Quick Flight at Car Workshop

Assalamu'alaikum,

This week I was pretty busy with family matters. My farther in law was sick and passed away on Sunday 24-May-2009 2.04pm (Al-Fatihah for him), for some reason I have to travel back and forth between my house in Putra Heights and the village in Parit Pulai, Muar Johor. The distance between the 2 places is about 200km.

For that reason I need to have my car in the workshop to make sure it is fit for the long distance driving. Ok, so have to make use of my waiting time at the car workshop to fly Torii. Hmmm.. just can't leave it alone :)

It was 26-May-2009. Actually I was planning to fly the Torii earlier in the morning, however it was raining. So I decided to bring Torii along to my car workshop, it is Ipin Pit Works at Taman Emas, Puchong. This is the place where I trust to fix any of my turbo car engine problem almost any problem for my one and only turbo car :).

During the control check prior to the flight, I discovered Torii has missing nut at the servo rudder ball.

Regardless, I just tighten ball screw to the servo horn and continue with the flight. It was a quick successful half tank flight.

Alhamdulillah.

::truemax

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Another Successful Flight

Assalamu'alaikum,

Yesterday (Friday 16-May) I took half-day leave on the afternoon for some family reason. At the evening, 1800 I found myself have some extra time. After thinking very hard I decided to have a quick flight session to build up my confidence in flying Torii.

At about 1830 pm, I loaded Torii and its related equipments into my car. Before that, at home I have filled up Torii's tank fully, to save the time. Reached Putra Heights Field II about 10 minutes later, I was quite windy and there was 2 kites being flew at the field. Well, the wind would not pose any problem to my Torii. Sunset was at about 1920, so the sun was quite low on my right, giving quite clear view of the sky.

I quickly unloaded it. Did a quick check on the counter gear (which have caused 2 major crashed before) found that it is still ok.



This time I able to start the engine smoothly, Alhamdulillah. In previous session, I need to flush the engine to clear the hydro-lock, this time it just started right away. I trick is not to shutdown the engine using the switch at the Radio Controller, but to cut the fuel line. This will actually make the engine stopped due to lack of fuel, instead of lack of air.

Did lift-off successfully, hover for quick in-flight check, then I switched to idle-up mode. After that I continue with figure 8 maneuver and stall turns. This time I was much more confident than before, I was able to do full vertical stall turns. It was still not perfect, but I am improving! During the flight, I need to be very careful with the visual and coordination. At certain angle, Torri seems to be at different orientation and that is very dangerous. I keep the control smooth and slow so that I can do the opposite if I mistakenly 'process' the orientation.

Other than that, I tried a reverse flight - new for me. Hmmm I guess I'll need to practice more on this.

The session ended at about 1850, where I landed safely, with less than half tank for fuel in the header tank (almost totally finished the fuel).

Yes, another successful flight for Torii.

From Remote Control Helicopter - 2009

::truemax, over and out.

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Torii's Real Flight - Satisfied

Assalamu'alaikum,

[This entry described Torii flight session on Monday 11-May-2009]

Monday was a holiday for me. I was actually a replacement holiday, just for my office! Thank god, I was able to spend more time with Torii. As what I mentioned in my previous post, I have arrange with aerobrain to come over to my house and snap some photos for Torii flight session.

It was about 11.00 am. We reached at Putra Height field 2. It was already quite late, the sun already high and the environment was quite hot. The sky is clear with a bit of wind blowing intermittently.

Put down, arranged Torii and the related equipments on the grass. Filled up the tank, this time really full. When starting the engine, I have same problem as previous. The crank shaft was too heavy to be rotated by the starter. I need to take out the canopy and flush the fuel from the engine, just like the previous session. Just before I tries to start the engine again, I noticed there were 2 screws missing from the Torii, while the impact is not that major, it may impat the flight behaviour of Torii. One screw was for holding the battery tray to the frame and another one was one of the screw for Torii's skid. Luckily I have some extra screws available in my box, for that reason, I was able to replace them very quickly.

Engine started up easily after the engine flushed. Did a normal lift-off and in-flight control check. Everything was just fine. Tested the climb rate, also very good. I brought Torri to the ground, to check it's engine temperature, it was fine too. However when I spooling up for lift up again, the engine died! I need to bring the Torii to the shades to start the engine again.

This time the engine started right away. Then I did take off from the shades it self, cool but dangerous (!). I don't have enough margin for error or parts failure. But again, its really cool :)

Start spooling up the main rotor


Just before the take-off


Took-off and 'taxi' into the open space

Switched to idle-up flight mode. Yup, everything was ok. Did some figure 8 and some half stall-turns. Nice, just nice.

The fuel almost finished after about 10 minutes of flight. Landed for refueling, in the shades as well (again this is dangerous!).

For the second tank flight, I was more confident. I did was able to do figure 8 flight confidently and the stall turns as well. I even did some negative pitch test while in the vertical posture. Yes, the negative pitch responded as expected (important for inverted flight).

I was flying with confidence this time.. just enjoy the photos..

Quick in-flight check

Truemax and Torii


'Taxi' towards open space


Diving from a stall turn


Direcly above!

However, I decided not to try the inverted hover yet!

Heading towards landing location

Landed safely at about 11.45am. Decided to end the session at the completion of the second tank. I should have more practice in simulator before the inverted hover with Torii, don't want to take any risk.

Fully satisfied. :)


Note:
1. Thanks to aerobrain for all high quality photos for this session!!
2. Sorry, so many photos in this entry, can't restrain myself from sharing the excellent quality photos. Not many time I have these for Torii.

::truemax over and out

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Fixed And Very Nice Flight

[This entry is for my test flight on Saturday 9-May-2009]

I did quick test flight to make sure that the Torii still able to fly. He he he. Yes, it has been quite a while, 2 weeks I did not fly Torii and did not even start the engined. Monday will be a replacement holiday for my office, I planned to have another fly session in the morning. I have asked aerobrain to come along, to bring his sophisticated Nikon DSLR for the Monday session.

Earlier, 2 weeks ago, Torri had problem with broken vertical tail fin. I had enough of glue-and-broke-again routine, not too take any risk on this I decided to get new replacement part. Same goes to the glow plug heater. Friday afternoon, I took a quick dash to Kajang to get the replacement parts.

Here they are:

Saturday 12:10 noon (!). Yes it was already afternoon, nobody else at the field, still I continue with the session - alone.

I filled up half of the tank only. This time I planned to have a very quick flight, just to make sure there is no problem for Torii to fly.

When I tried to start the engine, my starter have difficulties to rotate the engine. I have to open the canopy, take out the glow plug, and clear the engine by running the starter while the glow plug opened.

After that, the engine can be started as normal. The engine still working fine, the new glow plug heater is great! It even show me the current glow heater battery charge level!!

I did lift off as normal, hover flight while checking the controls. Averything is just fine. I tried a few figure 8 flight, and then some half-stall turn. Still, I need to build up my confidence. It has been a while that I have not been flying the Remote Control Helicopter.

Session ended at about 12.45pm. Everything is just fine, no new issue discovered! Alhamdulillah.

::truemax

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