Suggestions / Opinions for new (again) CL flyer

[Bald Paul]

Hi folks. Haven't flown CL for many, MANY years. I had changed over to RC, but, for the second time now, I find myself in the situation where the club flying field is being lost due to development. Prospects for locating a new, suitable flying site in the area aren't looking good, either.

I do have a local park with several soccer and baseball fields that are pretty much unused during the weekdays, except for the summer. Too small, really, for RC flying, but large enough to put a CL plane up for some fun.

All my RC planes are electric - quiet and clean - so naturally I plan on going electric power for CL. All my planes are built as well (several I designed myself in CAD, had kits laser cut from the files) so I want to build from a kit at first to get an idea of some of the design techniques unique to CL.

I went to Brodaks website and put together the attached package. I have batteries, obviously, and want to use larger wheels than listed on the kit accessories since I'll be flying from grass. A friend of mine who owns a machine shop is building my handle for me.

Open for suggestions, tips, etc. Do you think it's a decent setup to get my feet wet again? Thanks.

[Russell Shaffer]

If you are just sport flying you can use your rc gear to control the throttle.  I hang the transmitter from my belt and run the throttle with my left hand.  Go to the carrier section and look around if you want more details on this.  Have fun.

[Bald Paul]

If you are just sport flying you can use your rc gear to control the throttle.  I hang the transmitter from my belt and run the throttle with my left hand.  Go to the carrier section and look around if you want more details on this.  Have fun.

I was considering this. #1, I already have the gear, so wouldn't have to spend the money on timers. #2, I honestly don't know how long I can go in a circle without getting dizzy now, and should that happen, it would give me the ability to chop throttle and land.

I was even looking online for cheap 2 channel pistol grip car Tx units. May want to gut one and turn it into a handle.

[Dane Martin]

I like the circus prince. A good friend and club member Larry Marx built one, and it ended up with my cousin Butters. It's a smooth stable flyer. Here's a little clip of butters flying it in the wind. This one has a fox .15 rocket for power. So, no real power. ...lol

[Tim Wescott]

Hobby King has $20 car radios.  Before you go to the effort of turning the radio into a handle, try just holding it in your left hand and working the trigger.

Note that the throttle on the car radios is spring-loaded to about 1/3 of travel, which is just wrong for an electric.  It's fairly easy to modify (I think I have pictures).

I have one transmitter that's got the modified throttle that I use for electric, and another one with an unmodified throttle that I use for carrier with a slime engine.  Both work very nicely.