What to Learn to Fly With

...in my experience

AXN Floater Jet
Conventional wisdom suggests that pusher planes are ideal trainers, the mid-mounted motor and propellor being well protected.

However, my experience with this configuration in the Floater Jet has been annoying for two reasons:

• They want to fly into the ground when you launch them
• The flight characteristics vary with speed and acceleration

While the prop and motor are protected, the counterintuitive flight characteristics mean you end up crashing the nose. A lot. My example is now destroyed but the propellor and motor are still immaculate. My feeling is that if this thing flew more predictably you wouldn't end up crashing it so often...


Phoenix 2000
I had read somewhere that an important factor in choosing a training aircraft is to get a large one so that visibility and orientation is easier.

My experience with the Phoenix has been mixed:

• They head straight up if you launch them with too much power
• The flight characteristics vary with speed and acceleration

Completely alarming on takeoff to the inexperienced, it also responds very slowly to turns due to its long wingspan, and is susceptible to gusts for the same reason. Similarly, it's large frontal area and high-lift wings mean it doesn't do well flying into headwinds - it goes up as far as it goes forward.

Although an 1800mAh battery is the largest suggested, I'd definitely put a 2200mAh pack up front to weigh the nose down, especially for beginner pilots. It also gives you more power to manage tight situation easier.


Hobbyking Walrus

Someone made a comment on a forum that the Walrus wouldn't really be a trainer plane. I don't know why not, as this is the most benign of the three aircraft I've flown.

• They launch and fly as you'd expect, whether under power or not
• They're manoeuvrable but are as stable as you could hope

The standard propellor is crappy, but replacer that with a carbon 10x6 along with a 2200mAh battery and you have a nice performing all-rounder.

Lanyu Trainstar
The Trainstar is a fun and engaging plane to fly, however again I don't know that I'd choose this as a beginner's plane unless you are being tutored by an experienced pilot. 

The Trainstar is difficult to keep straight during takeoff, can give you a bend prop adapter if you don't keep the tail down and can be a little challenging to fly, like when it tightens in sharp turns.

Having said that, if you can negotiate it's peculiarities, you'll be rewarded with a fun and characterful plane to fly.

Programmable Transmitter
I've found it very useful to have a programmable transmitter, as this allows you to vary the stick sensitivity (expo), alter the transmitting power and also vary servo travel, none of which can be done with a basic transmitter. 

The expo helps make sensitive aircraft more manageable and the travel setting is great for things like setting flap deployment.

Carbon Fibre Propellor on the Walrus

...and it looks groovy

With the parcel safely retrieved from the post office, I fitted the 10x6 carbon fibre prop to the Walrus last night. It was really easy to change the blades, just two screws to be removed and taking only a couple of minutes.

The blades fit perfectly and look brilliant. They are quite a bit bigger than the standard Walrus blades but I tried running the motor and it handles the extra load quite happily.

The finish of the blade is much better than the plastic original which, to be quite honest, is quite crappy. And, of course, the carbon weave looks good...

Serenity at High Altitude

...an extraordinary flight


I had a completely serene flying experience this morning.

The weather was heavily overcast with a multitude of textures and colours of heavy rain clouds covering the sky. It was almost completely still with just the slightest suggestion of a breeze on the ground with a feel of the moisture in the air.

I threw the Walrus up and did a bit of aerobatics to warm up the servos and them did a run over the kangaroo ground to see how they were doing. Having completed these missions I was wondering what was next, so set the Walrus with a hint of up-elevator with moderate throttle and let it go.

With the cool morning air the Walrus climbed quickly and steadily until it was just a snippet of a plane high in the air, communing with the clouds.

A wing of Sacred Ibis flew over in a perfect V-formation heading north, their pale colouring contrasting with the dark clouds above them.

I took this restful opportunity to take the first ever photo of the Walrus flying as up till now I haven't wanted to take the risk...

Propellor Held Hostage

...noooooo!


Came home this afternoon to find a delivery card for a parcel - my carbon propellor, excellent! It was ten past five, and the post office closes at five. Gnashing of teeth, kicking of things...

