Not Enough Time In A Day

I’m really excited about the Fly-In this weekend in Vegas, but a little dissappointed too… B17 is NOT finished. Work, responsibility, etc just got in the way! I’m Bummed. I want to fly it SO bad, but I don’t want to rush it either. Servos are in, retracts are in, surfaces are all hinged and linked, all 4 motors are in, RX battery is in. Some of the windows are glued.

Still to do:

Fit/Mount Flight Batteries

Run Servo Extensions

Install Retract Control Valve

Test Retracts

Modify Cockpit canopy assembly so that it is removable to access switch, fill valve, charge jack.

Plug Hole in Cowls where they were ground out for the Engine Installation section in the manual. We’re going electric so we don’t need those holes anymore! This requires a fair amount of work as well as paint matching and painting.

Run up motors, make final prop choices.

Install Receiver

Final complete system Check

Range Test

Test Fly

That’s more than I’m going to do in a day.

Anyway, this weekend we’ll still be flying a VAN-Load of planes…

1. Squall. We’ll have at least 2 Squalls, maybe 3 or 4. I’m bringing two: 1 with 3 cell and 1 with 4 cell with Thrust Vector. Should be fun.

2. Model Tech Super Fli Prototype. 84″ Span, 10S pack. It’s a fun, good looking, scale aircraft. And since Phil Kraft designed the Full-Scale, that makes it VERY cool. For those who haven’t seen one, it looks a little like a mono-wing Pitts.

3. Phase 3 Mini Mustang. Just like the Mini Spitfire, We’re releasing a Mini Mustang and it will be FUN to get this little guy out there. It’s fast!

4. Speaking of Fast.. We’ll be flying the Mini Mach Racer from Model Tech. Weight is 16 oz ready to fly, thrust is 16 ounces at full throttle. That’s some fun power on a little tiny plane!

5. BH Models 46 Size Gilmore Red Lion Racer. We’re running a 4120 KMS motor. Has a hatch in the bottom for battery access.

Will be flying, of course, with the SD-10G and the RDS8000. So, we’ll have radios out there to show, answer questions, etc. If you have any questions, etc. about Airtronics, drop by!  We’ll show you all the new ATX Digi’s coming out too! (Shhh it’s kinda’ a secret! Well, maybe not anymore!)

Mike B. and Mark S. will be there too in the HP Tent and they’re bringing Squalls too I think. So maybe we’ll have 4?

So, if you’re in Vegas this weekend and want to check out these planes, stop by! Bill Bennet TOC field. Sat and Sun!

See you there!

Mike

Kyle Paulson – More Wins with Airtronics

Kyle just sent this in (Kyle is a World-Level Championship Sailplane Pilot flying many disciplines now with his SD-10G):

Recent Accomplishments:

1)      1^st in the SCSR Cal Cup Points Series.

2)      5^th place overseas at the German Open!

3)       2^nd place Team USA at the Open! It was a great time.

Looking forward,

Kyle Paulson

- CONGRATULATIONS TO KYLE!

Scale Squadron

Just a quick update.. I’ve been over to the Scale Squadron meeting a couple of times, showing off new stuff from BH, ASM, Airtronics, etc.  They ALWAYS treat me well. And since they’re all scale-buff’s they always give me insight and details on the planes. It’s a great give and take! Here’s a few pics.. Notice the full size pilot with his life size radio!

Big stack o' planes

Gus & RD 8000 2.4

Been BUILDING

Getting ready for the upcoming Vegas event, I’ve been working to finish up several airplanes to fly. I plan on bringing the following:

Model Tech 84″ Super Fli

Model Tech Mini Mach Racer

Phase 3 Prototype Mini Mustang

Phase 3 Squal 4S with Thrust Vector

BH Models Gilmore Red Lion Racer

And the BIG DADDY…

120″ ASM B17 Flying Fortress “Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby” (look it up!). It’s a MONSTER.

All are electric power of course, and all except for the B17 have already flown and are GREAT! So, assuming they all survive the final “get-ready” flights next week, we’ll have quite the line up of planes to fly.

So, if you’re in Vegas for the Fun Fly 24/25 stop by Bennet Memorial Field and Check the planes, the Hobby People setup (Mike  and Mark are bringing a stack of planes too!), and just say “Hi”.

I hope to see you there!

Mike

Flying in Vegas! – Vegas Electrifest

Hi All,

I  will be headed out to the Ace In The Hole – Vegas Electrifest  Oct 24/25. Will have some of the prototypes, etc on display at the event and will try to get in a little flying while I’m there if time permits.

