Back to normal?

Got in 4 packs on the new Goblin 500, and 4 on the X5 today.  Felt like being back to almost normal.  The Gobby behaved well and I really like having it back in the fleet.  The X5 felt the same as usual.  Re the Gobby, I lowered the throttle curve a couple points in IU2, and the batteries read perhaps a smidge less drainage at 3.78V or so.  Performance change?  Unnoticeable.

She's back!

The Gobby 500 is back in fine form.  My new Quantum 4120-1200kv motor came on Monday after ordering Friday night!  Got it installed last night, and took the Goblin through 4 full packs today for lots of fun flying.  Did some flips already and stall turns, but no inverted yet.  Seems as good as ever, just slightly different on the left stick due to the increased motor pulley from 18T to 19T.  Motor seems to come down hotter, and the batteries now consistently check out at about 3.75-3.80V instead of 3.82V per cell after each flight of 4.5 minutes.

Flew the Gaui X5 for two packs, and with the stock formula canopy back on, after repairs due to the crash a few months back.

Dum Dum

Went to fly on Saturday with the Giles and Apache.  When I went to assemble the Giles at the field, I had the wrong wing tube...the Yak tube instead.  Dum dum!  So I flew the Apache about 30 minutes and it was too early to have thermals.

Today/Sunday I made sure I had the right tube.  Got in two nice flights with the Giles.  Such a good flying plane and powerhouse engine!  Too bad the pitts style muffler came loose again so I had to stop flying after two full flights.  I again flew the Apache perhaps 15 minutes, and again it was too early to have thermals.  Got my exercise though, lol.

Update on 08/25/2014:  I removed the muffler bolts, cleaned them and the holes with alcohol, then retightened with red threadlocker.  Hopefully that stops all three bolts from ever moving again..

Less than stellar

Tried my new Goblin 500 again today.  While it flew fine, the motor started to make a small squeal.  I think the bent motor housing is more than a cosmetic issue, so I will replace the motor.  No vibes due to the motor though, and the heli will be great when I get the new motor.  Later in the day, I ordered a new identical motor from RCDepot with 10% off sale, so it is $126.  After flying the Gobby, I ran 5 packs though the X5.  Not feeling very confident lately, but I made sure to get the stick time and try the usual things.

Goblin 500 Dragon maiden day!

I maidened the new Goblin 500 that replaces the Pulse edition that dirt napped a couple weeks ago due to the failed swash  plate.  The new one has the colorful dragon canopy, tail boom, and skids.  Looks very colorful!  The new gobby has other mods as well:  Lynx swash plate so I don't have the same failure again, Lynx tail stiffener, aluminum LG braces, Lynx HD main gear (survived crash in Pulse edition fine) , and a 19T "pinion" motor pulley.   The maiden went good enough, but was one flight only.  On landing I checked things over and found the motor housing had slipped open, meaning I had not fully engaged the c clip during reassembly.  Got it home and opened her up, and removed a thin shim from the Quantum motor shaft.   Now the c clip engages well, and the housing will not slip open again.  Looking forward to more flights!

I flew 4 packs through the X5 today too.

Heli of a day!

Sunday was cousin Ron's last full day in Oregon and therefore the last day to fly.  Great that my three sons joined Ron and me, and quang was there to boot.  We all flew Helis!  Add to that the battlewings and we had a blast and came home tired.  I only took three flights on the X5, but had several on the battlewings.  I was very content to watch and enjoy the others presence.   Sandy was a sweetheart, coming to watch us fly, and bringing spam musubi, grapes, and carrots for a light snack for us...even quang enjoyed the spam musubi.

Crazy Jeremy jumping OVER the helis!

450FBL, 450DFC, Warp360, Logo480, X5, G500, G500, 7HV, G700

Helis and pilots, too bad Jer is on other side of camera!

Flying kung fu masters!
Actually I was just clicking my heels, and
Tad was doing a flying kick.

Everyone got some good kills with the Battlewings today.  Lots of broken props and lost o ring prop savers, haha.   I think we get pretty noisy and raucous with the crazy Battlewings sessions, what a rush!  Ron gifted us with the three Battlewings and 27(!) batteries for them, as well as spare props and o rings.  Such a generous guy.  Other members have taken interest due to seeing us fly and making so much noise and excitement, lol, so a couple have already bought different wings.  Unfortunately those are too large, heavy, or fast to fly with ours.  While they would like to fly with us, we will not do so due to the uneven match should their wings hit our small ones.    It was great to hear that Quang ordered a couple of the Battlewings to do aerial combat with us.  Gonna be real mayhem with 4 of them in the air at once.  I can hardly wait!

Sad to see Jer crash the Warp 360 today.  He lost orientation doing piro flips facing the sun, and a little low.  While he gained control, he lost it again and hit the throttle hold button, and in she went.  Damage doesn't look too bad...new main and tail blades and tail blade grips.  He already has blades so it could be a cheap repair!

First annual (?) KRCA electric funfly

Dick Smith hosted our first all electric funfly today and it was good fun for everyone!  Seven pilots participated including Tad and cousin Ron who is visiting from San Jose.  The object was to complete three simple flights to earn cards, combined with a cut card for the CD/dealer and another card drawn by each contestant to determine his flight time for a couple tasks.  All pilots successfully earned five card hands for draw poker.   Best hand was held by Ron with a pair of jacks!   I was next best with AK10, just bettering Tad's AK8!  Next came Quang, followed by Steven, Ken, and Ashton.  Ron won $20 and chose 6 minute epoxy from available prizes (which he gave to me later) I won $10 then chose an orange receiver, and tad got $5 and selected the best prize...a mini-vapor indoor plane, with the intent to gift it to Alex.  Good fun funfly, just a shame only 7 guys entered!

Oh btw, Tad and I both flew my Star today, and Ron flew his Addiction.   Also got a single flight on the X5 after the funfly.