The Raptor Flies!!!
Well, the kids and I took the Raptor and the Mirage 2000 out to the local elementary school's park, where I used to take them to play in the playground when they were younger. I opened the hood of the car and we started charging the 8-cell power packs with my HiTec charger. The F-22 Raptor was the first on the charger and was ready in about 15 minutes.
It was windy today, I would say about 10mph winds and it was a cool day, around 55-60 degrees. I figured with the wind it shouldn't take much to launch and I was right. I held the MicroPro 8000 xmitter with my right hand, , gripped the F-22 with my left, moved the throttle to full with my chin and gave it a toss from a stand still.
It took to the skies great, climbing up and out! I didn't fly it over 50-100 feet above the ground, mainly to see it for better control as we didn't have a whole lot of room like at a flying field. It required no trim at all, one click of right Aileron probably but I didn't bother. Going upwind, it was a slow flier, managing maybe 25 mph, but downwind it cooked, at least 60mph. I was having so much fun I couldn't stand it!!! It turned well and even did rolls, which required a bit more up when inverted and that surprised me.
The landing was a cinch, slightly nose down on deadstick, the flare, and it landed at about 5mph. It was sooooo much fun I picked it up and tossed it again real quick, took it once around the park and landed it again. back on the charger it went.
Next, we took up my son's Mirage 2000, which didn't fair as well. it hand launched fine, but the wind was whipping pretty good as this plane was no where near as heavy as the Raptor. On my first turn, a gust of wind hit the upper wing and flipped it inverted; it was headed for the ground. I rolled it out upright but didn't have enough to pull up as the control surfaces were not responding as well down wind. The nose got wrinkled and had a small crack in it, but all is repaired now and it's ready to go again. My boy was a bit devistated, but understood. His sister didn't help much either when she sat on it in the car...more repairs, but they are now complete. Bad hair day for the boy...
Well, I took the Raptor up again as the battery had charged and I had a blast with it. Mind you this is a tight field, about the width of a football field and maybe twice as long. There was a treeline I was flying above at around 100 feet and the road was at one end, but it still was easy to keep in the park. Another smooth landing had me hooked. I did notice there was a problem though...the motor was not at full throttle. I had to give it full throttle trim this time and the performance was much better.
It was placed on charge once more and the kids and I went to have some fun in the playground. The battery did take a full charge but was hot from running, so flight time was no where near the several minutes I got from the first runs...only about 4 or 5 times around. A guy pulled in driving a new pickup and watched the last time as I put the F-22 Raptor through the moves. Inverted flight, Emmelmans and another roll right before landing wrapped it up as a good day. The landing was perfect, with the exception of some green grass stains on the bottom. I talked to the guy for a while and he was absolutely amazed with the plane, and so was I actually! He took off and we headed home and gave em a rest.
With three good flights under my belt I can say this plane is ready for a rocket motor. For more performance, it still would require a bit more Aileron, but I guessed at the settings as it was designed for Elevons. Elevator was set at the full 3/4" throw and responded well. I will reset my throttle throw to increase performance, but am pleased with it so far. We have a sport launch tomorrow, but I am not sure if I will make it with the kids, however, I will let you all know how the first launch goes.
Carl
aka...I am hooked!!!
