View Full Version : Breeze tolerant planes
joekeyo
04-27-2002, 07:59 AM
I was just getting the hang of flying my firebird XL, when a rapidly
increasing wind blew it away. It kept turning toward me, but then it would be turned around by the wind. My dog sometimes teases me the same way when I call her.
Anyway, does anyone have any recommendations for a beginners ARF that can take some wind. It is almost always breezy here in coastal Florida. I'd like to get a model that has at least three channels (rudder, elevator, prop).
For a breezy day flying. My Watt-age Cub 400EP can handle winds 7/10 mph.Herr Engineering (http://www.iflyherr.com/) Herr Eng. have excellent kits (but your into ARF's) that can be flown during the days most parkflyers are grounded.
Check out Watt-age cub 400EP by hobby people. Do more research in here, cause I thought, I saw someone else posted a thread like this and have gotten lots of replys.
2NG
joekeyo
04-27-2002, 12:51 PM
Thank you for your response. I have checked the instructions for the Watt-age Cub 400EP on the hobby people website. The model is ARF'ed enough for me. I thought I looked over all the electric airplane threads before posting this, but I didn't see any on this subject.
Thanks again, Joe
Joe,
I would recomemd that you go to Ezone magazine, they have far more info. there, than here. Tons and TONS of info. Check out their disscussions Ezone R/C groups (http://www.*************/) and it's free.
I learned a lot of stuff there, and here as well, but again, there are more far 411 on R/C gorups. SEE ya there :D
Hobby Lobby (http://www.hobby-lobby.com/ezone.htm) Here's a good plane. No reviews yet though. Or there might be, but I haven't got to it yet.
Richard Miller
04-28-2002, 04:29 PM
ALLWAYS [unless there is some compelling reason] FLY UPWIND. GET UPWIND AND STAY UPWIND.
-Richard
Richard Miller ALLWAYS [unless there is some compelling reason] FLY UPWIND. GET UPWIND AND STAY UPWIND.
Ha??????????!!??
Dave Robelen
04-28-2002, 08:31 PM
I second Richard's Point.
No matter what you are flying, when the breeze is up and the plane does not make very rapid progress into the wind, or you are new to this game, As soon as your plane is airborne fly it straight into the wind for a goodly distance. When you make turns, be sure that the plane stays upwind of yourself. The wind always blows more slowly when you are looking at the tail compared to looking at the nose and watching it slide downwind.
Have fun, Dave
Richard Miller
04-29-2002, 01:26 PM
Thanks for backing me up Dave.
To this situation should be added the wind gradient. You could be lying in the grass with a pillow under your head and the transmitter on your belly and hardly feel the stirring of the breeze, but up where the airplane's flying the wind may be going at a pretty good clip.
-Richard
Mikerjf
04-29-2002, 01:29 PM
One of my favorites in the wind is Tom Hunt's Elipstik (ARF's available)
Mikerjf ---------One of my favorites in the wind is Tom Hunt's Elipstik (ARF's available)
I've read reviews about this plane, but never seen one fly, what is the wind condition like, that it can take?
Mikerjf
04-30-2002, 08:50 AM
I've had mine up in 10-15 mph maybe more. It's not a plane I hesitate to put up in the wind. If the wind is steady it's fine, if it's gusty and turbulent it's interesting but very controllable (has no bad habits).
Mike
Richard Miller, Sorry about the misinterpretation in my part when I respond to your post which reads:
ALLWAYS [unless there is some compelling reason] FLY UPWIND. GET UPWIND AND STAY UPWIND. I got ya! And totally agrees with you and Dave(after Dave replied, then I got it) about the wind characteristics and flying changes due to the wind directions.
Mikerjf, that's one brave Elipstik, now I know why you like this airplane as one of your best plane to fly, I've had mine up in 10-15 mph maybe more. It's not a plane I hesitate to put up in the wind. If the wind is steady it's fine, if it's gusty and turbulent it's interesting but very controllable (has no bad habits). that's way too cool to fly at the wind condition. Man, it's been a strange weather, raining down my part of the woods, imagine raining in N. California in this time of the month.
Weird ... how's you guys weather in you area?
CDNshy_guy
05-01-2002, 07:20 AM
I fly my Pico and TM in the wind all the time.
It's more fun when you can make your plane hover 2 feet from your face LOL. I love the challenge of getting the plane to go against the wind. Although, if you are worried about the plane then you shouldn't use these 2. The wind has torn my planes apart many times.
I just tape and glue them back together.
Norm C
Herr Products (http://www.iflyherr.com/index.html)
Breezy day Parkflyers
Dave Robelen
05-01-2002, 01:32 PM
Hi All,
I have been flying a Lil Luscomb Sport from Northeast Sailplanes in all sorts of weather. It weighs right near a pound, is powered with a sp300, and really hustles when I go full throttle. An ARF, it is one of the prettiest pieces of work I have seen. Real live quality.
