Back from the NATS
I had some time to fine tune the setup of the plane to my liking. Dave Fitzgerald and Derek Barry helped me with the setup when I was at the Triple Tree event and they opened my eyes to some trim details I was not aware of. So now that I had some time I managed to set up the plane just perfect. It was so much better than before to the point it was a new plane.
I set the turn rate to be equal on both sides and then I fine tune the corner to react to my imputes based on my flying style and I became one with the plane. This was the point where I said I am ready to receive coaching. Too bad that the weather did not agree with that. It was either 95+ and 100% humidity or same plus crazy wind. Anywise it was not practice time at all so I went in competition with what I knew. Yes my flying leaves a lot to be desired but it is mostly because of lack of coaching. Most of my maneuvers where flown with 40 degrees top elevation which in my eyes where 45 and I made many mistakes. Give me another 200 flights and I will turn that around. I the final day I decided to try new things and change the flying I was doing prior to that. Needless to say that was stupid and I threw the contest away.
Notably Mark crashed his model before official flights began Wednesday but it was just a flesh wound and we patched the tail and flew normally after that. He hit the ground upside down turned the model in normal flight. The motor ejected with spinner and the leftover prop and fell in the grass just outside the circle. His REovlutions continued and landed normally. That was eye opening that with aft CG and missing the 9oz of stuff in the nose (motor, spinner, prop, motor mount) the model was still flyable at that time "safety". And yes there was a loud bang. The only damage sustained was some scratches on the top of the fuse 3/4 of the top of the rudder crumpled and a scratch on the top of outboard wing tip. We fixed all that in an hour at the hotel glued the nose ring back in place and we where back in business.
I had to have fun with this repair so I drew this on the nose with a sharpie
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The best part was to share the models with some of the contestants. Three flew it Samantha Dany and one other, all flew in wind, some with a smile on their faces that never stopped some showing a poker face. "I can get used to this" was common response and from past this is the response I kind of get from anyone that picks up the handle. Sharing the plane was the highlight of my NATS and I totally enjoyed it.
I think this model is awesome in the wind. The line tension is not overwhelming at all and it pulls everywhere without sacrificing corner it noses out upwind adding some line tension there and the vice versa downwind taking line tension away so there is no excessive added line tension added during the wind compared to the line tension in calm conditions, there is some but it is just a little more it is rather uniform upwind and down wind and nothing that will pull the hand out of your socket.
It is time to start practice with a purpose, hopefully a coach, and create a routine. I need to iron out inconsistencies relax and find myself. I have a solid machine I can depend on and all I need is practice.