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You can NEVER be too safe, Early warning radar & refuelling capabilities are a must these days, along with the Gattling gun under the nose!!
On to Glider No. 2
The “Phoenix” – Rising from the ashes.
Well it looks like another of my big gliders has been resurrected, the ex Moose SkyClimber that I managed to write off in Feb last year is finally ready to take to the skies again. This was one of my favourite FPV planes to fly and although I have a spare complete SkyClimber (ex Mike (Flat Battery – VK7FB) I was determined to at least try and get the wreck flying again, just like a Phoenix rising from the ashes.
In fact, given the condition of the LiPo battery when the plane impacted Terra Firma at 82kph, it was very lucky the whole thing wasn’t reduced to a smouldering wreck
The crash was caused by a failed CF main wing spar that allowed the wings to fold in half, looked quite spectacular coming down, just a pity the only video was from the onboard camera.
The rest of the wreckage
Even destroyed the FPV pan/tilt & Video Transmitter, lucky the camera survived
Anyway, that is how it was on that fateful day in February 2018 (Video of final flight & crash below)
Back to today and the “Phoenix” is ready to fly again, after a lot of hot glue, reinforcing tape & a few 3d printed spare parts
Won’t have to wait long as it looks like we will be flying tomorrow.
The Gooney Bird alterations were finally completed today and she is all back together, programmed & tested ready to go chasing Thermals.
By Version 4 of the gear tray I had everything fitting just the way I wanted and now there is plenty of scope to move the battery back & forward to set up the COG just right so hopefully no more nose heavy flights or having to add lead to the tail to balance.
The New setup, Rx on top & Auto Pilot underneath
FPV Camera, AutoPilot GPS module & FPV 600mw Video Transmitter
Plenty of battery room now
Finished & ready to soar
Thanks for the report Col.
Sounds like a good morning was had by all.
Hopefully, with a few other projects nearing completion, I will make it next Tuesday.
I’ve added a short video to Kermit’s post, nothing great just some footage from the mobile phone just to show that Kermit DID actually fly Solo.
You may be able to use Tundra wheels but they are quite a bit bigger than Ian’s and his seem to work fine. You would need to check with him or John for the actual size they used. Ross also has replaced his wheels bit I think he used smaller than Ian.
Another quality production there Gerald. No doubt we will see plenty more when your new Bix 3 gets airborne.
Thanks.
Now if we could just get Ross to load his footage here it would all be in one place!!.
That didn’t take long. Don’t forget to get some bigger wheels (like Ian has) if you want to take off & land successfully on the stubble @ The Farm.
Had a couple of minor repairs to carry out after all that low flying, busted some cogs in the aileron servo’s.
Wont happen again now that 3D printed Servo Savers have been installed on the aileron & flaps servo arms.
Also tidied up the Livery a bit
Gee Kermit, that was way back in 2013, I didn’t even have the Sand Tyres fitted that trip but we never left any evidence of damage to any flora or fauna. (even the fitted road tyres made good mincers).
In the later video’s with the big Sand Paddles fitted, well that’s another story.
Here is a little bit of FPV ground footage.
Broadcast from Bad Angel’s Bixler 3 and recorded on Quanum Cyclops Diversity FPV Goggles with built in DVR.
Video enhancement using Cyberlink Power Director 17
Hoppy, if you just copy & paste your Youtube links straight into the forum post rather than using the link icon above you will end up with live video shown rather than a clickable link.
You can also edit (up to 24 hours-thanks to Kermit) and add more text and paste more links into the same post so you don’t need to start a new post (unless you want to) for each video. This new site is much more flexible than the old one.
Another 3 great videos from a very enjoyable Fly-In day @ The Farm.
David, I do not have any problem with you participating in Puddleduck sailing (or anywhere else for that matter). I, and no doubt others have indeed benefitted from your knowledge and assistance.
As I see it the issue is that we are primarily interested in only social sailing/racing and for a great many of our skippers that does not go hand in hand with complying with all ( or for some – any of) the rules of sailing.
I know it is difficult for skippers from Risdon Brook and any of the more established “racing” clubs to understand but the friendly “relaxed rules” sailing attitude is what keeps our members turning up each week, there is no pressure to remember & comply with all the rules and even less pressure to win, just be there with mates & have a bit of fun for a couple of hours.
Puddleduck sailing for DF65’s was never intended to be a challenger for or an extension of the RBRYC (of which many of us are members), just somewhere else to go and have a bit of fun.
If you took a quiet minute to see what is actually happening during a race at Puddleduck you would quickly find there are no raised voices or challenges being called for various points of sailing law, just a bunch of guys (and sometimes gals) having a bit of fun and occasionally saying sorry if you stuff someone else up badly enough.
If you are happy to fit into that scenario then you, like anyone else are more than welcome to participate.