Very annoying as I would get good use out of the propellor on the Walrus, while it would be of absolutely no use to the post office, so really I should be allowed to go and get it based on these grounds.

Seems a reasonable-enough argument I think...

Flight Before The Storm

...and something of a record

Another flyable morning, which must be something of a record! Last night was very windy as a cold front approached from the south west, bringing rain and cold temperatures for the weekend. Luckily though, the winds abated to the gentlest of northerly breezes this morning, perfect for getting the Walrus into the air.

As per the usual routine I did a lot of slow cruising around the paddock, some low fly-pasts and a few loops and rolls. Being more confident now in the robustness of the RC link, as well as better at gauging the aircraft's orientation at distance, I extended the flight envelope sending the Walrus further to the industrialised north, then towards the dark forests of the south and up into the rising hills of the east, where the kangaroos play. I also flew a few camera-runs over the wildlife, making sure not to get too close but hoping to get some nice footage of them enjoying their breakfast.

Flying with the slight breeze is quite fun - going into the wind you can gain altitude quickly while  going downwind allows brisk cross-country flight. Also, approaches  across the wind look so good as you can see the plane drifting down with the breeze as it comes into the field.

When doing aerobatics I have been giving the Walrus full throttle to build up speed gain height, however I must say that I find the full-throttle performance a little underwhelming, with increased noise from the propeller seeming to be the main effect.

I'm growing increasingly interested to try out the 10x6 carbon blades I bought, as I think the slightly larger diameter will be beneficial and I'm hoping the profile will be more effective than the white units standard with the kit. They are shipping in from Hong Kong which takes forever, so we still have to be patient a little while longer...

Breezy Flight

...a breeze is stealthily approaching

I had an interesting flight this morning. The forecast was for a moderate breeze although when I got to the field there was just a suggestion of breeze from the North. So I happily launched the Walrus and set about cruising around. However it was soon apparent that something was amiss - sometimes control response was slow and occasionally a wing would kick up for no apparent reason.

Now, with the history of failures I've had while flying my RC aircraft,  random behaviour is cause for instant panic. I had resolved the wing-warp issue with padding in my car so it wasn't likely to be that. Also, with the receiver configuration in the Walrus as well as the high-power US transmitter settings I've happily not had any issue with signal loss lately.

Testing the Walrus showed normal response to inputs, although it was now clear that the relative calm at ground level was masking the approach of a growing breeze. Realising this I was quite happy, as knowing what to expect is much more reassuring, even if it's the unexpected!

I made a camera-run over the kangaroos to try and get some better video than I've managed up till now. I was probably a little too far away to judge the distances well, so I had a rather closer encounter with them than I had anticipated but did little more than pique their interest as the Walrus pulled into a climb over their heads.

By the time I came in for the final landing the breeze was quite strong although smooth. After an initial approach was aborted due to the Walrus running out of height, I tried again coming in much higher. The Walrus flew it at snail's pace against the wind, having to make constant adjustments to keep it on the level before finally dropping it onto the grass at the far side of the field...

Warping Walrus

...wing warping of the unexpected kind

The sudden onset of warm weather has had an unexpected outcome - the Walrus has gone soft!

I've had the plane in the back of my car virtually since I've had it with little ill effect. However, with the last couple of days been moderately warm (only in the low twenties) the right wing tip has warped where it was pushed against the car. This caused the Walrus to have a right turn yesterday, and this afternoon again although worse.

I have taken to putting in a few cushions to, well, cushion and support the plane so there is less stress on it. I wonder if this is a common issue, and if there is some solution to the problem? The obvious remedy is to not have it in the car, although this would also mean forgoing the best opportunities to fly. 

So I'll have to give this some thought. Perhaps some sort of aeroplane bed?

Ridge Flying

...but not terribly successfully

I tried out a bit of ridge flying this afternoon, hoping to get some lift from the gentle southerly blowing up the bank to the sports fields. It's not hugely elevated - perhaps fifteen metres or so, but I was hoping it might be sufficient to generate at least model-sized wave lift.

