Remote Control Aircraft

[ZK-MAT]

I have had an interest in RC planes and helicopters for a while now, and was tempted to get a large helicopter until colleagues with them suggested a plane would be less expensive to own and repair - based on their experiences with helicopters in large parks and wind shear outside....

I live near a large open area (the Gordon Spratt reserve) that is frequented by a few RC plane pilots. After a few chats with them I bought a $200 entry level ready to fly Firebird Stratos from Foamworks in Mt Maunganui.

I am having a ball flying this plane, it handles really well, has a 400 metre range, goes high and quick, but is forgiving and will allow you to get out of trouble in most cases.

Here is a link to where I bought it from:

Foamworks info page

Quick You Tube video - Google Firebird Stratos for more info



What I like about this plane is it's beginner friendly characteristics and technology that assists the control surfaces, that you can modify to give you total control and more sensitivity.

I'd be keen to catch up with any other BOP RC plane people!

Cheers,

Matt

[Ian Warren]

I really do like the Electric stuff these days .. long whiles back the "Lowglow's" Whoops thats Chris , nah glowplug and others were fun but electrics ... COOL , ripper Matt

[lowglow]

Hi Matt
I am a member of the Blenheim Model Aero Club. I have been involved in this hobbie now for around 5 years I guess. I am currently flying a Carl Goldburg Superchipmonk and an electric Hanger9 Funtana XT50, although I have 7 models in different stages of construction. Here is a link to my Skydive page Visit My R/C Photos
I am also the webmaster for the club the website can be found Here
Enjoy the hobbie its great fun
Chris

[Charl]

Smart (and much cheaper) move to stay away from the rotary wings, Matt.
I have a large pile of scrap servos and bits to prove my point...

Chris, great photos you linked.
This one is just beautiful



Never flown a floater, I guess it's a whole new dimension to wrecking a model - by waterlogging!

[lowglow]

QUOTE (Charl @ Mar 4 2013,10:20 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Smart (and much cheaper) move to stay away from the rotary wings, Matt.
I have a large pile of scrap servos and bits to prove my point...

Chris, great photos you linked.
This one is just beautiful



Never flown a floater, I guess it's a whole new dimension to wrecking a model - by waterlogging!

Float planes are the best. By far my most favorite thing to do. They look better in the air, they fly better, and trying to perfect the landings and take offs can keep you occupied for ever.
In fact I like float planes soo much that a couple of times I have completely forgotten about fuel and run out last time with bad results.I managed to land the plane fine but made a bad decision thinking about how far I would have to row to retrieve the model.
I decided to land the model on the other side of the lake facing towards me maybe 150 meters away, but at about 50 meters from shore the plane was still up on the step and not looking like slowing down, spectators by this stage were all looking very worried and were making a hasty retreat, at about 30 ft from shoe the plane went into a wild end for ender missed the water completely and landed right way up fair and squared in the dingy on the shoreline, floats and undercarriage stayed put but the rest of the model continued on to dry land, at least none of the gear got wet. but the model suffered significant damage.
Oh well that's aero modeling.

[Ian Warren]

Hope ya had your special cap for the day .... We all want a photo off the teams special headware

[lowglow]

QUOTE (Ian Warren @ Mar 4 2013,8:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hope ya had your special cap for the day .... We all want a photo off the teams special headware

LOL I'm still working on that one Ian

[SA227]

Yeah I do a little bit, mainly gliders but also have a F86 Sabre ducted fan plus 2 helicopters. The helicopters haven't been unwrapped since moving north 8 years ago so I'm not exactly current on those.
A couple of the F/O's at work and 1 engineer are into it big time and have some really nice machines.

[Ian Warren]

QUOTE (SA227 @ Mar 4 2013,9:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah I do a little bit, mainly gliders but also have a F86 Sabre ducted fan plus 2 helicopters. The helicopters haven't been unwrapped since moving north 8 years ago so I'm not exactly current on those.
A couple of the F/O's at work and 1 engineer are into it big time and have some really nice machines.

Now come on Andrew , you have a bloody great camera .. Me .. um Mav (sorry goose) We want to see this F-86

[Charl]

QUOTE (lowglow @ Mar 4 2013,8:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I decided to land the model on the other side of the lake facing towards me maybe 150 meters away...

Heart-breaking tale... can the models be switched from float to wheels and stay flyable?

