...still looks dodgy but goes a little better Having run the Phoenix 1600 fitted with the Floater Jet motor on large prop for a couple of flights, it was clear that things were not well. Although the motor would launch the glider OK, after a while I could hear the motor skipping. Checking the specs, its speed rating is 2150kv compared to 1050kv, more than twice as fast, which explains the difficulty it was experiencing trying to spin the big 10.5x6 prop.
I swapped it over to the 6x5 prop I had been using on the Floater Jet and found things to be a bit happier - still under-powered but at least the motor was running true. However the appearance was rather unlovely so, having noticed a tweeter housing I'd set aside thinking it might be useful for something, I set about crafting a cowling for the front-mounted motor. Surprisingly, things went rather well, and I fitted the cowling on with tack adhesive for convenience. It now looks like a 60's power glider fitted with an old-fashioned nose-job. While looking less ugly, it also seems to make the gliderfly more efficiently - not more thrust but the battery now holds up for longer.
I've ordered a replacement motor, having abandoned hope of Hobbyking quickly processing my warranty claim. That will arrive next week, giving thePhoenix the power it deserves...
...it's the second tone you want My recently acquired Phoenix 1600 came with a new blue ESC (compared to previous unidentified yellow in the Phoenix 2000), accompanied by an instruction booklet which, amongst other things, provided instruction on how to set the brake on the ESC. It does seem odd that the default is set to "brake off" when most of their products are gliders... Anyway, my attempts at finding the three beeps proved fruitless and had to resign myself to rather compromised gliding, with the large prop whirling busily in the breeze, and with the risk of doing the prop in on landing. Fortunately I came across this forum post #58. To summarise succinctly, the crucial moment is when one hears the second musical tone. Don't bother with trying to identify the tone amongst the myriad sounds the new unit makes, you'll just end up reprogramming random settings like I did. Anyway, I am happy to say, that after the first attempt with the new instruction, the ESC brake is now on and I can look forward to a bit of gliding tomorrow morning. And, by the way, if you were wondering, Volantex is the new Lanyu...
...yes I was desperate Well, It's been almost a week since the maiden flight of the Phoenix 1600 when the motor wiring, incorrectly pre-installed in contact with the outrunner motor, rubbed through. I'm yet to hear from Hobbyking's customer service, in fact my warranty request hasn't even been allocated to anyone yet! Tired of the almost-new Phoenix languishing in a disassembled state on the study desk, I embarked on a project to give it some power. My first call was to the local RC shop, in the hope they might have a suitable outrunner I could install. I say hope as they are geared mainly towards cars but, after some searching, the assistant found a few motors hidden on the bottom shelf, literally. One motor was a close match, a 1000kV versus the OE 1050kV unit, and just slightly bigger. Uncertain I headed home to check the Phoenix's fuselage size just to make sure. I also did a bit of research on motor sizes and specs, not being on to speed on motor jargon. A little while later I decided to give up the quest for a new motor - trying to match speed, mounting hole pitch, motor orientation and shaft size in a hurry wasn't going to happen. So the next option was to use what was available. I didn't have any spare motors, and the only plane I would rob was the Floater Jet of the annoyingly-variable flying characteristics.
This proved less simple than I had hoped. For a start, robbing the motor from the Floater meant I had to remove the connectors from the end as these couldn't fit through the tiny access hole to the motor. Then I discovered the mounting hole pitch was different to that of the Phoenix's stock motor, which entailed having to make up special stiffening bosses to get it to fit. Of course the Floater motor is an external fitting type, unlike front drivers which have the motor inboard.
In the end, after much foraging around, drilling holes and shopping for tiny screws, the Floater motor was finally installed and the Phoenix's prop connected. Of course, the configuration means it's ugly. However, desk testing indicates the motor is capable of running the much-larger prop quite happily, although it is expected it will not have the same grunt in high-demand situations like steep pull-outs. Nevertheless, I expect it will be sufficient to get the Phoenix into the air and flying around, which is all I'm wanting for now - just to get it some air...
...and a blast as well! This morning was overcast and with a hint of drizzle and some breeze around, good enough to fly so I took the Radjet along. It has been flying best-ever recently, despite it's thoroughly battered appearance, and this morning it launched happily and climbed into the sky. It looked like a pleasant morning's flight was in store when, out of the blue, the Radjet went into a severe stall and started to tumble. A few flicks of the control showed that I wasn't going to be any help, so I cut power and let the plane flutter down. My first guess was one of the control linkages had come loose but, on inspection, all was fine. The canopy, however, was nowhere to be seen...
