so we both get a treat.

I'll have to find your area weather and see what is going on there.

Do you know the term "heavy"? It is for 747, and the big planes. They get several miles of space behind them and seversal minutes pause before other planes can use the runway. Watch out for those "heavies." :rolleyes:

Take Care,

Roger

[SnoJetter]

I thought I had waited long enough after the "heavy" went through. Guess not...:D

Yes, the fingers are warm, otherwise I couldn't type!

Might get some snow tomorrow, then rain - I think they call it "transition." The fact that I was able to fly tonight was a real treat, I didn't expect calm conditions. Come to think of it, I never expect calm conditions.

I do have a 300C motor that I ordered with the plane. I just can't afford batteries for it. You were running 300mah batteries on your 300 weren't you? How long did they last? My speed control is 8 amp (12 amp max), so I'm right on the boarder for that motor. I'm gonna be hinting for batteries and a speed control for CHRISTmas ;)

Kyle

P.S. A good site for weather forecasts that has been very accurate is JohnDee.com I check it often when snowmobiling season rolls around.

[468/f]

Kyle,

I'm glad you have the 300. It will be fun when you get to it.

Tha packs I'm flying are the NiMH packs that Doug is recommending for the plane. They are 8 cell 720mAH NiMH pack w/o connector. I'm getting lots of time, just have not had a watch on it to really know how long I'm getting. I would guess 7 minutes.

The first flights were on a 250 mah pack. It would really rip, for a few minutes. Actually that was a fun fast bit of flying.

I flew tonight and it was wonderful. The breeze stopped while I was flying and that made it super. I flew out the SB pack and came in. Then I tossed up the old Generic CUB and flew for about 20 minutes. It was so slow in the damp air. I think there will be a heavy dew tonight. I just slowed it down and tried to keep it as flat as I could in the turns and enjoyed the flight. I'll send a pic. It was pretty.

What town do you live in?

Roger

[SnoJetter]

Nice! Hey Rog, what's that bright circle-thingy just above the tree-line? It looks familar, but I can't quite place it. That picture is so bright, I almost had to squint!
It's been overcast around here for quite some time. I heard it cleared off briefly yesterday, but work kept me indoors, so I didn't notice if it did :D
I'm fortunate enough not to live in a town. The closest town (really a Hamlet of about 100 people - when people say they are from a small town of a few thousand poeple, I laugh...you wanna see a small town?) is Huntley, MN. Nobody around to bother when I fly.
Those batteries you have, did you have to supply your own connector, or are you using them as is somehow?

Kyle

[468/f]

Hi Kyle,

That will be all of us in the Central Valley once it rains. That is when we will have Tulie Fog until March. When that large bright thing swings into the eastern sky, we squint and blink!

When the fog goes more than three weeks the TV stations begin to do Public Service Announcements that are targeted at "Cabin Fever!!" Depression becomes a problem. We head to the desert and get some sun on the weekends.

I can't wait to look it up on one of my map programs! I love maps and now the satellite pictures.

The batteries need to be matched to the ESC. I got the one that Doug sells, so I had to go with the big Nylon plug and socket. Tamymia or something they are called. They have the little lock on the top to keep them together. The ESC is soldered to the back of the motor.

Take Care,

Roger

[SnoJetter]

Hey Roger, I should give you a current flight report on this SB. I woke up to absolutely calm conditions yesterday morning. I rushed to put the SB together and headed out to fly. I hand launched and was surprised to find the trims almost perfect. I flew around a bit then thought I'd set up for a landing. Somehow, I managed to work the rudder successfully to line up for final. Reduce power and she came in, started to drift then yawed - but it came down nice and soft. Next was to try an ROG take-off. Still not used to the rudder with the throttle stick, so I started turning right, but it got off ok. Flew til the battery was low then landed. I then notcied my motor mount was loose - head back home to glue it together. Once I got back out, the wind had picked up and I wasn't comfortable flying. With the plane bucking around (I nearly smacked pavement on one approach, only a good charge on the battery kept her from stalling) I decided to land in the ditch - ended up coming in hot and broke a prop and the motor mount (for about the 6th time).

Last evening, the wind died and I flew through 2 packs. I tried a couple of loops, and attempted a roll. Aileron control throws weren't enough to roll fast enough for my taste so I settled for knife-edge then rolled back. I had 2 beautiful take-off rolls, straight as an arrow. My final landing was the best I've ever had. All I did was line it up and then gradually reduced power - thing lands itself! I almost forgot to flare, it came in perfectly flat - in fact I really didn't need to flare. I kept a little power on and the tail stayed up during roll out and it came to a stop almost at my feet! Wow, what a flyer - I think I may actually be able to succeed with this thing!

Kyle

[468/f]

Kyle,

That was neat to read!

I think the SB is one of the finest planes going. I suppose I'm speaking in general flying. I was really pleased to find how stable it was to fly. It just felt right.

Got to run,

Roger