... loops around the moon
A few days ago I took the Walrus for an evening fly at the local field, something of a regular occurrence lately and an opportunity to enjoy a calm and scenic flight as the evening set in.
It was lovely and calm, the sort of flying best suited to a Walrus whose slow and gentle characteristics match the serenity of deepening nightfall, yet with agility and manoeuvrability to graciously accommodate exuberance as well.
Of course the first priority on a beautiful evening like this, with the full moon rising orange above the eastern horizon, is putting the Walrus through a few loops around the moon
Flying aerobatics doesn't make for the best sunset footage however, with some creative editing and a lovely violin piece, I've managed to put together a video of the beautiful sunset and moon rising...
Showing posts with label loop. Show all posts
Showing posts with label loop. Show all posts
Wednesday, 18 December 2013
Monday, 26 August 2013
Lovely Flying Morning
...had a lovely fly today.
It was an absolutely beautiful morning, crisp and clear with some high cloud and just a hint of breeze. I ended up going to my back-up field a few kilometres away so it will be interesting to see the video of it.
It's a nice open space, and of course the blue sky and bright morning sunlight made it a visual treat. Virtually no wind meant that the Walrus could fly straight and true so that, after a while, I was confident enough to fly a few big, slow loops and some barrel rolls. The agility of the craft is quite surprising and, giving it a bit of a run-up, will climb vertically for a surprisingly long time.
The only obstacles are some trees at the perimeter and some tall nets, fortunately I managed to avoid all of them and, after a generous flight, came in for a nice slow approach over the fence and settled in for what must be the best landing I've managed in the Walrus so far...
It was an absolutely beautiful morning, crisp and clear with some high cloud and just a hint of breeze. I ended up going to my back-up field a few kilometres away so it will be interesting to see the video of it.
It's a nice open space, and of course the blue sky and bright morning sunlight made it a visual treat. Virtually no wind meant that the Walrus could fly straight and true so that, after a while, I was confident enough to fly a few big, slow loops and some barrel rolls. The agility of the craft is quite surprising and, giving it a bit of a run-up, will climb vertically for a surprisingly long time.
The only obstacles are some trees at the perimeter and some tall nets, fortunately I managed to avoid all of them and, after a generous flight, came in for a nice slow approach over the fence and settled in for what must be the best landing I've managed in the Walrus so far...
Wednesday, 21 August 2013
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...
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...
Monday, 19 August 2013
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...
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...
Monday, 22 July 2013
In the Air Again
...flying with the birds
The winds finally abated to modest single-figure speeds, and the light rain which had fallen overnight ceased long enough to have a quick fly. The clouds were still leaden and, with streaks of rain visible falling here and there, it was clear that rain would reach the field sooner rather than later.
The Phoenix 2000 was all prepped and ready to go, so it didn't take long to get it into the air. Launch was happily uneventful and I powered up into climbs and practiced a few loops and stalls. There were plenty of birds flying over this morning, and one particularly large wings of what I think were ducks. Lovely to see.
I also tried out the flaps on the Phoenix for the first time. They're pretty big and also, with my transmitter being very basic, I can't control the servo travel on my auxiliary switch - it's either on or off. So the flaps have full servo travel and open right down to about forty-five degrees.
The Phoenix was flying back towards the field, a little high, so I thought I'd give the flaps a go. Well, let me say quite categorically, that the effect of them is startling.
The Phoenix slowed right down and then went nose-up, gaining a few feet in height. I was expecting it to stall, however it just ploughed its way through the air, slow and steady. All I needed was to level the wings a little before it slumped in for a landing.
Not exactly elegant but certainly highly effective...
The winds finally abated to modest single-figure speeds, and the light rain which had fallen overnight ceased long enough to have a quick fly. The clouds were still leaden and, with streaks of rain visible falling here and there, it was clear that rain would reach the field sooner rather than later.
The Phoenix 2000 was all prepped and ready to go, so it didn't take long to get it into the air. Launch was happily uneventful and I powered up into climbs and practiced a few loops and stalls. There were plenty of birds flying over this morning, and one particularly large wings of what I think were ducks. Lovely to see.
I also tried out the flaps on the Phoenix for the first time. They're pretty big and also, with my transmitter being very basic, I can't control the servo travel on my auxiliary switch - it's either on or off. So the flaps have full servo travel and open right down to about forty-five degrees.
The Phoenix was flying back towards the field, a little high, so I thought I'd give the flaps a go. Well, let me say quite categorically, that the effect of them is startling.
The Phoenix slowed right down and then went nose-up, gaining a few feet in height. I was expecting it to stall, however it just ploughed its way through the air, slow and steady. All I needed was to level the wings a little before it slumped in for a landing.
Not exactly elegant but certainly highly effective...
Saturday, 20 July 2013
In the Zone
first aerobatics..!
I was feeling a lot better than yesterday and had a beautiful flight and a bit of fun with the Phoenix 2000 as well. For the first time I looped it and did a couple of wing-overs - OK although not perfect.as you might imagine for a first try.
Having watched a few of the Phoenix flights on YouTube yesterday I was eager to give it a bit more of a push and experience more of the flight envelope under full power. However that will have to wait a few days...
There was a spectacular display this morning of high clouds brushed with vivid pinks and oranges. This had faded a little by the time I got to the field but still lovely nonetheless, an ethereal delight.
I was feeling a lot better than yesterday and had a beautiful flight and a bit of fun with the Phoenix 2000 as well. For the first time I looped it and did a couple of wing-overs - OK although not perfect.as you might imagine for a first try.
Having watched a few of the Phoenix flights on YouTube yesterday I was eager to give it a bit more of a push and experience more of the flight envelope under full power. However that will have to wait a few days...
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