Raptor D-Box Pro 2000. Scenic Afternoon Flight.

...perfect afternoon to fly

Some afternoons are just great for getting the glider out, especially when a beautiful blue sky is dotted with fluffy cumulus pointing out potential lift spots.

A few times I've had some luck with the Phoenix and the Raptor. In fact I've even managed to get some lift flying here in the venerable Floater Jet!

There was one minor glitch; the props didn't fold and so continued windmilling whenever I had turned the power off. This, I think, was a remnant of the recent beach sloping, with some grit remaining in the prop holding up the works. 

This particular afternoon I didn't have much luck thermalling despite the beautiful conditions, but it was a scenic flight nonetheless. Part of the problem is the lit is better higher but at the same time it's harder to assess what's happening from the ground the higher you get.

And, when I've got my mobius FPV system fully sorted, I'm hoping to get it onto the Raptor so that I can try thermalling from first-person view, which should be fun...

Mobius Backpack FPV Testing

...pretty good so far

As I mentioned before, I've recently got an FPV system to complement the Mobius, consisting of a Docking Station with integrated FT592 transmitter and a RX-LCD5802 monitor with integrated receiver and battery.

This works straight up with the FT592 transmitter, however a little trial and error is required to get a frequency which is free from 2.4GHz interference. While there shouldn't be any, it can happen if there isn't a solid link between Tx and Rx.

After having tried several combinations, I've settled on channel D3 as suggested in an online forum, and found it to provide solid video quality up to around 800m, when it starts to get grainy. Ultimate range is around 900m, with the interference bands appearing and the video losing colour.

Worthy to note that the Mobius doesn't have to be recording to output video, and that likewise it will not switch off with the power input via the integrated voltage regulator. Also, if you do have your Mobius recording and the card fills, there's no fatal error. In fact you get a warning displayed on the monitor but you can carry on flying.

So I'm pretty happy with a solid 800m range from this mini system. However, as I'm wanting better range than that, I'm going to try a helical antenna, although I'll be getting a budget version as I'm not going to spend $100 on a copper spiral...

Dynam DC 3 Dakota 1470mm. Clouds.

...beautiful afternoon

My favourite flying conditions, usually, are when it's sunny with interesting clouds. This afternoon was also quite windy and gusty, not unpleasantly so but not ideal for the Dynam DC3 which isn't as stable and docile as one would imagine.

Nevertheless, with developing clouds sweeping across the field, it made for a wonderful backdrop to cruising the DC3 around.

Despite twin props, the DC3 doesn't even approach being rapid, so full-throttle flypasts are moderately brisk accompanied by a faint high-pitched whine.

But it's still good to punt around, and of course looks the deal even if it's nastier to fly than the full-scale original...

Simple Mobius FPV

...cheap and effective

For a while I've been considering getting an FPV system but, with the complexity, cost and choice of systems and components out there, I had deferred on the matter indefinitely.

A few things bothered me; firstly having to have two cameras because the supplied FPV cameras only supply video without storage capability. Secondly goggles; purported to be the best to provide an immersive experience but having low resolution and a limited field of view for the most-part, unless you're happy to spend the best part of $1,000 on HD goggles. And having to buy corrective lenses separately if you wear glasses.

Then I discovered that they'd released a Mobius Docking Station with a built-in transmitter. This takes care of getting the video stream from your mobius while still enabling you to record as you would usually. All that is required is a 2-4S power input on a JST plug, making it a simple plug-and-play application.

Next, reviewing FPV screens as a cost-effective alternative, I came across the RX-LCD5802, a  7 inch FPV Monitor with a 800x480 screen. What's nice is that is has integrated 5.8GHz 32CH diversity receiver and built-in battery. Furthermore, the screen image is clear and bright and it has OSD and an auto-search facility. Only, get this off eBay; the same thing just much cheaper!

The net result is remarkably simple and effective; connect the antenna to the dock, slide the mobius into the dock and connect a power via a JST lead. The mobius should power-on automatically and you'll now be transmitting video!

Then, screw the antennas onto the RX-LCD5802, hit the power button and within a second you'll be seeing crisp clear footage straight off your mobius.

It's as easy as that...

Raptor at the Beach Again

...good wind & good lift

Today I returned to the beach again for the third time to slope soar the Raptor. While he wind direction and strength on the first two occasions was a little weak and misdirected, this time everything was good; 30-40kmh southwesterly coming straight onto the dunes.

In fact, walking down from one car park, the wind at the top was that brisk it had me wondering how I was actually going to get the Raptor down to the beach without it taking flight involuntarily.

Fortunately, I found another path that wandered down through the dune growth, providing a sheltered entry onto the beach. The Raptor prepped, I spun the prop up and waited a little hesitantly for a drop in the wind.

Hoisting the Raptor up, it climbed steeply before levelling it off and steering it onto the dunes. The lift was much stronger than before and, after a little trimming, got the Raptor floating motionless above the bank.

Not that it was as peaceful as it appeared; rather I was on high alert, making sure the Raptor didn’t drop a wing and get blown down. At some stages the Raptor, with flaps on, was actually drifting downwind so I was having to switch between flying clean and with flaps, and trimming the elevator up & down to suit as well.

So successful but not exactly peaceful! And then the landing; because my radio doesn’t have enough mixes to set up the ailerons as spoilers, I again had to zigzag the Raptor up and down the beach to loose height, before eventually nosing it in foe a sand-covered landing.

I really need to get another radio…

Stinger Inverted Crash

...and clouds

Of the times I've flown the Stinger I've had a number of bad launches, primarily due to it rolling, and several times where it's ended up inverted half a second after launch. Every time I have managed to successfully extricate it from such precarious positions and gone onto enjoy the flight.

This time, unfortunately, was different. With the Stinger inverted I panicked and killed the power, so that it nosed towards the turn in an inverted swan dive.

Fortunately the damage was very minor to the degree that I was able to straighten the nose sufficiently to give it another go. The second launch was perfect with a lovely flight to follow, against a backdrop of fresh clouds and beautiful blue sky...