Regards, Dave
I read a review about the Lil Luscomb Sport not bad. Forgot the authors name, you didn't wrote it, did you Dave? but anyways, were there, or did you modify the plane for performance? I checked it out, the price is good:)
Hey guys, you can also check out the switchback from Mountain hobby, but it's a kit though:( Planning to get one, but after seeing the Lil luscomb sport.....huuuuummmmmm:D
Dave Robelen
05-01-2002, 10:42 PM
Hi 2NG,
You are pretty close. The Lil Lucomb (3-channel) was reviewed in MAN by someone else. I used the version with ailerons in my article in Backyard Flyer on hopping up park flyer. This is the Lil Luscomb Sport. This was meant to be just another piece of work with a goofy ARF plane to work with. As it turned out, the quality of this machine was a real turn-on, and the more I fly it the better it gets! All this from a guy who almost never would own an airplane that I did not build. This was the first time I had seen an ARF this size with the wing completely finished, even in the center. It may be the best aligned model that I have flown for some years. OK, I really like it! :)
Regards, Dave
I was just going through my office ealier today, cause I sweared I saw you name in there and the Lil Luscomb sport. Nice review by the way. I like your reviews over all. Now in your article the props were different from what they are selling, can this be changed. Man, if you like, it most be good. Keep it up Dave, and more power to you... Hey I feel that were chatting... Me responding to this thread, and waiting for your response in the other:) By the way, anymore articles in line, that we should watchout for? Give us a scoop, if your on to any projects, keep us posted...
Monster Piper Cub400EP
480 motor
8cell 600AE
GB 2:1
ROCKET ship. wind 9mph+
skypoet007
05-17-2005, 12:58 AM
Hi!
I just purchased a second-hand Lil Luscombe (sport version)
I intend to use it with a GoBrushless 1 stage "CDROM" motor, a Phoenix 25 and a 3s 750mAh Lipo pack...
What propeller would you recommend for that setting?
(Since this thread could be old, I send you a PM copuy of this answer)
I read a review about the Lil Luscomb Sport not bad. Forgot the authors name, you didn't wrote it, did you Dave? but anyways, were there, or did you modify the plane for performance? I checked it out, the price is good:)
Hey guys, you can also check out the switchback from Mountain hobby, but it's a kit though:( Planning to get one, but after seeing the Lil luscomb sport.....huuuuummmmmm:D
aeajr
05-18-2005, 10:56 PM
I was just getting the hang of flying my firebird XL, when a rapidly
increasing wind blew it away. It kept turning toward me, but then it would be turned around by the wind. My dog sometimes teases me the same way when I call her.
Anyway, does anyone have any recommendations for a beginners ARF that can take some wind. It is almost always breezy here in coastal Florida. I'd like to get a model that has at least three channels (rudder, elevator, prop).
First - It is the pilot, more than the plane, that determines breeze tollernce.
Second The two channel planes, such as the Firebird line, should not be flown in more than about 5 MPH breeze. Since there is no elevator, there is no way to push the nose down to make progress into the wind.
If you are looking for an RTF package with a plane that can fly in a good breeze AFTER YOU HAVE MASTERED IT, then take a look at these three RTFs.
READY TO FLY STARTER PLANES - Electric Parkflyers
No building - they practically fly right out of the box
These also glide well so you can thermal soar
with them under the right conditions.
T-Hawk - RTF - Excellent Value - $170 - space CL1
Comes with extra wing, tail and battery
Flies well and stands up to hard landings
Can be flown on 27 MHz or 72 MHz
http://www.toytx.com/thawk3chrtf.html
T-Hawk - Without Radio - add your radio and receiver
http://www.readytoflyfun.com/wittran.html
T-Hawk Discussion Thread
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=243202&highlight=THawk
Videos
http://www.readytoflyfun.com/thawkvideos.html
Easy Star - RTF - $180 - Space CL1
Believe this goes easily back in the box to keep in the car
Super tough foam. Comes with 72 MHz radio in the US.
Good parkflyer and a good glider
Radio in RTF package can be used to fly other planes
http://www.hobbypeople.net/gallery/240025.asp
Easy Star - ARF - Add you own radio gear
http://www.hobbypeople.net/gallery/240009.asp
Discussion Thread on Easy Star
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=258656
Video - touch and gos
http://plawner.org/video/easygo.wmv
Video - Testing the plane's behavior
http://plawner.org/video/easystar.wmv
Aerobird Challenger - RTF Electric - $150 - Space CL1
Great keep in the car plane - take off the wing and it goes back in the box!
I started on an Aerobird RTF. I have over 350 flights on my Aerobirds. I
also thermal
and slope soar this plane. Flies well and stands up to hard landings. Their
add on fun accessories for night flying, air to air combat and drop module add
to the fun!
http://horizon.hobbyshopnow.com/products/description.asp?prod=HBZ3500
Review
http://www.hobbyzonesports.com/Discover/Articles.aspx?ArticleID=1289#Page01
Discussion Thread
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=147621
Video
http://www.parkflyers.com/html/aerobird_video.html
I have an Aerobird and have flown it in 15+ mph winds, but I NEVER RECOMMEND A NEW FLYER FLY IN MORE THAN 5 MPH WINDS!!!!!!!
Don Cooper
09-07-2005, 05:32 PM
Since I put a Johnson J250 motor on my GWS Cub, it has seldom been grounded because of wind. The Cub is so stable that I don't worry about responding to gusts - I just let it bounce around and assert only enough control to keep it headed in the general direction I want it to go. With the J250, there is enough power to make headway in winds in the low-mid teens. It is fun to watch it fly backward under complete (or at least almost complete) control.