It was the first afternoon that I've flown the Walrus, in fact I think it's the first time I've flown anything in the afternoon, so I was a little nervous. Warm, breezy...

I launched the Walrus directly onto the ridge and it was immediately apparent that this wasn't going to be an afternoon in the park. Despite the breeze fairly smooth and gentle it still make flying conditions fairly challenging. It also didn't help that there was a large tree just at the edge of the field, in the middle of what would be the optimum ridge flying route.

So I flew the Walrus for a while trying to get some lift but eventually gave it up, any lift that might have been there certainly not compensating for the effort and risk. So I turned back over to the field to end the afternoon's flying in more gentle conditions...

In the Air

...with a little help from providence

I arrived at the field this morning to find it absolutely still and calm, a perfect sunny morning. So I happily unloaded the Walrus and set about getting it ready. I plugged the battery in then switched on the radio. The receiver lights came on but there was a lot more beeping than usual, and then the ESC started playing tunes...this was definitely not right.

A quick glance at my transmitter solved the riddle - it had shifted in the car over the weekend and the throttle was on full, setting the ESC in programming mode. Hastily I flicked the throttle off and checked the controls. Everything was working, excellent. Holding the Walrus aloft for pre-flight throttle check. No response. I'd somehow reprogrammed the ESC to isolate the motor.

So, standing at the field with a plane on a perfect flying morning, unable to fly because I'd disabled the plane...

I set about trying to reprogram the ESC with little hope of success, considering there are about half a dozen options identified only by a sequence of tones. First attempt made no improvement. Deep breath, yell of frustration and then try again. 

Mentally picturing when I had changed the throttle earlier, I pushed the lever down and then powered the transmitter off and on.

Lifting the Walrus up I flicked the throttle and success! The propellor powered up, and we were back in business. Prayer of thanks and the glider was flying into the clean morning air...

Maybe Tomorrow?

...looking good for calmer weather

Today was breezy from start to finish, so flying wasn't even in the picture. However the wind has now died down and tomorrow morning is forecast to be calm, so we should be good to get into the air again.

I'm wondering whether to fly at the paddocks or go to the sports fields, where I had that really good flight. That makes me want to return there, but on the other hand there's the possibility that if I fly there again it might not be so nice again. I might just see how I feel tomorrow...

One thing I want to try is flying inverted. I've done a few barrel rolls, which the Walrus really well, so I might see if I can do half a roll and see how it goes staying upside down. I could even try a negative-G pull-up...

Grounded

...by the windy weather

Been a few days now on the ground with the windy weather putting flying out of the question. So I am settling for enjoying happy snaps on my desktop picture, this is the one I'm enjoying at the moment

I have also enjoyed not having to fix gliders I've smashed and hope things stay this peaceful. I have been giving the Walrus free reign when possible, but have also been very sure I'm not pushing my capabilities without ample scope for recovery, in case anything should go wrong. I also haven't dared take a photo of the Walrus in the air lest that should be tempting providence just a little too much.

So, it looks like suburban flying will be on the menu, it's just a matter of coordinating weather and time. Tomorrow morning looks like it may have potential. If it's calm we might meet the hot air balloons again, and I'll make sure to switch the camera on this time...

Walrus Magpie & Retriever

...not the most peaceful flight ever

I had a quick fly at the local field just down the road this morning, but it turned out to be not as good as I had hoped. Being between two busy roads made it quite noisy, also there are a couple of lamp posts to be careful of as well as some trees and cars parked at the end of the field. Not very relaxing.

Moreover there were a pair of territorial magpies nesting in one of the trees bordering the field who flew into attack me as I walked onto the field. I ended up having to defend myself from their repeated attacks with the Walrus. I'm not sure whether it was me or the fact that the Walrus looked like a large white bird, perhaps the latter as I had an angry magpie following inches behind the glider for the whole flight.