Here’s their official blog: Flying Aces

Stop by and say hi!

Mike

ProPeak Cavalier Charger

New Cavalier Multi-Charger - VERY NICE

Some of you may or may not have noticed that Hobby People sells the ProPeak Brand. I think a lot of you have considering how many Prodigy II chargers we’ve sold in the last couple of years. This was a great charger but it didn’t offer balancing.

ProPeak, a brand developed by Ripmax in the UK, has been working on an entirely new line of ProPeak battery chargers. The first one is this great, very versatile, easy to use, charger, the Cavalier. While not named for my wife’s Alma Mater (the Santiago Cavaliers), the charger’s name I think fits. The charger, in my opinion, is really best in class and has a lot to be Cavalier about.

I’ve been using one for a couple of months and it’s simply flawless.

Here’s what it does/what I like about it…

Charges from a 12V battery or power supply and works equally well with both.

Screen is REALLY easy to read, even in the Sun.

Charges every battery pack I’m using right now. Single cell Li-PO for my little Mini Spitfire, 4 cell 2500 for my Squall, the 2 5 cell 4000mAh batteries from my Super Fli, the 8 cell NiMH cells in my TX, the 4 cell nimh RX battery in my Super Fli, the 12V Lead Acid battery in my glow tote box,.. I could go on but you get the idea.

The balance taps in the side work with many of the Chinese cells used in many RTF products. The included balance adapter works with the current Impulse balance tap and other similar plugs such as the ones used on Thunder Power. There are other adaptors available aftermarket from ProPeak that will make it work with every balance tap type I could find.

The charger has an optional thermal sensor. So, if your battery gets too hot during charge, the charger shuts off.

Note that it has both balance and non-balance charge modes so if you don’t want to balance charge, you don’t have to. Non-Balance charging is faster when recharging at the field.

It’s a quality unit that simply works and isn’t that what you want in a charger?

Been Out Flying!

This last month has seen several prototypes flown for the first time. Successfully too!

First up is the Model Tech Super Fli. This plane is based on the Kraft Super Fli plans published by Model Airplane News. Designer Chris White has blown them up and modified the heck out of them to convert this unusual aircarft to modern airframe design with an 84″ span. We modified it further for use with electric. We’re running a KMS 5331/10 motor on a 10 cell lipo pack. ESC is a high voltage Castle 85. It took  a couple of flights to get it dialed in but we’re now flying it with great success on an 18×10 prop.

Model Tech Super Fli

We also put the maiden voyage on the new Model Tech P-51B 91 size. This prototype ARF has a very unusual finish in that it’s painted flat over both paint and covering giving it a consistent finish usually not found in ARF aircraft. We’re flying it with an RDS8000 radio and a Magnum 91 Four Stroke. You can choose to install air retracts or run the gear fixed. What’s nice is that you can build it fixed and add retracts later .  We’ve now flown it several times and find it is simply a blast to fly. The 91 pulls it around GREAT.

Model Tech P-51B 91Size ARF

Model Tech is poised to release approximately 6 new aircraft in 2010. From Scale to sport, they’ve got an aggressive new release schedule. The planes fly GREAT! I think you’re going to really like them!

p.s. THANKS to Mark Silzle for the great build on that P-51B and Russ Greaves for all the work on the Super Fli. Outstanding job building these prototype planes with no directions, no guidance, etc.

Phase 3 Squall EDF RTF – Thrust Vector…

The Squall from Phase 3 is coming! It’s hot, it looks great, and it has a thrust vector bolt-on option.

Check out the video

Congratulations – Team Airtronics

Yesterday in 2-Meter Sailplane Mike Fox WON with the Airtronics SD-10G.

Airtronics and the SD-10G now has a win from the 2009 Nats and 3 top-10 finishes!

Simply AWESOME

Airtronics Blog

SD10G wins again

Hey Mike,
 
Just wanted to let you know I won a local contest with the SD-10G over the weekend. The conditions were light and we had to fly very far away. It gave people a good taste of the great range of the SD-10G. It really got some peoples attention. The competition was very was very tough, everyone was going for short launches and pushing the clock. To win a round you needed a 9:55 and 99-100. So that means we needed to have a less than 5 sec launch which on which is very low, and be about 7 inches from the spot every time. In the end I was .2 points away from perfect, and 2nd place was only 4 points behind that. It was very close the 4 points works out to about 2 sec of the whole contest, there was no room for error. We ship out stuff to the NATS this Tuesday and the competition starts next week. We as prepared as possible, so we hope to get the SD-10G its first national title.
 
Cody