Having flown for all of twenty seconds I was loathe to pack up and head to work, so I decided to give the Radjet another go sans canopy. Just in case, I launched the plane over the long paddock grass to act as an arrestor bed, however this proved needless as the Radjet climbed steadily. In fact the Radjet flew well, very well in fact, seemingly faster than ever without the weight of the canopy. Also, with battery movedtoward the centre of liftto correct the CoG, the jet was more agile and manoeuvrable as well. In fact the Radjet was flying so well the throttle was soon at maximum and stayed there for the whole flight, the jet carving up the sky, soaring and rolling, until the motor note began to drop and I turned the plane in to land. Walking back to the car I spotted the taped-up canopy lying on the grass. Well, I don't think I'll be needing that again...
...but at least no disasters! This morning was the first outing of the Phoenix 1600, resplendent in it's immaculate newness. It launched happily into the cool still morning, a little nose up despite the 2200mAh battery. It's a big and relatively heavy glider, at least compared to regular foamies, so it's slow response takes a little getting used to. It also seemed a little underpowered compared to the Phoenix 2000, with which it shares the motor and prop.
Having done a first run I brought it in to land, needing a couple of tries due to it floating; I tried it with flaps flaps but that just made it levitate. I shifted the battery fully forward with improved results, confirming the experience I'd had with its larger brother; if you fly these with a small battery (they suggest as small as 1100mAh) you have to be very careful with the power, otherwise they just nose straight up. During this second flight I heard a "pop" and the prop stopped dead. On the ground I opened the canopy for inspection which revealed that the cause was that the outrunner motor had rubbed against the ESC leads, resulting in a short and, probably by the sound of it, blowing the ESC. The friction from the motor contacting the wires probably explained the loss of power I'd noted earlier...
...which ends well, but in the paddock This morning was lovely, calm and cool, with the sun just rising as I unpacked the planes. I took the Floater and the Radjet, with the former being backup as the latter can sometimes be a little unpredictable. As it turned out the little jet launched smoothly and flew beautifully, now nicely balanced and flying straight despite it's torrid history of traumatic crashes and endless repairs. It's more predictable behaviour also makes landing easier, bringing it in on a nice long gliding approach and dropping it gently onto the dewy grass.
Having the Floater I decided to throw that up as well for a more relaxing finish to the morning's flying. Well, it ended up as more of a walk as, with the Floater turning back from the paddock, it began to fly lower and lower. Adding more power to counteract what is often an area with sink, the Floater seemed to make no response and eventually glided down for an auto landing. Reaching it eventually, after a walk across the field and a hop over the fence, the cause was apparent - flipping the power on, the prop spun up momentarily before lazily winding down. I'd forgotten to charge the batteries...
...what's in the box After ordering a Phoenix 1600 on the weekend I received it yesterday double-packaged and in a nice picture box.
Everything is very well packaged and protected inside the box, so there was no travel damage at all. Being a Lanyu/Volantex creation, so a nice high-quality piece of kit all round with a beautifully moulded fuselage with built-in battery tray with strap. The EPO wings and tail are high-quality mouldings with excellent surface finish, and all servos are pre-installed except for the flaps. Provision is made for installing flap servos in the wings, and liknages are supplied The few areas where complaint was levelled at older models, like the clevises supplied with the Phoenix 2000's, have been fixed on this later iteration. I'm looking forward to assembling it and will uploading some tech on that as well...
...summer has settled in Yes, the hot weather has well and truly arrived, with sweltering episodes thankfully interspersed with the occasional cool day. Rain, of any significant nature, has been long absent and the garden is parched. The mornings lately have, however, been idyllic for flying - cool and calm and either clear or with a few scattered clouds around. I'd previously taken the Radjet a few days ago and enjoyed putting it through it's paces.
The poor thing is well and truly battered however, with the balance now sorted and me having a better understanding of its launch characteristics (although I'm still not a hundred percent confident with launch, although I haven't had a failure for a while), it's an entertaining little beast to fly. Don't let it get too far away though, as it's orientation can be hard to distinguish.
This morning, though, I took the Floater Jet out for a spin. Not the most dynamically inspiring beat ever to grace the skies, but it does do one thing well - flying slowly. So that's what I did, floating the Jet low over the paddocks, skimming the grass tufts and flying slalom around the trees and bushes. Wildly exciting; no, not really. Very peaceful and enjoyable; most certainly...
