Flight Log 10.01.08

Flew two of my planes at lunch today...first, my e-Flite Enticement and then my little red low wing toy.

This afternoons flight with the Enticement was with my big O'l brick of a battery (at least for this light plane)...my FlightPower 1500mAh 7.4v 2s LIPO. So, the flight is a little more rocky with this battery, especially if you want to fly low and slow. But, it's still fun.

While flying the Enticement I charged up my little red low wing and then got a good 8 or so minute flight out of it. This type of plane is a fun challenge for the experienced pilot...but, probably too frustrating for the novice (its target market).

Flight Log 09.29.08

Flew my new favorite plane this evening on my way home from work. It was quite breezy, the windsock was fully extended, and this plane just loved it.

I had it doing death spins, rolls, and even a couple loops.

I'd say I got a good 8-10 flight out of it too...lot's of fun!

Flight Log 09.26.08

Got a chance to fly my Eflite Enticement at lunch today. Used a field near work -- one I haven't flown in yet! It was a great flight...I feel like I'm really understanding the "Foamy" airplane and it's flight characteristics.

Here's where I flew, click here.

Flight Log 09.22.08

On my way home from work I stopped by the Duck Pond and flew my little red low wing plane. It was a little breezy...sometimes the tiny little plane was thrown way off course...but, it always found its way back to me (well, most of the time).

While I was flying I noticed a guy and his pug flying his Align Heli -- he was very good. His heli had no idea there was a breeze...My Blade CP Pro would have crashed another horrible crash, if it were flight worthy (I stopped putting it back together after the last crash). I watched the guy burn through a couple batteries doing loops, flips, inverts etc. it was very cool!

Flight Log 09.10.08

Today I finally flew again...it's been weeks! I decided to charge up and fly my little Chinese planes I bought a while back. Wow, it was great. I started with the yellow, top-wing, plane and thought it flew pretty good. I got like maybe 10 or so minutes out of it.



While I was flying that plane, I charge the red low-wing. I've generally thought of this plane as the lesser of the two, but it totally out performed the top-wing this afternoon -- it performed a roll and a loop! This plane currently sports a tri-prop I took from another plane...because I broke the one it came with. But, apparently the prop is a good match for the plane -- the prop came from a Venom Betty Micro Park Fighter...which I never got to fly as well as the manufacturer's promo vids or these planes.

Flight Log 08.12.08

OK, this morning I remembered the transmitter for my Enticement...Yeah! Got to the Duck Pond around 7:30 am and the breeze was already starting to pick up...but, I went for it anyway.

Despite the breeze, the light indoor plane had a great flight. The breeze helped me perform some really slow flight and hovering practically still as I flew into the wind and then as I turned the plane to fly with the wind, a great rush of speed as the thin film cut through the morning air.

Flight Log 08.11.08

Flew the Super Cub this morning at the Duck Pond...Wow, how long has it been! Un-shockingly, the cub flew perfectly -- it's such a fun plane!!

I think my battery pack is starting to show its age...but, I still got a great flight out of the plane.

I completely prepared my LIPO batteries for the e-Flite Enticement, and also put the DX6i on the charger...then, I totally left the DX6i at home, so I had no controller to fly THE ENTICEMENT :(

Oh well, there's always tomorrow.

Flight Log 07.22.08

Flew the Enticement this evening. The winds were calm, finally!, and we live near a strip of land that has power lines running through it. It has a walkway, trees, and park toys for kids. I've never flown the Enticement there and I thought -- why not. I could at least find out of the power lines effect the Spektrum DX6i radio.

I was pleasantly surprised that the power lines seemed to have no effect. It was also fun to fly around more obstacles -- I think that really hones your skills in depth perception. At one point I flew between, behind, and back around a clump of trees and never lost control -- that was cool...wish I had video of that.

Flight Log 07.15.08

Finally I got up early enough this morning to fly the Enticement. Made it to The Duck Pond (See side bar) by about &:15am and there was plenty of sunshine, few clouds, and most importantly...no wind.

Flew for about 10 min...and loved every one of them -- I felt a little rusty, but I did fine. My buddy David was there, flying already, so good times all around.

Flight Log 07.03.08

Flew the E-flite Enticement today at the Grassy Knoll by work (see right margin for the link).

It was slightly too breezy for the Enticement, but I flew anyways -- I just had to fly :)

The plane was thrown around every now and then, but did OK.

I think I want to get\build a Nieuport for my next plane:

Check this thread for a discussion on this model.

