How about an 'official' RC Aircraft (or any kind of craft) thread

[cjannelli]

Some "old timers" may recognize this. It's a Kwik Fli III. I built it last winter and got a dozen or so flights in this summer.
Chris

[mikester]

Originally Posted by cjannelli

Some "old timers" may recognize this. It's a Kwik Fli III. I built it last winter and got a dozen or so flights in this summer.
Chris

Dude! I love that plane! What engine?

[mikester]

Originally Posted by chris_b

You guys have a lot of great looking planes, I have never really been drawn to the scale side of the hobby - I have always been more attracted to the "form follows function" side so most of my planes don't really resemble actual aircraft. I guess that is one of the things about the hobby that is so cool, there are a million different facets to it - just find the niche that appeals to you and follow it...

Not sure how many of you guys are aware of "dynamic soaring". It is a flying technique that allows a glider to build up incredible speeds by flying a circuit through areas of different windspeed on a slope - think of it like when you push someone on a swing and everytime they come by you you give them a nudge and they go higher and higer on the swing. Dynamic soaring is sort of like that where you fly a circle pattern where the majority of the circle the plane is in the wind shadow of a hill so the plane is not being effected by the wind but for a very short period when the plane pops up into the wind and gets a little push so it goes faster and faster with each circle. This is a pretty basic version of it and if you google it there is a ton of information about how it works... Anyway here is a little taste of it.

A couple of my friends have been chasing the 500 mph mark for some time and recently the weather conditions came together for a run at it and they were able to go 505 mph. The plane in the video is a Kinetic 130 or K130 and was designed by a buddy of mine who also happens to be a Porsche guy, (he has a very well prepared 6 cyl 914), and manufactured in the Czech Republic. The plane is made up of composites mostly carbon fiber but it is so stiff feels like it is made of steel... The plane has a 130" wingspan and weighs over 400 ounces. The record was broken at a hill in Weldon, California which is outside of Bakersfield. All speeds were recorded using radar guns, (they are specially prepared for us by the manufacturers to work at the speeds we are regularly flying at, (in excess of 250 mph).

Keep in mind the plane in the video is a glider, the only motors on the plane are for the servos moving the flight surfaces.

I hope you guys like the video, it is way more impressive to see this stuff happen first hand as the video doesn't really capture it all - but as the speeds increase so does the sound and you can actually "feel" the plane as it passes through different layers of air on the slope. It is truly amazing.

Cheers,
Chris

I've seen it but never done it...

[cjannelli]

I put an old Enya .60 in it. Tried to stay in the spirit of the late 60s. This was the first RC plane I saw as a kid. Always promised myself I would build and fly one! Finally did.
Chris

[mikester]

Here is video of my Mirage 2000 today:

http://youtu.be/XHy7zxFqfg4

[HHI944]

8ft tall piles of soft/loose sand.....I couldn't quite get it to the top

[cjannelli]

Nice flying Mikester. The Kwik Fli is a responsive pattern plane(old school) and requires being "flown" constantly. Not really relaxing but a fun challenge. I don't think I could keep up with one of thos jets!
Chris

[mikester]

Here is one of my F-86 from yesterday too:

[cjannelli]

Really nice! You've got great weather and a great field. Southern Oregon is cold and wet right now. Hopefully a week or two of good weather in Feb. I better get on the flight sim!
Chris

[porsche4life]

Loving the EDFs Mike! That is on the one day list!

I'm thinking I will get the Delta Ray, and learn on it, and then start playing with the cheap foam board planes like they play with on flitetest.com

What radio would you recommend Mike? Don't want anything too fancy or spendy, but would like to be able to hook up a buddy box so I can hit the panic switch on the youngin if he gets it in too tight a spot.

[mikester]

The radio it comes with is fine to start with but an upgrade would be the latest DX6, I use the DX9.

[pavulon]

These guys...it must be soul crushing to them but for whatever sad reason, I laugh out loud when this happens. uggghhh.

[SCadaddle]

I've been a modeler since 1975. Here is one of mine. A 20 size Hanno Prettner's "Magic" built from an MK kit in about 1990.

[Scott Douglas]

Originally Posted by pavulon

These guys...it must be soul crushing to them but for whatever sad reason, I laugh out loud when this happens. uggghhh.

Looks like it ran out of gas on that last approach. Wonder if it got any of the cars in the parking lot.

[SCadaddle]

"Snoopy", a 20 size Joe Bridi "Sun Fli-IV", a later design than the Kwik Fli III built in about 1985. I've probably got more stick time on this one aircraft than the rest of my fleet combined. Long out of production, some fellow I think in Arkansas, started cutting vintage kits and added this model to his offerings, along with the photo he lifted from the www of MY model.

[dad911]

Stalled it, no seat of pants with a model. We used to say you should always be able to see the top of the wing during the landing. Powered on to go around, but the center and right engine were off you can see props not spinning in video.

[pavulon]

[Scott Douglas]

Thanks for posting that Pavulon, enjoyed watching that. Sounds like they've got real model scale radial engines in that plane.

[pavulon]

I think it's 10 kinds of awesome too!

The RC scene has really become terrific stuff. The scale turbines also super cool!

[Ferraripete]

incredible!!! great thread.