Radjet 800 EPO. Paddock Flypasts

...fast fun

Breezy afternoons don’t suit too many planes; of mine the pick are the Rarebear, Stinger and Radjet. This particular afternoon there was a fresh northerly blowing and I headed right into the paddocks, my favourite spot for speedy planes free of any obstructions making it great for low-level, high-speed flypasts.

I find the Radjet a very stable high-speed plane and able to handle wind with aplomb, so I had a great time speeding it upwind and downwind, always at full throttle as usual. Unfortunately, by the time I got to the fields this particular afternoon, the sky had got a little hazy causing glare.

As a result the video struggled a bit with the contrast and, although I tried to balance colours and lighting manually afterwards, it’s very difficult and the video still doesn’t look quite right.

Nevertheless, the flying is quite entertaining and the sky, although not as lovely as it had been earlier in the day, was still a lovely backdrop to the speeding Radjet...

Raptor D-Box Pro 2000. Sunset in the Hills

...a beautiful afternoon

A brisk breeze saw me back in the hills for another attempt at slope soaring, this time on a westerly breeze. However a shift in direction after a short while had me lying on the ridge watching the clouds form and drift across the sky, powered by the breeze.

Fortunately the disruptive northerly had soon blown itself out, leaving a picturesque afternoon with the sun starting to dip. With no lift to be had, I nevertheless decided to get the Raptor for some leisurely cruising while enjoying the spectacle of a lovely sunset.

Flying on the ridge gives a three-dimensional aspect not normally experienced, flying the Raptor up the hill or floating it over the crest and down the other side. So, despite the soaring being a bit disappointing, the afternoon’s flying was beautiful...

AXN Floater-Jet Glider EPO 1127mm. Winter Sunset

...beautiful winter sunset

This beautiful sunset on a still evening had me heading off to the field in a hurry with the trusty Floater Jet and mobius camera to try and capture some of it. It’s always compelling to try and do this to make the most of what is otherwise obscured and diminished by the lack of a clear view.

From a vantage of a couple of hundred feet up, however, this is not an issue although there are others; the Floater is not the easiest thing to fly smoothly and steadily, especially when you’re trying to climb. Also, judging orientation from the ground is a bit hit and miss, compelling arguments for getting a drone with FPV capability.

The video from the flight was understandably then a little scrambled, with lovely glimpses here and there of the sun gradually sinking beyond the horizon. However, gradually sifting through the footage and stringing clips together I think I’ve managed to compile something that’s tranquil and a little bit special, in conjunction with a lovely acoustic guitar soundtrack.

Of course it’s nowhere as smooth or professional looking as something off a drone, but still not bad from a Floater Jet...