Flight Log 07.02.08

Flew the Super Cub at lunch today. I went out to the country side, hoping to do some aerial photography with my Cobra 5-n-1 camera...but, the battery is giving up the ghost :( and only records to brief bursts of a couple minutes or less on a full charge.

So, I didn't get any good footage. I either need to find a replacement Li-Ion battery for the camera or a way to supplement the power system externally...any ideas out there?

Here's where I flew...but got no video. See Google Maps

Flight Log 06.25.08

Used up both my batteries this morning, for the E-flite Enticement, at The Duck Pond. Got there about 7:40am and there was no wind...maybe a slight breeze.

I started with my big'ol FlightPower 1500mAh LIPO, then finished my morning flights with the lighter 910mAh ThunderPower.

The plane flies great with either battery, but you can really notice how nimble the Enticement is with the appropraitely sized ThunderPower LIPO.

The batteries were all spent about 40 minutes later and that's also when the breeze started to pick up, so great timing I guess :)

Build\Maintenance Tip: So far, the damage to the Enticement, besides my stupid goof of busting a wing :), has mostly been around where the landing gear cross through the fueselage -- this area should be strengthed with tape etc. before flying. Maybe it's because I fly my indoor Enticement outside and land on turf...but the landing force gradually wears at the foam in this area and it starts to crack. So, you might as well tape it before it cracks.

Flight Log 06.23.08

Flew the Super Cub during my lunch hour today. Just the right amount of breeze and sunshine to make for one awesome flight.

I walked over to the Field by work (See link in the right column) -- the walk conserves gas...and, I can use the exercise.

Go to JoeFlyer.com to read my review on this plane and\or buy one -- the Super Cub makes a great first plane. I've had mine for two years now and it's still fun to fly.

Flight Log 06.19.08

Flew my Enticement, this evening, at a new park...Orchard Park (See the new link to the right, under favorite places to fly). This is a very nice park with trails through the woods, a play area for young children, and a 9 hole Frisbee golf course. I used both by batteries and had a great time.

Flight Log 06.09.08

Flew this morning for about 5 minutes, at the duck pond, until the wind got to be too much for the Enticement. It was a short, but good flight.

As I brought the plane in for its landing, I had it going perfectly into the wind and slowly just hovered over the grass, stabilized, and then cut the throttle and the Enticement softly plopped into a sweet 3 point landing :)

Flight Log 06.04.08

Flew the Enticement for maybe 5 minutes this morning...at the duck pond. It got to breezy for the foamy, so I had to bring it down :(

But, it was a good few minute. I had some good hovers...even one just about a foot from the ground where I had to quickly roll it and plop it on the grass as I realized that there wasn't enough power, with the breeze and other factors to pull out of the hover -- it looked pretty cool, I wish I had video dang it.

Flight Log 06.02.08

I thought I'd fly the Enticement some more this morning at the Duck Pond...that I'd have a nice relaxing flight before work...and then be all relaxed etc. But, for some reason, while I was actually flying, I kept trying to push the envelope and be all tricky -- and I nearly biff'd it several times...Not relaxing at all :)

I'm pleased to say that I never crashed...not sure how, I guess I'm transitioning from an intermediate pilot to an advanced pilot...and I'm more able to not only get myself into a close situation, but more importantly able to recover!

After getting the heart thumping...I eventually relaxed my flying style and became more zen. Overall a good flight. I saved my Thunder Power 910mAh battery for lunch time at work...hoping there's no breeze.

Flight Log 05.31.08

Flew the Enticement and the Super Cub this morning at the Duck Pond. Here's some on-board video I took with the Enticement and my Cobra DMC300 5-n-1 camera:

Flight Log 05.30.08

Well, the glue and tape on my Enticement's wing worked! I flew this morning at the duck pond with my buddy Dave. I used my big'ol 1500mAh battery only, in the hopes that I'd use the smaller Thunder Power at work...but, the afternoon was too breezy for the Enticement -- so sad :(

Flight Log 05.29.08

Flew the Enticement at work today...for the first time in this little patch of greenspace we have on one side of the building. You can find it on Google maps by going here.

I showed off a bit too much near the end of my flight and broke a wing. But, some CA glue and tape will fix that I hope :)


I also made the mistake of attaching my prop facing the wrong direction...wow, that makes a big difference in thrust...I'd say a 70% difference. This prop should have its embossed text markings facing forward, see image.