Minimize the risk of losing your model on your next maiden flight.
Summary
First things first! The AMA Safety Code says that you must range check any new models. While you are at it, have your buddy check the correct direction of movement of your control surfaces. Have him also watch out for any signs of binding or play in the control surfaces.
Check the CG! I check the center of gravity before almost every flight. You just never know. If you have a good system in place for doing so, it only takes a couple of seconds.
What’s your plan? Think about where you are going to be flying, what you are going to do if something goes wrong, and about the maneuvers that you are going to be trying out.
During taxiing and the take-off run, watch and listen carefully for any signs of trouble. It is much better to abort the flight before you take-off than to find out while in the air that there is a problem.
What flight maneuvers to do on a maiden flight? First, test the low speed handling. You will need this when you come in for the landing, so you might as well practice while up at altitude.
Similarly, test out the power off handling qualities. You never know when you might lose power, and it is better to get some practice in before it becomes a crisis situation.
If everything looks good, try a high speed dive. This is a good test of the servos, control surfaces, and for flutter. Yes, make sure you are nice and high before you do this.
As you are doing these tests, make mental notes of everything that needs adjusting. More exponential? Dual rates? Mixes? After you land, thoroughly inspect the model, make the adjustments that you noted earlier, and go and fly it again!
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Definition: RC Aircraft
I put a lot of time into building A Super Kaos 40 once that I flew often in Colorado Springs where I lived. I put the CG a bit too far aft.. I had the good sense to get one of our clubs best RC pilots to do the test flight…He barely got it back on the ground in one piece… So my advise is, get some one with a lot more experience with the type of model being tested…to do the flight test… This guy was an experienced pattern contest flyer.. I had never flown a pattern ship before. Once I got the CG right, I loved to fly that thing… I was a member of the Pikes Peak RC club then, they are still there.. great club and field too…you have Pikes Peak right in front of you… and the plains… Used to watch antelope from the flight line.. That was the most scenic club field I ever saw..
I won’t argue with you on that one! Regardless, my advice applies to whomever is test flying the model. Need to visit Pike’s Peak at some point – it’s not too far from here. We go to Denver about once a year.
Then definately stop by and say Mike Vance sent you…but I doubt anyone will remember me. I was a club member around 1989 or so.. Flew a Red/White/Blue/Silver Kaos and a blue/yellow Falcon 56.. Bob Mcloud was my instructor..
Oh, not disputing your advice…just adding a personal experience to it…
Oh, I know. That was a good point that you raised.
I would have lost my brand new kaos if I had tried to fly it myself….that would have been heartbreaking. I finisihed it very nicely, even put narrow trim tape along the joints between different mono-coat colors. and it was a lot of fun to fly…
I like the addition of the text versions of the posts!
Thank you. It took me a little while to figure out how do it in a way that worked for me. I do plan to eventually go back and add text to the posts that only had videos.
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