The video actually looks a lot more relaxing than the flight actually was - you don't get to see the magpie trailing about two inches behind the wing with its feet down and beak snapping, although you can hear it calling during the much of the early part of the flight. In fact I was half expecting the magpie to physically attack the plane and cause it to spiral out of the air. However the "attack" remained just a scare tactic - it didn't bother the Walrus but I must say that I found it a bit off-putting!

And finally, after a nice smooth landing, the Walrus nearly got retrieved by a friendly dog out on his morning walk at the field. He couldn't resist coming in to have a sniff at the just-landed aircraft, despite the strident yells of his owner calling him back. He probably thought it was just a high-tech version of a stick being thrown. Fortunately he didn't actually take the plane - whilst it would have made a lovely video I'm happy just to have the Walrus in flying condition.

Wicked Wing Cam

...comes in small packages

Having watched this morning's flight video I am again hugely impressed at the quality that the tiny RD32 wing camera manages. I must admit that watching gives me the feeling of actually being in the plane and experiencing the flight, anticipating moves and generally really getting the feel for it.

It was also nice to see some new scenery - there's little better for gaining perspective than an aerial view. So, as usual, if the weather's benevolent I might try the field down the road. It's two fields adjoining of different levels which might make for interesting flying experience. 

And of course we'll  have the camera on so we can enjoy the flying again after we get home!

First Prang of the Walrus

...off to a nervous start

I felt a little unsettled today - I don't know why as it was a beautiful morning with the sun just rising and barely a hint of wind. Maybe it was because it's a Monday...

I launched the Walrus with the flaps down which requires less power to prevent it from porpoising. However I set too little power and the Walrus unceremoniously nose dived into the turf and lay there with the ESC emitting warning beeps and the propeller twitching ominously. I immediately feared that the propeller had snapped but, picking up the plane everything seemed intact, and a flick of the throttle proved that the motor was none the worse for the little incident either.

So, after giving the Walrus a cursory wipe-down to remove the bits of soil and grass, it was back in the air again, this time without mishap.

The breeze was growing stronger as the sun rose, so that by the time I finally brought the Walrus round for landing it was struggling to make headway against the wind, just creeping over the fence with a little hop but then steadying up for a nice landing.

So this evening the Walrus will get a bit of TLC - I'll take off the prop and make sure everything's set properly again, and give it a nice clean...

Slow Cruising

...flaps-down flying transforms the Walrus

This morning I took the Walrus for a suburban fly. Having managed to avoid the lamp-posts last week, I managed to find a deserted sports field without any major obstructions. Three fields in length it offered enough room to fly but, being only the width of a small soccer field, wasn't very roomy.

This was the perfect opportunity to try the Walrus in slow-fly mode with the flaps adjusted to about twenty degrees or so (I haven't actually measured the angle). To be on the safe side, I launched the plane with the flaps up so I could have it flying before putting them down so as to avoid any nasty launch surprises.

With the Walrus up a little, I set the flaps down and was pleasantly surprised at the transformation, with the plane becoming a slow flying floater, just like the Floater. In fact I'd say overall it's better because it doesn't have the pitching effect that can make the Floater awkward. Just smooth, slow and very stable.

I was joined by a hot air balloon, which drifted slowly across the field and lined up for a landing in the field across the road. I took the Walrus up for a look but, with the balloon still quite high and having decided to avoid any risk to my now-lone glider, I didn't get too close.



I had hoped to get some interesting video out of this but, unfortunately, I didn't press the record button properly, so when the Walrus landed I found that the camera, having nothing to do, had kindly turned itself off.

However, when later checking to see whether it was still working, I did get a cute video of our giant cat licking the wing camera...

A Bit Too Windy

...so we'll just have to think about flying for now

No flying today unfortunately as it was too windy. I stopped in at the field just to be sure, but one look at the treetops waving in the wind was enough to convince me to turn around!

I have reduced the flap travel from one hundred percent to sixty five. I haven't checked this on the Walrus yet as I reprogrammed it while I was waiting at a traffic light. Anyway, I'm very interested to try as I think this will give the best of both worlds at the flip of a switch! Well that's the theory anyway, hope to be able give it a try soon...