My own flights these days are with 4 rotors feeding live to an iPad, much less exciting but still interesting.
Here's the pilot's-eye view from 42m (Max range is supposed to be 50m and I wasn't pushing the envelope this early in the drone's life)

[Ian Warren]

Geez your RC rotor duzy is taking a better picture than i can with me two feet on the ground

[ardypilot]

QUOTE

We want to see this F-86[/quote]
Ian, do a search for Alpha F86. It goes like stink and I get 10-12 minutes out the battery depending on how aggressively I fly it.

[ardypilot]

I've dabbled in RC a little too, just with an entry level foamy. Good fun on a still morning!
I even tried attaching a small key-chain camera once and managed to make a short rattly in flight video.

Also, have a look over this site here if you haven't already: http://www.parkflyers.org.nz/modules/newbb/

[Bazza]

Thanks for that last site Trolly....

FRor some months now I have been looking at the variety of electric stuff on TradeMe, with a view to getting a couple
of grandsons into the overall model plane hobby. I have been perving at a couple of very nice looking Cessnas, probably
bigger than the kids. I have been around long enough to realize that nothing is as easy as the adverts suggest so a
reading of this now bookmarked material will help.

[Ian Warren]

QUOTE (SA227 @ Mar 5 2013,9:43 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ian, do a search for Alpha F86. It goes like stink and I get 10-12 minutes out the battery depending on how aggressively I fly it.

Cheers thanks Andrew , i'll check it out

QUOTE (Bazza @ Mar 5 2013,12:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

FRor some months now I have been looking at the variety of electric stuff on TradeMe, with a view to getting a couple
of grandsons into the overall model plane hobby. I have been perving at a couple of very nice looking Cessnas, probably
bigger than the kids. I have been around long enough to realize that nothing is as easy as the adverts suggest so a
reading of this now bookmarked material will help.

Thanks Andy for the link , .... Barry these electric jobbies are so cool and so quite and if ya break em so easy to rebuild them , Rick my bro brought the mini super cub for his mini mes and is so easy to fly .. a good learning plane .

[dnkiwi]

I myself have a couple of RC choppers that i like to give a bit time into flying them although their nothing flash or expensive they seem to be loads of fun. I have a cheapy that is a nole leemings model and a Esky Dolphin that is in usa coastguard colours i have had a cupole of minor crashes but the chopper are nice and flexible in terms of fixing . already i have been looking at trying some challenges with them just to see what i can do

[Peppermint]

QUOTE (ZK-MAT @ Mar 3 2013,11:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I have had an interest in RC planes and helicopters for a while now, and was tempted to get a large helicopter until colleagues with them suggested a plane would be less expensive to own and repair - based on their experiences with helicopters in large parks and wind shear outside....

I live near a large open area (the Gordon Spratt reserve) that is frequented by a few RC plane pilots. After a few chats with them I bought a $200 entry level ready to fly Firebird Stratos from Foamworks in Mt Maunganui.

I am having a ball flying this plane, it handles really well, has a 400 metre range, goes high and quick, but is forgiving and will allow you to get out of trouble in most cases.

Here is a link to where I bought it from:

Foamworks info page

Quick You Tube video - Google Firebird Stratos for more info





I'd be keen to catch up with any other BOP RC plane people!

Cheers,

Matt

I might pick one of those up....been wanting an RC plane for a while, just haven't found one at a decent price. What's it like in the wind? Seen some around and including my RC helicopter that can only be used with no wind at all, a slight breeze is enough to completely throw off the balance. Also is it able to do any flips or is it strictly an entry level type thing?

[lowglow]

QUOTE (Charl @ Mar 5 2013,8:10 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Heart-breaking tale... can the models be switched from float to wheels and stay flyable?

They sure can in fact the crashed model was what I termed as my weekend hack I had a good 4 years of very regular flying from this model.
Here is a picture of the same model that was taken by Gavin Conroy at our clubs annual fly-in in 2009.



I have kept this model in the roof of my workshop just in case I get the urge to repair her one day.

As far as float planes go this is the model I am working on at the moment hoping to have it completed for our annual float fly-in this year in July



Then when that one is complete I can move on to the real serious stuff and complete the restoration of an old Maachi M39 that I also have sitting in the back of my workshop



Some photos of this model can be found Here As you can tell I am a huge fan of schneider trophy contenders

[Ian Warren]

Chris , you have finally found your Niche as the .. ourNZFF RC Aircraft man

[lowglow]

QUOTE (Ian Warren @ Mar 5 2013,8:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Chris , you have finally found your Niche as the .. ourNZFF RC Aircraft man

Ah yea