Walrus Flies a Goal

...and a smooth landing

Grey clouds hung heavily in the morning sky, with just a int of colour showing through above the horizon. Not the most spectacular dawn, however the morning was still and cool, perfect for flying which was great!

The kangaroos were on the field in force this morning, grazing on the pitch. They seemed a little less shy this morning, hanging around near the fence as I prepared the Walrus. However the noise of the propellor revving up for launch was a bit much for them, and they had hopped off to join their friends in the paddock by the time the Walrus had cleared the fence.

I had a few good flights this morning, just easy circuits with a few low passes nearby. I also managed some good landings, without flaps though, as I still haven't changed the settings for the flaps.

One thing I have been missing is the relaxed floatiness of the Flyer. That's not to say I don't like the Walrus - it's a great straight flyer without the pitching characteristic of the Floater. However the Floater does produce magic when it floats silently past you, seemingly weightless.

I've just been considering flying the Walrus with flaps (on a reduced travel, perhaps twenty degrees). I think this might give the best of both worlds, clean flight for straight balanced handling, and flaps deployed for slow, floaty relaxed cruising. If the weather permits I think I'll give that a go tomorrow.

On the last flight this morning the Walrus flew a goal, flying its approach through the posts, a first for me...

Raven' On

...up with the birds

Had a lovely flight this morning, with just the gentlest of breezes coming through. With my revised control settings with expo now at a more pedestrian forty percent, I managed my first loop in the Walrus and my first ever barrel-roll!

In a repeat of my first flight in the Phoenix 2000 I had a couple of ravens chasing the plane. I was a little too far away to be able to judge the distances well, but I had a little play with the birds which was fun.

On my first approach for landing I deployed the flaps when the Walrus was above the field. The result was the plane rearing nose-high, another repeat of my early Phoenix flights.

Fortunately I managed to recover to put the Walrus down for a landing which was a little rough, but functional. So I think I'll be moderating the flap travel so the effects are a bit muted as we definitely don't want a repeat of that again...

In a Flap

...and a bit of flying

I managed to get the Walrus up this morning, although the breeze was already starting to pick up by that time.

I had a minor incident this morning when I accidentally launched with flaps deployed. I must have snagged the lever, most likely when setting the throttle for launch. Anyway, it went up fine, as you would expect with the extra lift, but then went very floaty and nose-up, a bit like the Floater Jet flies.

I turned it around  into the wind when I spotted that the flaps were deployed, immediately explaining its strange behaviour, so I just shut off the power and pushed the nose down to bring the Walrus in for an unscheduled landing.

A quick check there were no other issues and the Walrus was back in the air, climbing steeply into the steady breeze then turning into a large bank over the paddock with the cattle enjoying their breakfast. The strong breeze quickly pushed the glider downwind and my efforts to bring it back were making little success.

Trimming the nose down a little helped it push through the breeze more successfully, and I felt most relieved as it again approached the field. As always, losing track of the Walrus' orientation at distance is a constant risk, and I'm sure the odd false input will be evident in the videos!

The final bit of fun was trying to get the Walrus down. Having successfully cleared the fence without collecting either the tree or posts I deployed the flaps to steady things down and hopefully settle the Walrus down with the extra drag. However the clean air-frame, even with the RD32 camera atop, continued to surf the breeze until it was clear I wasn't going to make landfall before I reached the bank, so I powered round in a mini circuit for another go, the flaps making the downwind transition flawless. 

I eventually got it down, next to the almost-empty duck pond, a good end to some challenging  flying in the breeze...

Zen Flying Official Trailer

...watch it on YouTube

I had hoped to sneak in a flight this morning but the weather was blustery. And it hasn't improved since, with the metrology reporting wind speeds in excess of sixty kilometres per hour. At that rate the Walrus would have slowly receded into the distance... 

However the day has not been wasted, with cheeryman creating an impressive Zen Flying Official Trailer.

I'll certainly be watching the weather to get the Walrus and camera out to have a good fly, and to collect some video footage which I must admit to enjoy watching afterwards.

I can certainly understand the appeal of FPV flying...